Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Female Athletes Of The Year
FARMINGTON SENIOR IS FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
FARMINGTON — During a pep rally held Thursday, May 17, at Lady Cardinal softball field, Farmington assistant coach Steve Morgan hailed Camryn Journagan.
“She’s the only two-times in the same season conference champion Farmington has ever had at the 5A level,” Morgan said. “With special leadership like that it’s no wonder we win.”
Journagan’s teams consistently won. As a senior the combined record of the Lady Cardinals in volleyball (5-15-1), girls basketball (26-6), and softball (27-5) amounted to 58 wins against 26 losses and a tie.
She played in two state semifinals in basketball (2017) and softball (2018) for Farmington in 5A. To salute her individual efforts as a team-first player, Journagan has been named Female Athlete of the Year for school year 20172018 at Farmington by the Enterprise-Leader.
Volleyball
became critical with nine of Farmington’s 17 volleyball players new to varsity for 2017. Journagan became team captain, and led the Lady Cardinals in aces with 43 and digs with 572 at the end of the regular season.
In 32 girls basketball games, Journagan averaged 6.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.1 blocks. Journagan maintained a 1.37 assist-to-turnover ratio, and was fourth in minutes played (649). She finished fourth among the Lady Cardinals with 68 field goals made.
Journagan concluded an impactful basketball career at Farmington by winning 5A West All-Conference recognition. Journagan’s senior leadership anchored the team through many storms. Her constant presence in 32 games, averaging 20.3 minutesper-contest stabilized a team that seemed in constant transition as injured or ill players returned one-by-one to the lineup.
Basketball
Journagan averaged 1.6 turnovers and fouls were not a problem with 1.3 fouls-per-game.
Softball
Journagan received All-Conference honorable mention honors for her senior season despite getting a late start in softball due to the girls basketball team making the state quarterfinals. She appeared in 24 games, hitting .371. Journagan produced 26 hits in 70 at-bats with 81 plate appearances with 20 runs scored, 21 RBIs, 3 doubles, and 3 triples. Journagan got on base 44 percent of the time, and her fielding percentage was .880.
Journagan and the Lady Cardinal softball team came within a hair’s breadth of winning a state championship. Battling back from a 3-1 deficit in their last at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning on a blazing hot day, May 19, 2018, at the Benton Sports Complex.
Carley Antwine drew a walk, sandwiched around a pair of fly-outs, the second of which was caught in foul territory by Greenbrier’s first baseman near the dugout. That was the type of play Farmington forced Greenbrier to make to win the game. The Lady Panthers held their breath as Antwine stole second with Madison Parrish batting. Parrish got ahead 3-1 and drew a walk.
Charging hard from second, Antwine beat a throw to the plate when Farmington catcher Alyssa Reed belted a two-out single. The score narrowed Greenbrier’s lead to 3-2. Parrish was in scoring position at second with the go-ahead runner on board at first, but Greenbrier escaped with the win and state crown on a ground-out to third.
Asked how she maintained her focus with the pressure on, Journagan relied on experience.
“I’ve played in a lot of big games, I had to tell myself ‘it’s just another game,’” Journagan said. “We couldn’t let the crowd get to us. We had to act as if it’s another game.”
Career Plans
Journagan plans to pursue a degree in psychology in college while considering going into social work. Once she obtains a bachelor’s degree, she intends to go for a masters.
Her older sisters, Payton Journagan (FHS Class of 2012), and Danielle Dengler (FHS Class of 2006) preceded her. Both played sports. Camryn is thankful Farmington girls’ sports draw their share of fan support, recalling, “Danielle played (girls basketball) for Coach (Brad) Blew back in the days when the crowd left, then came out for the boys.”