Thanks to our continued partnership with Univest Financial, SuburbanOneSports.com will once again recognize a male and female featured athlete each week. The recognition is given to seniors of high character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams or who have overcome adversity. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of Oct. 24, 2023)
Born in an athletic family of tall people, Natalie Johnson was pretty much given an ultimatum at age 11. “Like every other younger girl, I was a dancer,” said Johnson. “My parents were, like, ‘Um, No.’ I was going to be over 6-feet tall, and I had to play either basketball or volleyball. I chose volleyball, and I haven’t stopped since.” Her dad, David, reached 6-5 and played football at the collegiate level at Bloomsburg. Younger brother, Grant, is already 6-3 at 14 years of age and is primarily a hoopster. Though 6-1 and already committed to play at the next level for Rowan University, Johnson now finds herself following in the footsteps of her mom, Jennifer, and playing the role of cheerleader at the same school, Pennsbury.
That is because she sustained a horrific knee injury – a torn meniscus – in a car accident last April, just one month after making her college choice with the hope she could focus on her senior season without the recruiting process hanging over her head. “At first, I wasn’t completely aware of the extent of my injury,” said Johnson. “Then, when I found out that I tore my meniscus, it was one of the hardest things I have ever heard. You look forward to your senior year for so long. Knowing that I wasn’t going to have that, it was crushing. It took a little bit for me to get over the initial hurt of not being able to play. Once I was able to put it into the bigger picture, I was able to see some positives in it.” And the positives have been being the best teammate she can be. “Oh my gosh, it’s been extremely frustrating,” said Johnson. “All I want to do is play, but it’s been fun to still support my team and come to everything. I have been looking forward to it for so long, and now I couldn’t enjoy it the way I wanted to, but I have found other ways to still have fun.”
For first-year coach Bob Burns, who had admired Johnson from afar as the JV coach and was counting down the days until he could officially coach her this season, the torn MCL was an almost equally crushing blow. However, he has been inspired by the way she has handled the difficult situation. “She was going to be a huge piece of our team this year as a four-year varsity starter,” he said. “I was JV coach last year, and we would always see and hear her. And, you know, there were times when she got pulled for not playing well or whatever, but that never changed her approach. She was still positive and still cheering on her teammates. She was just being the best version of whatever she needed to be at the time.” During the Falcons’ strong season, he was overwhelmed by her generosity of spirit. “Even with all this, it should be hard for someone in this position to have any positive energy, after having lost out on her most important year,” he said. “But she just comes out for every match and is the loudest person. She’s supporting all of her teammates and has everybody’s back. When people are having a tough time, or get pulled or whatever, she is right there to give them a pep talk. I told her just a couple of weeks ago that she is like the beating heart of our team. Her positive energy radiates throughout the whole team. That just defines her. It’s contagious.”
Johnson, who holds down a solid 3.5 GPA and plans on being a high school history teacher, also enjoys coaching/mentoring younger players. That goes right along with her career aspirations. “I have always wanted to be a teacher, because I knew I wanted to do something that would have a positive impact on people,” said Johnson, whose extracurricular activities include German Club, Art Committee for Sports Night and Mini-THON. “I chose history because I love the subject and learning about it.” Moving forward, Johnson seems to have the twists and turns of her challenging journey in proper perspective. “I’m definitely going to miss it,” she said of Pennsbury. “I think that not being able to play my senior season has made it harder. I wanted that closure. While I’m definitely going to miss it, I’m also really excited to be able to continue playing. So many people don’t ever get that opportunity, so I’m really thankful for that.”
To read the remainder of Johnson’s story, please click on the following link: https://suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/natalie-johnson-00109670
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Oct. 24, 2023)
Riley Martin is a special talent on the soccer pitch. The Springfield Township senior – who has committed to play Division 1 soccer at Lafayette College – has been an impact player for the Spartans since he stepped onto the field as a freshman. His numbers during last year’s run to the program’s first ever District 1 3A title and the state final were dazzling as he led the Spartans in both goals and assists. While that alone sets Martin apart, it’s not the first thing his coach talks about when his senior captain’s name comes up in conversation. “He’s a dream to coach,” Springfield Township coach Dan Meder said. “For all the stats he has and all that he’s accomplished, he’s not like any other kid I’ve had who was like that. Normally, that kid can be a pain in the butt, and Riley is not. He’s selfless. Last and this season so far, he has led us in goals and assists. He’s not selfish, and he celebrates the goals other guys score just as much as he celebrates his goals.” And that’s not just coach speak. “Look, I had a lot of goals last year, and I’m going to tell you right now I do not have anywhere close to as many goals as I did last year, and it happens,” said Martin. “I don’t care what the stats are - I don’t care about all that. All I want to do is win. If we win as a team, I’m a happy man because that’s the goal.”
Martin has been an integral part of Springfield Township’s rise to prominence in not only the league but also the district and state soccer world. This is a program that was 1-6-1 – 1-6-2 overall - in the COVID-shortened season when Martin was a freshman and finished last of five teams in the SOL Freedom (Cheltenham did not compete that fall). “It was rough,” Martin said. “It was very rough. It was only playing nine games when we could have played 19. I thought it was going to be a very long four years.” The Spartans’ turnaround was remarkably quick, and the following year, they won 14 games, finished second behind Lower Moreland in the division standings and earned a postseason berth. Then came the dream season last fall when the Spartans – with a strong senior class and some promising young players - put their names in the program record books, winning the program’s first division title, going on to capture the District 1 3A crown and advancing to the state title game where they fell to Hershey 1-0 in double overtime. “Kids came in that love soccer, and they know how to play it – they’re very good,” Martin said. “And we just went through all the way, and I wasn’t expecting it, to be honest. I was expecting we would definitely make playoffs, but I would never expect to be in the state final. That was definitely not on the list. It was very exciting.”
It’s a new year, and the Spartans won’t surprise anyone. Their final chapter remains to be written, but whatever the outcome, this is a special team. “This group of guys has been terrific,” Meder said. “The guys around Riley, the other seniors – Nick Marino, Jack McKittrick – they’re all really, really good kids. The team feeds off that, the underclassmen feed off of that.” Soccer will be a major part of Martin’s college experience at Lafayette. There were other schools under consideration until he visited the Easton campus. “It just felt like home,” he said. “It was so comforting. I’m not a big school guy. Springfield is only a 600-kid school. I like knowing everyone and being able to be friendly.” Martin has not chosen a major but has two years to decide before declaring, and while he is looking forward to the academic opportunities Lafayette will provide, he acknowledges that he has his sights set on playing soccer beyond college. “I don’t know where it will take me – one step at a time, and I’m taking the next step,” he said. In his spare time, Martin has coached youngsters in the local Springfield Soccer Club and has been active in the organization’s Socctoberfest. Lafayette – according to his coach - is inheriting an outstanding student-athlete. “Riley’s a great teammate and a great captain,” Meder said. “He doesn’t mind not being the hero. He doesn’t need to be the hero for us to succeed, and he’s okay with that.
To read the remainder of Martin’s story, please click on the following link: https://suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/riley-martin-00109671
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