Johnson senior Carnae Dillard was named the Express-News Volleyball Player of the Year for 2011
On Christmas Day morning the Express-News Sunday edition was delivered to front yards all over San Antonio and inside the Fall High School sports honors were listed in section S “Fall’s Finest.”
The Johnson fall sports of Volleyball, Football and Cross Country have all enjoyed their best seasons with two of the three sports making State appearances and all of the three making playoff runs. The E-N staff rewarded the Jags with several honors on Sunday.
VOLLEYBALL
While outsiders are amazed that a school only 4 years old could win the Region IV title, the rise to the top has been obvious to those that have followed CTJ volleyball over the years. On Sunday the express-news rewarded the Jags with several big awards and honors.
Gracing the cover of the Express-News section S was senior Carnae Dillard. Dillard was named the Express-News Volleyball Player of the Year for her incredible outside hitting and leadership helping the Jags to their first State tournament appearance. Dillard would not be the only individual honor for CTJ Volleyball.
Joining Dillard on the Express-News Volleyball Super Team for 2011 were two other Johnson seniors and the core of the Jags squad. While the super team is made up of players at any level Johnson was the only school to put three players on the all-area squad. No other school had more than one.
Senior setter Jessica Teel and senior libero Ayssa Garcia were both added to the 10 player squad. The three were also named to the 5A All-Area squad as well as the 26-5A first team with Teel and Dillard being unanimous selections.
Second team 26-5A players were three more senior volleyball players from Johnson. Kassie Freitag, Livi Drummond and Sarah Wilson were all voted onto the 26-5A second team by the head volleyball coaches of the district.
If six players being awarded with honors was not enough the Express-News also gave some much deserved recognition to Johnson head volleyball coach Nicole Blakeman as well. Blakeman, Johnson’s only head volleyball coach in the schools history, was named the Express-News Volleyball coach of the year for 2011.
As a team the Jags amassed 44 wins in 2011, 2nd most in San Antonio volleyball history, and won their first District and Region Championships. For all of their accomplishments the Jags picked up a #1 ranking in the Area Final Volleyball rankings.
CROSS COUNTRY
2011 was to be a rebuilding year for the Johnson Cross Country team, but as the season progressed the Jaguars came together as a team to send more runners to the Regional meet than ever before.
The girls varsity team was task with replacing two of the top runners and the core of their 2010 team but stepping into the void was junior Natalie Langan. With just 5 cross country meets under her belt coming into 2011 Langan improved over the season and became Johnson’s first Cross Country district champion. If that was not enough Langan turned around and shocked everyone with a victory at the Regional meet as well.
Langan was named to the all area Express-News Super Team as well as the class 5A team on Sunday.
FOOTBALL
While the 18 all-district selections from Johnson were already announced in a JJNation article back on December 14th the Express-news all area honors were still yet unknown until Sunday.
Picking up Express-News Class 5A Football second team selection was Johnson senior Cohner Mokry as the only All-Purpose player. Mokry seemed to do anything and everything for the Jags this past year from running the offense from his typical quarterback position to catching passes as a wide receiver to pinning the opponent back with his punting to recovering an onside kick vs Wagner the CTJ senior was key to the 2011 success.
Also making the second team Express-News Class 5A squad was Offensive Lineman Austin Carson. Maybe not as flashy as Mokry but equally important to the Jags success was Carson in 2011. Carson played right tackle for most of the 2011 season and did not miss any action during the 11 games. Carson is one of the big reasons the Johnson running attack was so prolific in 2011. A rushing attack that produced two 1000 yard rushers for the first time in school history.
The Jags as a team were also listed for the first time on the Express-News Area Final 5A Football Rankings at #6. The Jags made their first playoff appearance in 2011 and lost to eventual State finalist Steele High School.
The Jaguars were also mentioned in the “Game of the Year” section for their come from behind last second victory over Churchill that propelled the Jags into the playoffs in week 8.
Congratulations to all of the Johnson Jaguars on their performances this past fall season.
Express-News 2011 Fall Honor Teams
Go Jags!!!
