We asked golfer Hudson Johnson and soccer player Megan Forester the same ten questions in this edition of "He Said/She Said." Here are Hudson's answers, click here to read Megan's.
Vanderbilt Hustler: How would you describe the dynamics of your sport?
Hudson Johnson: We work on our own strengths and weaknesses, but at the same time there is a definite team aspect of golf. We have morning workouts at 6 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, where everyone is onboard.
VH: As a senior, how will you bring leadership to the team?
HJ: I want to lead by example. I’d also like to be a good encouragement to the younger guys, sort of help them through some of their issues.
VH: How have you worked to improve your game over the course of your four years at Vanderbilt?
HJ: My putting and short game has definitely gotten a lot better. I’ve worked on the way I prepare myself and go about pacing myself through 18 holes. It’s like a marathon.
VH: What is the most vital part of your fall season?
HJ: In the fall, there’s our home tournament; it’s one we need to win, we haven’t won it in a long time. There’s also a tournament this fall in California, and it’s going to be our strongest field, so if we could play well there and judge ourselves for what we need to do come spring.
VH: Looking back at your career to date, what have you enjoyed the most about playing at Vandy?
HJ: My freshman year at regionals, we were in 11th place going into the last round, and they take the top 10 teams. As a team, we shot 21-under par that day, which was the single-round scoring record for Vanderbilt. It was a lot of fun for us to jump from 11th place to 4th to make it to the championships.
VH: How do you mentally prepare yourself for a game?
HJ: Normally I don’t do much. My coach laughs because some guys, they need an hour to do this and that. I like to stay relaxed and calm, and stay present in the day.
VH: What experiences from seasons past have you taken and grown from this season?
HJ: One thing that I’m really working on doing this year is learning not to punish myself. I’m trying to stay more upbeat about it. If I have a bad round, I’m going to keep going about my business and not let it affect the next day.
VH: What impact do you want to make this season?
HJ: I hope that I can leave an impression as a good leader, a good senior and a good guy. I want to be someone that the other players can come to, and look up to.
VH: How have you enjoyed being both a college athlete and a scholar?
HJ: It’s tough, but they give us help. There’s a group of academic counselors that we can go to. I think part of being a student-athlete goes unnoticed; we have quite a bit of a load to deal with, both on the course and in the classroom.
VH: What are your hopes for the future of your sport’s program at Vanderbilt?
HJ: I was recruited by a different coach. When our new coach came in, you could see the difference in the type of guys he was recruiting. I think that the team dynamic is going toward a good group of gritty guys, who aren’t afraid of anything.
