Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.
Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/189804
"The biggest influence obviously is him being my big brother – looking out for me, having me over for dinner, stuff like that," McKenna said. "It's not only nice to just see a friendly face but you actually have family on the same campus with you. It makes campus feel like home." ence college with her. "It's nice to get closer with your sister now that you're both kind of young adults and you get to do the same social things together. "I go to most of her games if I can get to them and she goes to all of mine, and we can share experiences that kind of overlap, whether it's dealing with teammates or coaches or time management. "We both can talk with each other and learn from each other's mistakes." In handling the grind of a long season, and the pressures and challenges of competing athletically at this level, they talk about staying positive and "on the attack" while keeping it all fun. One for all, all for Wisconsin. "You can't find a family," McKenna Meuer proposed, "more integrated into Badger athletics." Oh, yes, you can. Usually right down the street, too; the Mark and Leslie Johnson family. McKenna acknowledged as much when she said, "We've grown up with the Johnsons. I have lived in either the same neighborhood or across the street from the Johnsons my entire life." McKenna Meuer has been best friends with Mikayla Johnson, a sophomore on the UW women's hockey team. They lived in the same campus dorm last season. Not only can you connect the dots between McKenna and Mikayla but … Molly Meuer is about the same age as the oldest Johnson boy, Doug. Katy Meuer is about the same age as Chris Johnson, the middle son. Keegan Meuer and Patrick Johnson have been playing hockey together since they were 5 or 6. Kaeden Meuer and Meghan Johnson are the youngest and two classes apart in high school. Nobody, perhaps, has gotten more fulfillment out of these family ties than Mark Johnson, the celebrated 1980 U.S. Olympian and the head coach of the Wisconsin women's hockey team. "It all started with my dad trying to sell hockey to a community and a state," he said of the legendary Bob Johnson, the Hall of Fame architect of the UW men's program. Mark and his brother, Peter Johnson, both played for Badger Bob; an experience that Mark is now reliving by coaching his daughter, Mikayla. "There are challenges and I'm sure my dad went through it when my brother and I played for him," Mark said. "You're probably harder on your own kid than you are some of the other players. "She's living on campus and doing the same things the other players are doing. I don't see her any more 39