Taylor Johnson, an Evansville native and standout athlete at the University of Evansville, is excelling not only in athletics but also in navigating the challenges of being a student-athlete in a demanding academic environment. She is a member of the UE women’s soccer team as well as the track team. With approximately 7% of high school athletes advancing to NCAA competition and only around 1.5% reaching the Division I level, her journey is a testament to her dedication and talent.

Johnson graduated from Reitz High School, where she earned recognition on the soccer field as a two-time all-state forward and set both the single-season and career records for assists. On the track, she was a three-time state qualifier, holding records in the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter events.After committing to the University of Evansville for soccer in 2021, she was approached by the track and field coach about the possibility of competing in both sports. “I never thought about running as well since I didn’t know much about the program,” Johnson recalled. “It wasn’t until the track coachreached out to me that I decided I wanted to run too.”

While the two sports have different seasons, there is a period of overlap  where Johnson must juggle both schedules. Women’s soccer primarily competes in the fall, from late August to early November. Track and field features both indoor and outdoor seasons, with the indoor season running from December to March and the outdoor season from March to May.With both teams often practicing at the same time, Johnson adapts her training schedule, accordingly, often working out alone or one-on-one with her track coach. “Most days, my track workouts are done by myself,” she said. Her schedule shifts depending on the season, but she consistently manages to stay just under the NCAA’s 20-hour practice limit each week.“When we reach the point in the spring when soccer practices every day, I only practice track 2-3 times a week,” she said. “Then, when soccer is reduced to twice a week, I’ll practice with track every day.”

Despite the rigorous demands of both sports, Johnson has successfully balanced her athletic commitments with her academic responsibilities. Currently completing her sophomore year, she is studying chemistry with a pre-med focus and maintaining an impressive 4.0 GPA.

Johnson has scored three career goals for the University of Evansville soccer team and holds several school records in track. In indoor track, she holds the records for the 200-, 300-, 400-, and 4×400-meter events. In outdoor track, she holds the 400- and 4×400-meter records.“Being a two-sport collegiate athlete is very challenging yet rewarding,” Johnson said. “It means learning how to take care of your body and mental health while juggling two sports along with a full course load.”During her recruitment process in her junior year, head coach Chris Pfau attended one of Johnson’s high school games. “He immediately reached out to me after that game; we had met, and I never had a second thought about where I wanted to play for the next four years,” Johnson stated.

“Chris and Grace have given me a great opportunity to stay local, help rebuild the program, and represent Evansville on and off the field.”For younger athletes, Taylor’s advice is simple: “Enjoy all the little moments… and never be afraid to ask for help, especially from others who have been in your position.” Her journey demonstrates that with hard work and the right mindset, balancing both sports and academics is possible.