QUINTASIA JOHNSON-IDABEL
Basketball, softball, cheer and track. Idabel junior Quintasia Johnson did it all until this year. But a devastating knee injury last summer has this talented athlete sidelined from all of those activities until next fall.
“I was so excited for my junior year. We had won state in basketball and track the year before and there was so much to look forward to. I injured my knee in the summer and when I found out the extent of the injury, I was very bummed. I started to isolate myself and even watching everyone else play didn’t help me and for someone who had never had a serious injury it was really frustrating. And then we found out some scar tissue had formed, and I required a second surgery in November. My faith and family really helped change my perspective and helped me realize that God wasn’t punishing me for something and that things could be worse and that I will recover from this and have another year of competition,” said Quintasia.
Despite being out of action, her past performance was enough for her to win the VYPE cheer poll this spring.
“My older sister was a high school cheerleader, and I always followed her around. I got into cheer with our Cheer Kicks program for little kids and have been cheering ever since. I love getting all dressed up and cheering on all the sports and having fun. Friday nights are my favorite cheer activity because you get all the adrenaline rush of the football game through the crowd and I did get to cheer a little last fall before my second surgery,” said the hyperactive Johnson who is also president of the National Honor Society chapter, in Key club, Spanish club, and Leo Club.
Her role models growing up were her older cousins that played basketball.
“I liked how they played and had a good time win or lose. I was a team manager for them while I was in elementary school, and they always made me feel included.”
Quintasia likes to spend time with her family, read her Bible and has even learned to crochet with her down time this year while looking forward to next year.
