Johnson Sisters Ready to Begin Michigan Careers
1/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Water Polo
Jan. 20, 2016
Danielle (left) and Kim Johnson at the Big House
By Ben Blevins
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sisters Danielle Johnson and Kim Johnson are expected to make their debuts this weekend for the University of Michigan water polo team, but it will be the first time in four years that the two will play together.
The story of how the sisters ended up together at Michigan is intriguing as the younger of the two, Kim, committed first and the elder, Danielle, started classes a semester earlier.
Dr. Marcelo Leonardi was in his fourth month as the head coach of the Wolverines and trying to build his first recruiting class. Danielle was back home in Walnut Creek, California, after deciding to leave Loyola Marymount, where she had played for two years, scoring 45 goals and twice earning ACWPC All-Academic honors with outstanding distinction for the highest level of achievement. Kim was a standout senior and USA Water Polo Academic All-American at Las Lomas High School in Walnut Creek and was invited to take an official visit to the University of Michigan.
"I came on my trip not really knowing anything about Michigan," said Kim. "They offered me a trip, so I thought I might as well try it out and see all of my options, and then by the end of the trip I loved it."
Kim had a pretty good idea that Michigan was where she wanted to go to school and when she returned to California the Johnson family went out to dinner to talk about her visit. As Kim started explaining about the school, she started to realize that it was the type of school her big sister Danielle was also looking for. Danielle started to see it too, but she didn't want to take away from Kim's experience.
"I was trying to get my bearings and research schools and figure things out," said Danielle. "She was saying how much fun she had and all of the resources the student-athletes have here. I wanted to talk with her before reaching out to Marcelo."
The seed had already been planted. Marcelo and Kim had breakfast on her official visit and Danielle came up in the conversation when Marcelo had asked Kim about her family. Marcelo knew Danielle from his time at Cal State Northridge, where he game planned against her, but did not know that she had left LMU. He was interested in her but did not say so to Kim. As it turned out, he didn't have to, as a week later he received an email from Danielle.
"We started the recruiting process," said Leonardi. "It was lengthy but had to also be quick in terms of academic admissions. I knew she was going to redshirt for a year and that she had a tremendous amount of talent."
Marcelo recruited both Kim and Danielle separately, only talking to the two of them together with their parents near the end of the process.
"I tried to keep them exclusive," said Leonardi. "They are both blue-chip players and in different stages of their careers. I felt we had to give them individual respect, but one of the selling points was them playing together."
Kim signed her National Letter of Intent during the November signing period in 2014. Danielle took one more visit to Ann Arbor and committed that night. Kim would wait nearly 10 months before moving into the dorms on U-M's campus, but Danielle started classes in January 2015.
"I knew that I wasn't going to be able to play," said Danielle. "At the time it was hard but looking back I realize it was for the better because I have become a better player and I actually know the system a lot better now."
Kim and Danielle pose for a couple of photos
Sitting out from competition for a year also allowed Kim to compete in a Michigan uniform before Danielle, despite starting school later. Kim played in the team's exhibition matches at the Collegiate Cup in November, scoring three goals. This weekend the two will play together for the first time in four years, back when Danielle was a high school senior and Kim a freshman.
"I love playing with her," said Kim. "We are very good at reading each other and knowing what the other person wants. I think we have a really good dynamic in the water."
The benefit of Danielle sitting out for a year is that the two of them will get to play together for two years. Both players can play numerous positions, but have different strengths. Kim is more of a center defender and Danielle more of a post player.
"Caroline Anderson was saying the other day that we have the same mannerisms in the pool," said Danielle. "We goof off with each other more though. I will hit her on the shoulder or give her a weird face, something I wouldn't do with someone else on the team."
The sisters are very close, but don't see each other much on campus as Danielle takes sports management classes and Kim is in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts. The two will study together frequently in the academic center, go shopping or watch "The Bachelor" at Danielle's house to spend time with each other.
"It has been a lot of fun," said Kim. "She is my best friend."
