Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Tennis coach Johnston steps down, a winner

Seven years of success with high school kids

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By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Wood River High School tennis coach Vicki Johnston congratulates and thanks newly crowned State 4A boys’ singles king Karl Wilander on Saturday at Boise Racquet & Swim Club. Photo by David N. Seelig

After seven years, Wood River High School tennis coach Vicki Johnston has decided to step aside to spend more time with her family. She informed high school athletic director John Rade of her decision about three weeks ago.

Her players and coaching staff knew of her intentions as the season wore down. They regretted her imminent departure, but understood her reasons, and were determined to make her exit a successful one.

Johnston's swan song with Wood River was a happy one Saturday at Boise Racquet & Swim Club. The Wolverines amassed their highest combined point total, 62, in her seven years and won the state overall title by 11 over Century.

Since she took over the program in 2006, one year after Wood River's entry into the 4A ranks, Johnston's teams have a glowing 92-77 match record at state and have averaged 43.3 points each appearance. They have two state championships in that span, plus two runner-up finishes and two fourths.

No other Wood River teams in any sport have won a state championship at the 4A level, and now Johnston's tennis teams have two in three years—both boys' championships but also overall titles, too.

Before Wood River's 2010 state title, Wolverine tennis teams hadn't won a state team title in 22 years. Also, her teams have five individual crowns in the last six years—one in singles and four doubles.

In addition, the Wolverines have dominated the Great Basin Conference in five seasons since 2008 and have swept the boys', girls' and overall conference titles the last three years.

Quite a record for a former Boise State University singles and doubles player (1988-92) who was a Big Sky Conference honorable mention tennis selection 20 years ago.

Johnston, 42, said about last weekend's state meet and stepping aside as coach, "I'm so proud. I had high hopes, but they performed beyond my expectations. But for me, it's the perfect time to move on and do some different things."

For the moment, she's focused on daughter Karley's fifth birthday on Friday, May 25 and her daughter entering kindergarten in the fall. Will she coach again? "Maybe sometime," she volunteered.

Two-time state boys' doubles champion Raleigh Grossbaum, who recently asked coach Johnston to be his special guest speaker during the upcoming Sage School graduation ceremony, was asked what the tennis coach meant to him.

"She's an amazing coach, always so encouraging and incredibly enthusiastic," said Grossbaum. "She brings confidence that affects our whole team. On top of that, she's gone through a lot of stuff in her life, but she's always in a good mood. She's also an incredibly good tennis player and will take the time to hit with us."

His voice cracking a little with emotion, "This spring we kind of heard that this was going to be her last year coaching. So we made it a point to dedicate our efforts at state to her."

Johnston's invaluable assistant for all seven years of her coaching reign and through the personal turmoil of losing her husband Todd, 41, to heart failure in 2009 has been Wood River High math and physics teacher Marcia Grabow—Charlie Grabow's aunt.

As you might expect, Grabow is a numbers person, and she expressed Johnston's coaching achievement in numbers. "She's had 398 players, varsity and junior varsity, over seven years, and that converts into about 235 unique kids," said Grabow.

Grabow paused a moment to let those numbers sink in to the listener, and added, "Everyday in practice, she thinks about what these kids need.

"One part of her time is practices. The other part is the real quality time off the court. She knows all these kids. She has a unique, personal relationship with each player. The kids want to come to practice. They like to be around her. Why, I like to be around her."

Describing Johnston's personality, Grabow said, "It's her enthusiasm and the incredibly positive way she does things. She's just a deeply heartful person. The kids know she would do anything for them, so they'd do anything for her."

"And the other thing is her athleticism. She can play tennis very well. She shows by her actions what being ready and being focused means. She encourages the kids to go for it and really play their game, and that's how she lives her life.

"It's a huge legacy."

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