Show Me the Ozarks August 2022

Jayline Johnson This CHCS senior is ultra-talented in four different sports

J ayline Johnson knows the meaning of hard work. She is a multi-talented athlete who does cross country, basketball, softball and track. With the exception of softball, she has played all of her sports since elementary school. In fact, she started playing tee ball when she was just five years old. Her lifelong dedication to athletics has helped her make All Conference and All-District teams for cross country, basketball, softball and track and field. Last year, she made All-State as a catcher and for track and field. Armed with some special advice from her dad, Jayline knows how to just go for it. Going into her senior year at College Heights Christian School, she is looking really enjoyable team that’s actually more of a family at this point. I think the fact that our sport can be so miserable at times makes us closer with each other. We put in a lot of hard work together and push/encourage each other through the tough, blazing hot or freezing cold workouts and meets. Sometimes the running isn’t too bad, and it can be really fun. Being outside enjoying the beautiful fall weather in God’s creation and hanging out with my friends is the best. Plus, we have a team vlog that we enjoy taking videos for throughout the season. Do you have any goals for college athletics? I am considering playing softball in college. I’m looking to stay local and will walk-on if I don’t earn a scholarship. What is a great piece of advice you’ve received from a coach, mentor or parent? My dad told me this: “You can’t hit the ball if you never swing.” He said I shouldn’t be afraid to mess up because if I never tried then I’d never succeed. He said this after a tough basketball game, and I was down on myself for not taking certain shots. Another word of wisdom was from my track coach, Daniel Lewis. “It’s that 110% that enables you to succeed.” – Jayline Johnson forward to her best year yet. What’s your favorite sport? What do you enjoy most about it? My favorite sport is cross country. It didn’t used to be. Recently I’ve realized how much I enjoy it, not necessarily because of the running, but because of the team. We have a

Age: 17 Grade: 12th Grade School: College Heights Christian School

He told our team the night before the state track meet, “It’s going to hurt.” He was referring to the pain of pushing yourself to give more, specifically in a race, when your body wants to quit but you actually have more to give. It’s that 110% that enables you to succeed. Tell us a little bit about your life outside of sports. What do you like to do in your free time? Outside of sports, I love spending time with my family. I have an older sister, brother-in-law and brother. We all love watching movies together, discussing them in-depth and then quoting them. I enjoy art, reading and playing my piano and guitar.

August 2022 • www.showmetheozarks.com • 69