Farragut High’s Hallie Grace Johnson Balances Honors Classes, Softball, and Life on and off the Field
Checking In on Knoxville’s Own: Hallie Grace Johnson
While I personally reside here in Knoxville, TN, I wanted to check in on some local talent to help bring to the spotlight. That landed me in the Farragut part of Knox County, as Hallie Grace Johnson is a rising junior, Class of 2027 pitcher and middle infielder for Farragut High School.
We often put much attention towards travel ball and that experience, but I wanted to focus on Johnson’s high school experience mostly. What it is like being a student athlete at Farragut, and what it is like playing for Coach Nick Green, as he has guided the Admirals to become a successful program in the state of Tennessee.
Hallie Grace Johnson gave me all of that and more. Please read along in our latest player spotlight.
The Student Athlete Life at Farragut
First off, I wanted to know how Johnson handles life as a student athlete, and if there are any challenges that come with it. With a 4.4 GPA, Johnson looks to balance academics and sports very well.
“Life as a student athlete at Farragut is definitely challenging but I’ve learned so much about time management and balance because of it. We have a very rigorous softball schedule especially during spring semester and I take honors and AP classes which require time spent studying and working on papers, projects, etc. I have had to learn to use class time wisely, study whenever I have free time which could be late at night after a game, or even taking ten or fifteen minutes whenever I get them to review something. Farragut has block scheduling which I really am thankful for, it means I can put my hardest classes in the fall when my softball schedule is less time consuming. I feel like this is preparing me well for college and learning to take ownership of my own work and balancing school and sport.”
Farragut is a great academic school here in Knoxville. Year in and year out, students go off to many colleges and universities across the country prepared the best they can be, for what is to come.
Life Lessons from the Game
Softball and sports in general are more than just a game and something to do. If you look at things in a broader perspective, they often teach us lessons that can be applied to life. Johnson has taken the approach to learn and grow from the game.
“There are so many things that softball has taught me and ways it has helped me grow as a person. I’ve learned most about perseverance. Softball is a sport of failure and it’s impossible to not have bad moments, so learning how to respond to that failure, pick myself up, and keep working hard to improve. Also persevering through difficult things like injuries. I know those skills are going to help me in life when circumstances are hard. I’ve also learned about leading by example with my work ethic and attitude. I don’t think I’d be the same person I am today without softball in my life.”
The Joy of High School Softball
High school softball is fun as well. You may not get to travel much out of the area or state to play, but this is a time where you may be playing with lifelong friends. Bonds that will never be broken, and coaches that put their time and lives into preparing their players to be the best they can. That is, if you have a great leader as your coach.
“High school softball is something I really love and value. During softball season, we spend so much time together that we really become a family. I love those relationships and coming together to fight towards our goals – winning each game in front of us, and competing to win our district, region, and state tournament. Celebrating together after winning our sub state game that sent us to the state tournament this May was my favorite memory so far. Coach Green is a very detail oriented coach, he plans well and prepares us well because the little things matter and what we do in the small things impacts us in the big moments. We really focus on fundamentals and put in a lot of work all year long.”
Pitching or Hitting?
I always like to ask two-way players what they like to do more – hitting or pitching. For some this is a hard choice to make. Even Hallie can’t really decide.
“Deciding between pitching and hitting would be incredibly hard for me, I really love both and I feel they complement each other to make me a better player overall. Hitting helps me be a better pitcher because it takes my mind off the pressure of just being in the circle and gives me a way to help my team offensively. Pitching helps me be a better hitter because I understand the strike zone better, knowing what that particular umpire is calling strikes and balls, and watching pitchers for tendencies they have or how they would attack a batter.”
Life Outside the Lines
There is more to life than the game you play. Everyone needs to have some “them time” to enjoy life and experiences outside of what we do on the daily. I asked Johnson what she enjoys outside of softball, and she is a lover of the outdoors, among other things. She can even drive a tractor and bale hay!
“Outside of softball, I love to be outdoors in nature. I love hiking, biking, riding horses, and fishing. My grandparents have a big farm in Kentucky and I love going up there to ride four wheelers and take care of their donkeys, miniature horses, cows, and more. I can even drive the tractor and bale hay! I also love reading and going to all kinds of sporting events. My dad is the team doctor for the Knoxville Smokies so we spend a ton of time at Smokies games. It is awesome to watch what he does because I also want to pursue a career in the medical field.”
Closing Thoughts
Hallie Grace Johnson is a great person with her mind and heart in the right places. Just doing this player spotlight makes me see even more that there are plenty of talented individuals among us that are also great human beings. I hope you’ve taken the time to learn more about Hallie today.
Thank you, Hallie Grace Johnson, for giving the time to introduce yourself and let us learn more about you.
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