It is the fourth quarter, the clock is waning, only up one score against all-time school rivals. A ball gets tipped into the air, and a defensive lineman comes down with the catch, returning it to the opponent’s one-yard line to end the game with a statement. This moment was only just the start of Jonathan Fisher’s continuous success for Walter Johnson football.
Fisher said he has appreciated every moment football has come to offer, as establishing close relationships with teammates and coaches being a necessity.
“It’s been everything to build connections with teammates; we couldn’t go out there on Fridays and win games like we have been without having a connection,” Fisher said. “Knowing it is not just teammates but friends and brothers really allows us to play together and has contributed to a huge part of our success.”
With one final run loading in Fisher’s high school campaign, he is looking to give everything he can to contribute to winning.
“I just want to produce the best season I can to win games,” Fisher said. It would be awesome come the end of the season to get some of those all-county awards and recognition, but that’s second to winning and being there for the team.”
Fisher credits his growth on the field to the valuable insight of his coaches.
“Coach Hurd and Coach Hopkins both believed in me when I was young and nervous, but their confidence in me gave me confidence in myself, which helped me grow as a player,” Fisher said. “Coach Fiddler trusts me, and I trust him, allowing me to go out there and be the best I can be when I know my coaches are backing me.”
Coach Aaron Fiddler shared his thoughts on Fisher’s success as a player, leader, and student on the field.
“Jonny has a huge impact on the field,” Fiddler said. “Defensively, he is the type of player who can take over a game from multiple positions on defense. His athleticism and how hard he plays contribute to this, as does his intelligence for the game. Off the field, he is someone you can count on always to be there, and I know that, as a student, he is elite in his approach to academics. He will do great things this year both on and off the field.”
Teammates and coaches continually note Fisher’s impact as a leader. Senior John Jernell, Fisher’s longtime friend, didn’t hold back any praise for his teammate of four years when speaking about his impact on himself and the team.
“He’s been playing the sport for a while, so he has always been instrumental and gave great advice to the players around him, making them better,” Jernell said.
The Walter Johnson Wildcats fell back to .500 on the season in their 42-7 defeat versus Paint Branch on Friday, Sep. 27. In such an important season for Fisher, he looks to refocus himself and his team on returning to a winning record versus Wooton, Friday, Oct. 4
