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Josh Johnson: "A degree from Cal will give me an advantage."

Updated: Apr 14, 2021

Senior Josh Johnson, who hails from Moreno Valley, California, finished second earlier this month in the shot put (62-11.5) at the Stanford Invitational and first in the event at the Trojan Invitational in March with a personal-best mark of 65-2.75 (2nd all-time in Cal’s outdoor record book). Johnson shares his thoughts on what it means to him to be a scholarship student-athlete at Cal and his gratitude for Michael and Joanne Wood for starting the Michael Wood Track & Field Scholarships, which he is one of the representatives.

 

My dream of earning a track & field scholarship started my senior year of high school when I realized I could actually compete at the next level. A track scholarship was a way to help pay for my school tuition. Coming from a single-parent household, I needed all the help I could get. I started throwing my sophomore year of high school as a way to stay busy when football was not in season but soon fell in love with it.


Having a scholarship means a lot to me. It means I don’t have to work full-time, go to school and try to be a field athlete. The scholarship gives me the opportunity to focus on throwing and school. It is hard enough being a student at Cal, but to be a student-athlete, you need to have support. My scholarship provides important support.


My goals are to become a physician and athletically to throw as far as I can to be one of Cal’s all-time greatest track & field athletes. I’m not sure if I would be throwing as far as I am without the guidance and training program developed by my coach, Mo Satara. I for sure would not have the same opportunities as other students who did not go to Cal. A degree from Cal will give me an advantage, and I’m truly grateful for that.

I have not met Michael and Joanne Wood, but I certainly would love to so that I can thank them for his generosity and support face-to-face.


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