Lauded by one current NCHS head coach as “the best female athlete of the last twenty-five years,” Christine Johnson’s statistics and awards tell a story of tremendous talent, fierce commitment and dedicated effort. Yet what is even more impressive than her achievements is the story of her heart. Because no matter what Johnson was doing, she did it with all of herself – and always for team. Named NCHS Athlete of the Year in 1991 by her peers, it’s not surprising that some of Johnson’s best memories from high school are tied to her athletic experiences. She shared, “So much of being a part of a team was the camaraderie and building relationships. I remember gathering with the team for breakfasts, dinners, and tasty treats. We decorated lockers to build team spirit and t-p’d houses to welcome new athletes to our team. I have fond memories of bus rides to and from games; whether laughing or commiserating, we were building friendships. In the end, it is always the people we remember and the way they made us feel like we were part of something.”Johnson was an integral part of so many “somethings.” An avid Redskin in every arena, Johnson valued her time as a student leader and physical education leader as much as she did her time on the basketball court and soccer field. She was a great fan of all sports and activities and enjoyed supporting her classmates in their diverse interests. She brought a deep heart to her play, earning recognition not only for her skills but also for her character and leadership.A three-year letter winner in basketball, she led her team in scoring and assists during her junior and senior seasons, earning MVP distinction twice. She was named to the DVC All-Conference team twice, and was recognized as the Daily Herald Player of the Week and Naperville Sun Player of the Year as a senior. Of all of the accomplishments, she is most proud of her chance to serve the team as captain.Each spring, Johnson traded her basketball shoes for soccer cleats, earning four varsity letters as an athlete under Coach Ruth Kuzmanic. She earned All-State honors as a midfielder in her junior and senior years, and was named All-Midwest and MVP in each of those years. A Daily Journal, Naperville Sun and Chicago Tribune Player of the Year, Johnson again carried the captain mantle, leading her team by word and example.She credits the support of her coaches at every age and stage of her life as the driving force behind her success and is especially grateful for her parents who were “the silent cheerleaders, the listening ear and the ones who provided the encouraging words along the way.” While the thrill of competition was exciting, Johnson found energy from her teammates, who she says were instrumental in her experiences. She noted, “When you decide to play team sports, there is not just one who can do it alone. Each basket, goal, assist, rebound had to do with a series of other plays. My teammates over the years always were dedicated to being part of a team. We encouraged, supported and celebrated what each brought […] and when you are surrounded by individuals who will put the team first, it does nothing but breed success.”That success continued for Johnson at Butler University, where she was a founding member of Butler’s women’s soccer program. She was a Division 1 scholarship recipient all four years, earning All-Conference First Team honors in each of her seasons. She won the Tony Hinkle Freshman of the Year award, was team MVP in 1992 and 1994, and earned All-American Honors in 1994. The third all-time leading scorer in Butler history, she was inducted into the Butler Hall of Fame in 2008. After graduation, she played for a semi-professional women’s soccer team in 1997, and coached summer camps at Notre Dame and Indiana University.Johnson returned home to Naperville to teach and has been a District 203 Educator for 17 years. She has been a “Those Who Excel” nominee four times. Driven to give back to sports that had given her so much, Johnson coached freshman girls basketball at Naperville Central and JV girls soccer at St. Charles High School for four years. She has also coached for Naperville Soccer Association (NSA) and worked as a personal soccer trainer. She and her husband, Pat O’Neil, have been married for ten years and are the proud parents of Quinn (age 7) and Evann (age 5).She hopes that today’s Redhawks honor the spirit of Naperville Central by “truly absorbing the lessons being part of a team can offer.” Most importantly, she advises student-athletes, “Take your passion for your sport into everything you do that is worth doing right. If you are passionate about what you do, even on the day of your retirement you will be trying to be better than you were the day before.”Johnson’s team-centered heart lives by that truth, touching all fortunate enough to share in her paths.