Periodically throughout the summer, gophersports.com will feature incoming freshmen as they are getting ready to join the University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team. The first Gopher student-athlete to be featured is breaststroker Katie Johnson. A native of Arvada, Colo., Johnson committed to Minnesota during the early signing period last November. Listed below is her high school/club bio and a short question and answer session with the incoming freshman.                                              

High School: A 2009 graduate of Ralston Valley High School swam in high school for three years focused on club swimming her senior year and competed solely with North Jeffco Swim Club and coach Brett Stoyell 2008 U.S. Olympic Trial qualifier in the 200 breaststroke and the 400 individual medley Competed at the 2008 Summer Junior national championships and placed fifth overall in the 200 breast   competed in the Western Speedo Championships since 13 At Ralston High School  was a multiple time high school All-American all-state selection in 2007 and 2008   all-conference honoree in 2006, 2007 and 2008 broke multiple state records in the 200 breast, dating back to her first when she was 12 Academic All-American two years graduated from Ralston with a 4.0 grade point average and was in the top 10 percent of her class also received the Academic Gold Member Scholarship to the U of M.

Personal: Born February 11, 1991 daughter of Beth and Matt Johnson plans to major in Biomedical engineering has two younger siblings, Caroline and Michael lists competing at the 2008 Olympic Trials as her most memorable sports thrill to date.

Gophersports.com: What impressed you the most about the University of Minnesota?
Katie Johnson: I would have to say that the reputation and campus itself impressed me the most. As soon as I stepped foot on campus I immediately felt at home and welcomed here. Of all the schools I visited, Minnesota was the only one where I truly felt welcomed no matter where I was on campus.
 
GS: What was one of your favorite memories either at the high school or club level?
KJ: My favorite memory of swimming in high school would have to be my first Juniors in Indianapolis. I was only 16 and ended up qualifying for trials completely unexpectedly and placed fifth! I'm pretty sure my mom cried (haha!).
 
GS: Since you’ve committed to Minnesota, what have you been up to and what have you been doing this summer?
KJ: Since committing to Minnesota I have spent most of my time swimming, or trying to stop freaking out about going so far away from home (YIKES!). In the end, I know it will be an amazing experience for me at Minnesota, but I'm still scared to leave my family (but then again, who isn't).
 
GS: Do you have any individual or long-term goals at Minnesota?
KJ: I would really love to make it to NCAAs and on an International team while I’m at Minnesota. I have seen so much success from this team and I hope that I will soon be a contributor to their bright future.
 
GS: What’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t in the pool?
 KJ: This is such a simple question for me :)... SHOP,SLEEP, EAT!
 
GS: What are you the most excited for after stepping foot on campus?
KJ: Independence. Not having my parents there to tell me what I have to do first, or how to do my homework, or who to hang out with! 
 

Periodically throughout the summer, gophersports.com will feature incoming freshmen as they are getting ready to join the University of Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team. The first Gopher student-athlete to be featured is breaststroker Katie Johnson. A native of Arvada, Colo., Johnson committed to Minnesota during the early signing period last November. Listed below is some background information and a short question and answer session with the incoming freshman.

High School: A 2009 graduate of Ralston Valley High School swam in high school for three years focused on club swimming her senior year and competed solely with North Jeffco Swim Club and coach Brett Stoyell 2008 U.S. Olympic Trial qualifier in the 200 breaststroke and the 400 individual medley Competed at the 2008 Summer Junior national championships and placed fifth overall in the 200 breast competed in the Western Speedo Championships since 13 At Ralston High School was a multiple time high school All-American all-state selection in 2007 and 2008 all-conference honoree in 2006, 2007 and 2008 broke multiple state records in the 200 breast, dating back to her first when she was 12 Academic All-American two years graduated from Ralston with a 4.0 grade point average and was in the top 10 percent of her class also received the Academic Gold Member Scholarship to the U of M.

Personal: Born February 11, 1991 daughter of Beth and Matt Johnson plans to major in Biomedical engineering has two younger siblings, Caroline and Michael lists competing at the 2008 Olympic Trials as her most memorable sports thrill to date.

Gophersports.com: What impressed you the most about the University of Minnesota?
Katie Johnson: I would have to say that the reputation and campus itself impressed me the most. As soon as I stepped foot on campus I immediately felt at home and welcomed here. Of all the schools I visited, Minnesota was the only one where I truly felt welcomed no matter where I was on campus.

GS: What was one of your favorite memories either at the high school or club level?
KJ: My favorite memory of swimming in high school would have to be my first Juniors in Indianapolis. I was only 16 and ended up qualifying for trials completely unexpectedly and placed fifth! I'm pretty sure my mom cried (haha!).

GS: Since you’ve committed to Minnesota, what have you been up to and what have you been doing this summer?
KJ: Since committing to Minnesota I have spent most of my time swimming, or trying to stop freaking out about going so far away from home (YIKES!). In the end, I know it will be an amazing experience for me at Minnesota, but I'm still scared to leave my family (but then again, who isn't).

GS: Do you have any individual or long-term goals at Minnesota?
KJ: I would really love to make it to NCAAs and on an International team while I’m at Minnesota. I have seen so much success from this team and I hope that I will soon be a contributor to their bright future.

GS: What’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t in the pool?
KJ: This is such a simple question for me :)... SHOP,SLEEP, EAT!

GS: What are you the most excited for after stepping foot on campus?
KJ: Independence. Not having my parents there to tell me what I have to do first, or how to do my homework, or who to hang out with!