When Carmen Johnson came to East Webster from West Point several years ago, she found herself a home that was meant for her.
Johnson admits that her love for horses and the country life didn’t always sit well with some of her friends at West Point, but it was the norm in Cumberland. Pretty soon, she would find another niche for her life that would change the trajectory of her young life.
When the state of Mississippi shut down slow pitch softball four years ago, a new identity was born for the Wolverine faithful. The school and Johnson began to grow within the game and has since been highly competitive on the court.
On Thursday afternoon, Johnson became the first player in school history to sign a volleyball scholarship. She put pen to paper to become a member of the Northeast Community College Tigers’ program next season.
“It means a lot to me. Four years seems like a lot but it’s really not for a volleyball team,” Johnson said. “To be a part of the first group to play volleyball here, I think it’s an amazing opportunity. I’m very blessed and fortunate to be able to play somewhere. I think I’ve grown a lot from freshman year to now.”
Johnson has been working with the Lady Wolverines since the 9th grade and worked herself into a major contributor quickly. The last two seasons, Johnson’s vertical ability made her a menace around the net for EWHS.
First year coach Kaylie Banks enjoyed leading Johnson this season and it wasn’t just history for EWHS’ first signee, it was Banks first player going to the next level.
“It’s really amazing. Having her be the first one for East Webster is only going to encourage the program to build,” Banks said. “This is opening the door for other college coaches to realize that we’re playing really good volleyball in Mississippi, it’s just taken time to grab hold.”
As for the program that Johnson now joins, the Tigers had their inaugural season on the volleyball court and are looking for players like Johnson to come in and build something special.
The chance to do that was important to the talented Lady Wolverine, but Johnson felt at home in Booneville.
“Really it was just the environment. They’re very much like East Webster in that they’re like family down there,” Johnson said. “I like that instead of feeling like I don’t know anybody and I’m a little fish in the big pond.”
No matter where Johnson went, the sky was going to be the limit.
Banks’ willingness to learn coupled with her incredible athleticism makes for an exciting career ahead. Banks can only imagine what’s on the way after getting more work in on the next level.
“Carmen has only been playing for four years now and with her having a college coach to take under her wing and refine those skills is going to be really impressive and she is going to be a force to be reckoned with,” Banks said of Johnson. “She can go further after this stint and someone from a four-year school will want to snatch her up.”
