Lake City High School Athlete of the Month: Havana Johnson

Havana Johnson is a sophomore at Lake City High School and is enjoying her second year on the Timberwolves’ varsity soccer squad. During the 2013 season, Johnson was named the Inland Empire League’s Newcomer of the Year with help from her six goals as a freshman. This year Johnson is the team’s leading scorer with 23 goals and four assists. Johnson was on the honor roll at Woodland Middle School and is currently excelling in all honors core classes, ranking 24th in her class of over 400.

Johnson says, “Soccer is my favorite thing in the whole world!” Which explains why she also plays on the elite club team out of Boise, called FC Nova, part of the Elites Club National League. The club travels around the United States for games and college showcases.

If she’s not playing soccer, Johnson also enjoys track and field, qualifying for State in the open 400-meter dash and 4x1 and 4x2 Relays.

After high school Johnson plans to attend a Division I college to play soccer. While she doesn’t know exactly which school she will choose in the end, Johnson says she likes Stanford, UCLA, North Carolina, Princeton and Pepperdine right now. “A big school, somewhere warm and with a great soccer team,” are on her criteria list.

Johnson is also undecided on her career choice, but she is leaning toward something in the medical field. Her current medical career interests include orothodpaedic surgery, physical therapy or pediatric dentist because she loves sports and kids.

Havana says one of her biggest challenges in soccer has been the decision to switch club teams. She spent about 10 years playing for the Coeur d’Alene Sting, so when the opportunity came to play for the FC Nova, Johnson said the decision to try a new team was difficult.

The most memorable moment in her soccer career came when Havana scored the winning goal against cross-town rival Coeur d’Alene High School, winning the district championship and earning a trip to State. “I was a freshman, and it was cool to be able to score so that we could win the game,” remembers Johnson.

One thing is clear about Johnson – she loves soccer – from the practices, the travel and the relationships with her teammates. “I just love everything about the game,” she says.

Soccer has taught Johnson that “you can never succeed alone.” She adds, “My coaches and teammates have taught me that they are always there for me and we all work together as a united group to solve the problem, no matter what it is.”

Johnson says her favorite teacher is Kelly Reed, her Athletic Training teacher (and also her track coach). “He’s just a good teacher that knows what he is doing,” says Johnson.

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