The County Press

Almont multi-sport athletes sign to play college sports




Grace Koening signs her national letter of intent to play softball for Central Michigan University.

Grace Koening signs her national letter of intent to play softball for Central Michigan University.

ALMONT — Devin Johnston and Grace Koenig will go their separate ways after signing their national letters of intent last month. The pair played on the varsity softball team with Koenig playing volleyball and basketball and Johnston playing volleyball and running track for the Raiders.

Koening, who also played travel softball for the Turnin2 National 18U team, will play softball at Central Michigan University. She also considered Western Michigan, Ball State, Toledo and Kent State.

“I knew that CMU was going to be an amazing place for me the moment I stepped on campus,” said Koenig. “The atmosphere that was created on campus and the passion that the team has to play softball proved to me that this was going to be my home for the next four years.”

Koenig said she is looking at engineering as a major but “not sure what I would like to specialize in”. She noted that the challenges ahead would be in balancing school and sports as well as keeping in touch with her family.

Devin Johnston will run track for Eastern Illinois University after officially signing with the school, flanked by her parents Ray and Lane.

Devin Johnston will run track for Eastern Illinois University after officially signing with the school, flanked by her parents Ray and Lane.

“I am nervous about the classes that I will be taking and the level of difficulty of them compared to high school,” Koenig explained. “However, I am super excited to start my college softball career and see where that takes me!”

Koening also said she will have to earn her spot as an incoming freshman just like all the other incoming freshmen. There were many thanks to those who helped Koenig reach her goal of playing college ball.

“I would like to thank my parents for the opportunities that they have given me with softball and the ability to travel the country and play,” added Koenig. “I would also like to thank all of the softball coaches that I have had who have developed my mechanics and given up their time to help me become a great player.”

With her travel team, Koenig had a .380 batting average and belted five home runs. For the Raiders’ softball program, Koening holds several school records including 54 runs scored in the 2021 season, 51 runs batted in and 18 doubles for that same season. She stroked eight triples in the 2022 campaign.

Johnston will run track at Eastern Illinois. She also considered Ball State, Northwood, Murray State and the University of Buffalo.

“EIU checked all the boxes that I was looking for when finding a potential college,” said Johnston. “Being Division 1, the size of their campus and the distance away from home were all exactly what I wanted. I really liked the coaching staff and I fully believe they will develop me as a runner and push me to achieve my full potential.”

Johnston will pursue a major in hospitality and said her challenges will include the increased difficulty in competition, balancing athletics and academics at a high level, and also being over seven hours away from home.

“I am nervous about the competition level I will be stepping into but excited to push myself to my full ability,” said Johnston. “I will compete in my sprints as a freshman and possibly be a part of one of the relays.

Johnston also wanted to give a shout out to those who helped her realize her dream of college sports.

“I would like to thank my parents and my brother for being my biggest supporters,” said Johnston. “They are the reason I am still in sports today and why I am so successful. Without their countless hours driving me to practices or games, the money they have spent on me, or their many years of coaching me, I would not have the opportunity I have to play at such a high level in college. I would also like to thank my grandparents for coming to every game or meet they can and always cheering me on no matter the sport.”

Johnston was also a member of the National Honor Society and student council. She said the decision to choose track over softball wasn’t easy.

“I was recruited for both softball and track throughout my recruiting process but chose track as it was a fresh sport for me, only competing for three years versus my 13 years in softball.”

Johnston also played for the Turnin 2 Nationals 18U team. For the Almont softball program, Johnston holds a .600 batting average for the 2021 season, an on-base percentage of .618 for the 2021 season along with 63 hits. Her slug percentage for 2022 was .867. For the Raiders, Johnston is tied for most doubles with 18, which she recorded in the 2021 season, and slugged eight triples during the 2022 season.

The sprinter on the track team was a two-time All-State honoree in softball, a two-time All-Blue Water Area Conference honoree and team captain and made All-State in track in the 100 and 200. She also earned All-BWAC honors in track and was named All- BWAC MVP.

Almont varsity softball and girls’ basketball coach Erik Johnson couldn’t be prouder of his two protégés.

“Almont has been blessed with two fantastic athletes,” Johnson said. “Our small town has two Division 1 athletes from the same class and a third a year behind in Ava Panduren (verbally committed to MSU for soccer). That is something special.

I’ve been blessed to be able to coach all three. Devin and Grace both started in our youth softball program and branched out to eventually play national level fastpitch. Devin then discovered track and was blessed with natural speed, but also has worked feverishly to develop into a D1 level track sprinter, all while continuing to play softball. It’s amazing what she’s done and I’m sure will do great things at Eastern Illinois.

Grace is a three-sport athlete herself and has become a natural leader. I’m fortunate to have her play for me in both basketball and softball. On the diamond, she’s our leader, she has such a knowledge of the game and commands respect because of it. That has transferred to the court as well. The kids respect her because of her physical abilities, but more because of the way she carries herself and relates to her peers. She, too, will become an asset for the Chippewas.

It takes hard work, dedication and blessed skill to develop into a D1 athlete. Devin and Grace are blessed with talent and have taken that to the next level with the time and energy they have put into what they do. The sky is the limit for both of these girls. I cannot wait to see how they do and will be cheering them on along the way!”

— Lisa Paine