SuburbanOneSports.com recognizes a male and female featured athlete each week. The awards, sponsored by Univest, are given to seniors of good character who are students in good standing that have made significant contributions to their teams. Selections are based on nominations received from coaches, athletic directors and administrators.
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Female Athlete (Week of Jan. 15, 2014)
Corey Johnson is a unique and special athlete. An elite diver who is the defending District One AAA champion, the Upper Dublin senior could just as easily be an elite swimmer. Last year, Johnson qualified for districts in the 50 freestyle, a commendable feat for any swimmer but downright remarkable for a diver. “Corey is truly one of the most versatile athletes I’ve seen in my years of coaching,” Upper Dublin coach Pat Redican said. “She’s got wonderful athleticism. Her ability to leap and her kinesthetic sense helps her both on the board and when she’s coming off the starting block. We’ve had swimmers who’ve been divers and divers who’ve been swimmers, but I’ve never seen anybody that really could do both. The only thing the two sports have in common is that they both end up in the water. They’re two totally different things.”
Two totally different things that Johnson happens to enjoy, although it does create a schedule most would find daunting with practices five days a week before and after school with her high school team and trips to La Salle five days a week to practice with her USA club team, Centennial Aquatic Club. “When she talked to me about swimming last year, it wasn’t like we were desperate to have her, but once we had her, it was such a bonus,” Redican said. Voted a captain by her teammates, Johnson has been a key force in bringing this year’s team together.
While Johnson excels in the pool, she is most at home on the diving board, and she will be taking her talents to the University of Virginia. “She’s just a well-rounded athlete,” coach Todd Michael said. “I think any kind of sport you’d put in front of her she’d be pretty good at. She has long, beautiful lines. She jumps pretty well, and her form is just really good, and that comes from years of practice.” Johnson has qualified to states every year since she was a freshman, finishing fourth as a sophomore and eighth last year.
Despite her rigorous schedule, Johnson also excels in the classroom. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Student Government Association. Next year, Johnson plans to major in kinesiology with her sights set on moving on to a physician’s assistant program.
To read Johnson’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/female/corey-johnson-0040884
Univest’s SuburbanOneSports.com Featured Male Athlete (Week of Jan. 15, 2014)
Brendan McLaughlin’s achievements on the court speak for themselves. The Central Bucks East senior leads the team in scoring (13 points per game), assists, three assists per game) and gathers 3.5 rebounds a game, but it is more than the numbers. McLaughlin conducts himself in a way that leaves a legacy that some 25-point-per-game Division I recruits could not achieve. “Brendan has been one of the hardest working, committed players that I have ever coached,” coach Erik Henrysen said. “He is our team captain and has done a tremendous job of leading by example. Next year we certainly won’t be able to replace Brendan, but we hope that our younger guys will work toward the raised standard that he has set.”
After fielding offers from Division II- and III-level programs, he decided to follow the path of his older sister, Aubrey, and attend Pitt. “It’s going to be tough because I love the game of basketball,” said McLauglin, who hopes to play basketball on the club level while studying within the business realm at Pitt. “My father always taught me that it is about my education and what happens after that is the most important. Pitt was the right decision.” It is from his parents, Tim and Karen, and his siblings that he draws his inspiration and strength. “I’m a big family guy,” he said. I feel like everything I got came from my family. They raised me the right way. They inspired me in everything I do.” McLaughlin followed in the footsteps of his older brothers, Tim and Pat, who also excelled at East.
McLaughlin is involved in his school community on many levels, and he is most proud of the role he and his teammates have played in the school’s Coaches vs. Cancer mission, which became front and center at the school after freshman Morgan Mysza lost her battle with brain cancer in 2012. “It’s a chance to give back to the community,” McLaughlin said. For the past three years, McLaughlin has found time to return to the CBAA to referee games. “I grew up playing there,” he said. “I’m always looking forward to reffing those kids and teaching them the right way to play. It’s really special. I hope I can do some coaching. Hopefully, I can come back to East and help out.”
To view McLaughlin’s complete profile, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/featured-athletes/male/brendan-mclaughlin-0040922
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