Windsor’s Sarah Johnson wins two state titles in two days
COMMERCE CITY — In a matter of about 24 hours, things for Sarah Johnson changed more drastically than she ever could have imagined.
The Windsor junior went from being a normal multisport athlete Tuesday morning to a two-time state champion by Wednesday, hoisting trophies to the sky with different teams.
She pulled off competing for a state title, which is impressive on its own, not just for the Wizards’ girls golf team, but soccer as well — helping bring home both for her school.
“It’s a one-in-a-million opportunity for her to experience something like that,” Windsor soccer coach Mario Garcia said after the Class 4A soccer final. “I don’t think it will hit her until later on in life what she just accomplished.”
Juggling two postseason runs has been a handful from the beginning, but the stars truly began to align at the end of last week when Windsor’s girls soccer team finally broke the semifinal barrier that had held them back for multiple seasons to advance to its first title game.
Meanwhile, the Wizards were also looking to contend for a shot at the golf team title in Colorado Springs, which began on Monday. Johnson admitted that the quick turnaround helped her in the sense that there wasn’t much time to dwell too hard on either sport, and instead continued to push through.
“Talk about busy, I’m still trying to grasp everything,” Johnson said. “It all has been happening so fast. You just focus on what you’re doing that day and give it your all, try to block the rest (out).”
Johnson said that despite the high-stakes soccer game just a day away, she was able to keep it off her mind for most of her second round Tuesday at the Country Club of Colorado.
It proved to be beneficial, as her performance as the team’s third finisher impacted their overall score, which helped Windsor erase a four-stroke deficit after the first day to win by five on the second. Johnson finished tied for 16th individually with an overall score of 39-over par.
“For golf, I’m mentally concentrating for six-plus hours. For soccer, it’s more like two hours but way more intense. It’s crazy and different,” she said. “I started thinking about soccer again as soon as my last putt went in.”
She joined in the celebration with her team, just as any first-time state champion would, but it was short-lived.
A uniform change and one night of sleep was all that she really needed to bounce back with yet another title as the Windsor defender joined the soccer team in beating Valor Christian 4-1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park the following day.
“It speaks volumes about not just the athlete, but the type of person she is,” Garcia said. “Not just special; but truly, truly special — and unheard of.”
Johnson intends to compete in both soccer and golf again next year as a senior.
