Johnson works way through pain to peak at right time

In gymnastics more than any other sport, competing with an injury can be debilitating.

It takes a certain type of person to maintain the necessary focus and precision while fighting off constant pain.

In Meghan Johnson’s case, gritting teeth is just part of the daily routine.

Johnson, a senior at Gonzaga Prep, competes for Shadle Park and performed at state her first three years of high school.

But this year has been a challenge.

A day before the first class of her senior year, Johnson’s car was totaled in an accident when another driver failed to yield.

She tore muscles in her shoulder and back, and wasn’t released to resume her cheerleading duties at G-Prep until late in the football playoffs.

Although she’s cleared, it doesn’t mean she’s completely healthy.

“She’s still in pain,” Shadle head coach Stoyan Katzarski said. “She’s waiting for the season to be over and be able to rest for a longer time.”

Despite the injury, Johnson posted her personal best in the last week of regular-season meets, finishing with a score of 35.15 in the all-around.

“It just kind of clicked,” Johnson said of her last meet. “I wasn’t expecting to do great, but I’ve just been working hard and everything came together.”

Johnson provides the Highlanders with postseason experience as they prepare for Friday’s district meet at Mead. She finished 24th in the state all-around last year.

“There’s some really tough competition over in Seattle,” Johnson said. “Last year, we went as the highest-scoring team and didn’t do as well as we wanted. For me, there’s nowhere to go after state, so just go and have fun.”

As a team, Shadle appears to be at its best when it counts, scoring a season-high 168.3 last Thursday and finishing second to Mead in the GSL.

That doesn’t necessarily exempt Johnson from having to deal with the dichotomy of attending class at one school and competing for another.

“They joke about me being a traitor,” Johnson said of her classmates at G-Prep, which doesn’t have a gymnastics team. “But I’ve had a lot of support from Prep, especially this year.

“With the injuries, I’ve needed the extra help.”