All-Region boys athlete of the year: Kedrick Johnson, Hockinson

There is no hesitation for Kedrick Johnson. Football, no doubt about it, is his favorite sport.

However, he cannot pick one favorite thing about football.

He did it all on the football field.

“Hitting people. Running with the ball. Catching the ball. Scoring touchdowns. No feeling like it,” Johnson said.

He did a lot of all of that last fall, leading the region in touchdown receptions, helping the Hockinson Hawks make it to the Class 2A state quarterfinals. He also had three rushing touchdowns and scored on defense and special teams, too.

So many things for the guy who played so many sports.

Johnson earned nine varsity letters in his high school career: Three in football, two in basketball and four in track and field.

He enjoyed the team aspect of football and basketball. A star in football, he was a role player in basketball.

“I didn’t have all the skills in basketball. I could jump and play defense,” he said. “I still had fun.”

He had plenty of skills for track and field, qualifying for state in four events. Johnson won the Class 2A state long jump competition, dislocating his shoulder in the process. The next day, still in pain, he finished fifth in the triple jump.

“Track and field is friendly competition. I can hang out with all the other teams and have a great time,” Johnson said. “Everybody helps each other.”

For all of his accomplishments, Johnson is The Columbian’s male multi-sport athlete of the year.

Johnson is headed to Eastern Washington University to play football — he will be hitting people more than anything else as a safety — and he might compete in track and field for the Eagles as well.

Johnson said specializing in one sport never occurred to him in high school.

“If I had one day off, I would have been bored,” he said. “I can’t play video games for more than an hour or I get bored.”

Playing three sports, he said, was a way of always moving forward.

“I’m never really losing anything,” he said of strength and endurance. “I’m constantly getting stronger.”

The coaches at Hockinson encourage athletes to play more than one sport, he said.

“You improve in different strengths you didn’t even know you had,” Johnson said.

Oh, and to younger athletes who are thinking of specializing, Johnson has some words of wisdom:

“Colleges recruit athletes, not just football players,” he said.

Kedrick Johnson has always had a favorite sport. He is just grateful he gave time to other sports, as well.

All-Season All-Region Best of the Rest

Greg Bernash, Prairie

The junior earned All-Region honors in basketball. He was also a first-team all-league outfielder for the Falcons.

Colin Biggs, Mountain View

Senior was All-Region in baseball, league player of the year. All-league kicker and played QB in football, also played basketball.

Dallas Goodpaster, Evergreen

Senior was All-Region in wrestling as a state runner-up; also first-team all-league defensive lineman in football.

Silas Griffith, Ridgefield

Junior was All-Region cross country runner of the year after placing fifth in state; also All-Region in track and field.

Preston Jones, Mountain View

Senior was the All-Region football player of the year. He was also All-Region in baseball; signed to play baseball at Oregon State.

Adam Ryan, Camas

Senior was All-Region in track after placing at state in 400 and 800 meters; All-Region in cross country.

Mason Scheidel, Skyview

Senior was All-Region track and field athlete of the year; All-Region in cross country; second-team all-league in basketball.

Curtis Stradley,  Battle Ground

Junior was All-Region in track and field, 4th at state in javelin; second-team all-league in football; played basketball.