During the 2016-17 school year, Josh Johnston decided that his athletic future is going to involve football, but the Snohomish senior was anything but a gridiron specialist.
Johnston became a three-sport varsity athlete for the first time, earning all-Wesco 3A honors in football and baseball and becoming a key member of the Panthers’ boys basketball team. His athletic ability, speed, versatility and increased strength helped him to prosper in all three sports.
Johnston, The Herald’s 2017 Boys High School Athlete of the Year, also had the right mindset to succeed.
“I was excited with the way my senior year turned out,” he said. “I played on some good teams, which helped my stats. This year felt different, knowing that in baseball and football I’d have the responsibility of being captain. It was a different role, and I had to adjust to it, but I thought it was awesome. It was a good personal building experience.”
Johnston was perhaps the area’s best wide receiver in 2016, posting 51 catches for 915 yards and 18 touchdowns. He excelled in his role as a safety as well, recording two interceptions.
“My route-running improved the most,” Johnston said “In the offseason, I did a lot of seven-on-seven work with select and traveling teams. And I developed a relationship with (Snohomish quarterback Brandon Jodock) to get that chemistry going.”
“He knew going into his senior season that it was his time to shine, and he didn’t step away from that. He exceeded my expectations for him,” said Panthers football coach Kai Smalley. “There were times throughout the season when we needed to get down the field, and we knew we could go to him. We had confidence he could out-jump (his defender) and make a play.”
Johnston was convinced by friends to to turn out for Snohomish’s boys basketball squad last winter even though he hadn’t played the sport since his freshman year. He didn’t put up prolific statistics, but he managed to carve out a role for himself and enjoyed his return to the court.
“I had a lot of fun,” he said. “It was good for me to keep my competitive edge. I didn’t have the smoothest transition back to basketball, but it was good for me to have a challenge like that. I took my football traits into basketball — I focused on rebounding and being big and aggressive.”
“His shooting wasn’t as good as it could’ve been because he hadn’t played in awhile, but he was one of our best rebounders and defenders,” said Panthers boys basketball coach Jim Wilson. “He wasn’t the most skilled player, but we really needed his effort and physicality. I got what I expected to get out of him.”
In the spring, Johnston was the Snohomish baseball team’s best all-around player. He excelled with the bat (.291 batting average, .394 on-base percentage), on the basepaths (16 stolen bases) and defensively in center field. He even pitched a bit in relief and registered three saves.
“I wanted to go for the school’s single-season stolen base record. I wanted to be the leadoff guy who can get on first base, steal second, steal third and get home every time,” he said. “I focused on being an all-around player. My play in the outfield improved the most. I knew I was going to be in center field this year, and I took (defense) more seriously.”
“He’s so fast and quick,” said Panthers baseball coach Kim Hammons. “He made great reads on balls and made a number of diving catches. And on the bases, he was just electric. He had a complete senior season. He wanted to do it all, and he did.”
Johnston has signed a letter of intent to continue his football career at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado. Before he leaves for school, however, he’s focusing on baseball, playing for the Everett-based Laces Baseball Academy’s 19U squad.
He’s a serious student, as his 3.93 grade-point average at Snohomish will attest, and he chose CSM over other interested schools largely for its academic programs.
“I’d like to study mechanical or environmental engineering and see where that takes me,” he said. “There’s some cool stuff going on in those fields.”
The athletes of the year were chosen by The Herald’s sports staff.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
Gallery
