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Flathead’s Smash Hit

By Beacon Staff

The volleyball spike is one of the most punctuating actions in sports. Like a home run in baseball or a quarterback sack in football, a spike — delivered like a swift knockout punch — can boost a team’s heartbeat like a shot of adrenaline.

Few players in the state can slam a spike as fiercely or effectively as Flathead’s Kwyn Johnson.

The 6-foot-3 all-state senior is back as one of Montana’s best all-around volleyball players on a Bravettes team eager to prove itself as the best. This season Flathead returns a talented core from last year’s fifth-place team, including Kwyn, a first-team all-state right-side hitter, and seniors Cassie Krueger, Emily Russell and Makayla Moore.

“This team has the potential to be better than any of the other teams,” said sixth-year head coach Leon Wilcox.

The Bravettes have advanced to the six-team Class AA state tournament every year under Wilcox. They placed third in 2007 and second in 2006, the program’s best finishes since winning its lone state championship in 2001. Flathead prospered during the regular season last year, placing third at a 64-team Spokane tournament and earning a No. 3 ranking in the state power poll. But Helena bumped the Bravettes in four sets from the second round of the state tournament. Flathead lost out the following day and Helena surged onward to win the state title.

The Bravettes opened the season last weekend with a sweep over the two Great Falls schools.

Undoubtedly, Kwyn’s dominant presence on the floor will factor into any postseason aspirations.

“She certainly helps the equation because her real estate value is pretty high,” Wilcox said. “She can do a lot of things for us. But we’re not a one-dimensional team. We have a lot of talent to go around. We’ve got kids that can play great defense. We have other very good hitters. In my senior class, every one of those kids can play in college next year.”

Kwyn has already booked her college plans, and in a big way. Last fall Arizona State University offered her a chance to play volleyball after high school. She visited Tempe in the spring and enjoyed the southern sun. After weighing other possible Division I schools, like the University of Montana, she decided ASU was the right fit.

“Being from Montana I didn’t know how far I could go,” she said. “But getting the big schools to recognize me was awesome.”

Kwyn had a small exposure to what life will be like leaving home for the first time and playing against some of the best volleyball players in the nation. She attended an ASU summer camp and spent time with coaches and players during her visit. The difference between high school and college sports was immediately noticeable.

“It’s really, really intense all the time,” she said. “There’s never a moment when they’re relaxed, and (the game is) just a lot faster.”

Did that almost scare off the small-town girl from Montana?

“It was definitely intimidating,” she said, “but I’m up for the challenge.”

Kwyn verbally committed to ASU, making her the second Bravette spiker in as many years to vault into the Division I college ranks. All-state standout Hannah Sackett is a freshman this fall playing for West Virginia University.

Bravettes head volleyball coach Leon Wilcox, center, meets with team members during a recent practice at Flathead High School. Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon

Although Wilcox has built the program around a team-focused mentality as opposed to highlighting individuals, the fact that two Bravettes will be playing at large colleges certainly brightens the atmosphere around the team.

“I think it does give them pride – pride in the program and pride that they’re involved with something that is so positive,” Wilcox said.

Flathead pride is something Johnson knows a lot about. Her family’s history is filled with memorable moments inside the Flathead gymnasium and Legends Stadium. Kwyn’s grandfather, Lew Savik, is a mainstay at Flathead sporting events, especially track meets. Kwyn’s mother Lynette, a teacher at Flathead, was herself a standout Bravette track athlete. Johnson’s older sisters Ariel and Danika competed at Flathead, too. Ariel eventually played volleyball at University of Montana-Western while Danika is playing basketball at Northern Idaho College. The memories likely will continue after Kwyn, too. The youngest Johnson sister, eighth-grader Tiana, currently plays five sports.

“They’re all active,” Lynette said. “We got all the girls started when they were young, and they’ve tried everything. They’ve danced, played soccer, basketball, softball. They’ve taken skating lessons. One did tennis, and swimming.”

Kwyn’s father Tryg, who played basketball at Montana State University, also keeps the raft pumped up during summer for family float trips.

In a family full of athletes, it can be hard to stand out. But early on Kwyn definitely did in one sport.

“Her track ability set her apart,” Lynette said.

As a freshman at the state meet, Kwyn leaped 33-6.5 in the triple jump, placing fifth. She set a few higher goals and began training in the offseason. Even during the cold winter months she would meet her jump coach at the fairgrounds for practices. As a sophomore she jumped 37-4, only 1.5 inches off the 1984 state record she had her eyes on. But Kwyn took second behind Billings West’s Kennedy Smith, who set a new record by two inches, 37-7.5. Instead of being discouraged, Kwyn became motivated. Snowfall or not, she kept training.
Then last spring Kwyn made history. With family, friends, teammates and coaches all watching at a wintery state meet in Butte, Johnson broke the state record in the triple jump, 38-4.75.

“That was just the coolest feeling,” she said.

The achievement punctuated what ASU already knew about Kwyn — she has all the qualities of a top-tier athlete.

There’s her height, which she’s always had as an advantage.

“In elementary school I thought it was awesome that I was taller than all the boys,” she said, smiling.

There’s her left-handedness, which is perfect for a right-sided hitter.

“She’s a quiet leader and one of those who leads by example,” Wilcox said, adding, “I remember her when she was a seventh-grader. She’s come a long way in the last six years.”

There are Kwyn’s abilities in the classroom; she’s a 4.0 student who takes International Baccalaureate classes.

And there’s her affable attitude, one of the traits that her mother loves best.

“She’s just always been super fun and easy going, and just a really great kid to raise and fun to have around,” Lynette said. “I’ll definitely miss her when she goes. But it will be fun to watch her this last year.”

Correction: The 2006 Flathead team placed second at state.