Talia Johnson is a senior volleyball player for the Richmond Hill Lady Wildcats volleyball team. With it being her last year on the hardwood as a high school athlete, the senior finds it a little surreal to her that she will be done with high school so soon.

“So far, being a senior has been pretty unbelievable,” Johnson said. “I still feel I'm a freshman. But I am ready for the next chapter.”

As one of the veteran leaders on the team, Johnson and the rest of the Lady Wildcats have worked hard this year, running their record up to 13-1 overall, with a 2-0 record in one of the toughest regions for sports in the state, Region 1-6A.  

“I think what our record says about preparation and the work that comes in my position is just consistency and sacrifices,” Johnson said.” 

With the work that the team is putting in, they are on course to make a playoff run, and that’s what Johnson and the rest of the Lady Wildcats are hoping to accomplish. 

“I think our team has a high chance of getting to finals in the playoffs,” Johnson said. I think teamwork and hunger to get better is what is going to take us to achieve that goal.”

Having teamwork and hunger as a unit is key to working towards achieving team goals, but Johnson also knows that she personally has to bring her own level of greatness to help elevate the team to where they want to go this year. 

“I think what helps elevate my team to continue winning and working hard is a good attitude and having fun,” Johnson said. “At the end of the day this is a school season and we are just kids. Yes we want to win, but developing and growing and just overall enjoying the season with each other is most important.”

As she is halfway through her final high school season of volleyball, Johnson still can’t believe the end is near. But as her journey comes to an end, sports are not primarily what she wants to be known for at Richmond Hill High School. 

“Honestly it feels kinda crazy that this is my last year of high school," Johnson said. “I haven’t thought about what I would want my legacy to be, but I think I would want people to remember me for me as a person, not me in my sport.”

Johnson and the rest of the Lady Wildcats will continue their push for a state championship in her senior year before she heads off to Coastal Carolina, where she will continue her athletic and academic career after high school.