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Virginia native and NCSA finalist Sidney Johnson will be staying close to home for her college career, announcing her commitment to James Madison University beginning in the fall of 2027.
“I am beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my athletic and academic career at James Madison University! I would like to thank my family and friends, along with coach Mike and Max for all of their help and support! I especially want to give a huge thank you to Coach Connor for all of the support and guidance these past 12 years! As well as Coach Dane and Coach Becca for this amazing opportunity! GO DUKES!”
A junior at King George High School in King George, Va., Johnson has been a member of her school’s varsity swimming and diving team for the past three years. She also currently trains year-round with the Rappahannock Stingrays Swim Team, where she primarily specializes in free and back.
Johnson was on fire last season, turning in a series of lifetime best performances at the 2025 VSI SC Senior Championships. She placed 4th in the 200 back (1:58.85 – PB) and 200 free (1:50.67 – PB), 10th in the 100 back (56.16 – PB), 13th in the 500 free (5:02.85) and 30th in the 100 free (53.49). She also placed 28th during the prelims of the 50 free (24.47) but opted not to race the event again in finals. As the leadoff on the 200 medley relay, Johnson clocked a new personal best time of 26.87 in the 50 back en route to helping her team to a 13th-place finish overall.
At last season’s NCSA Spring Championship (SCY) in March, Johnson earned a second swim in three events and logged new lifetime bests in two. She placed 19th in the 200 back (1:58.21 – PB), 28th in the 200 free (1:51.10) and 35th in the 100 back (55.72 – PB). She also contested the 50 free (24.65) and 500 free (5:06.43).
Johnson turned in an even stronger showing at the summer iteration of the meet, earning a second swim in five events and posting personal best times in four events at the NCSA Summer Championships (LCM) in July. She placed 17th in the 200 back (2:17.49 – PB), 18th in the 50 back (30.79 – PB), 19th in the 100 back (1:04.92), 28th in the 400 free (4:29.69 – PB) and 29th in the 200 free (2:06.72). Johnson also logged a lifetime best in the 50 free (27.83).
Most of Johnson’s top times still stand from last season, with the exception of the 100 free: she threw down a new personal best time of 51.55 in the 100 free at the 2025 VA RAYS Nutcracker Classic in December. She still holds her lifetime bests in the 50 free and 500 free from the 2024 iteration of the meet, where she posted times of 24.18 and 4:59.70, respectively.
Best Times SCY
- 50 free – 24.18
- 100 free – 51.55
- 200 free – 1:50.67
- 500 free – 4:59.70
- 100 back – 55.72
- 200 back – 1:58.21
A Division I Mid-Major program, JMU now competes in the American Athletic Conference against the likes of Rice, Tulane, FIU and East Carolina. The Dukes made the move to AAC this season after previously being part of the Sun Belt Conference, in which the women’s team won the 2025 conference championship title.
Based on the results from the 2025 American Athletic Conference Championships, Johnson would have landed in the ‘A’ final in the 200 back and the ‘B’ final in the 200 free, 500 free and 100 back and the ‘C’ final in the 100 free, setting her up to be a strong contributor right from the start.
With Marshall and Liberty having just moved into the AAC this season alongside JMU and another full competition season before Johnson arrives, we’ll have to wait and see exactly how the conference standings shake out, but she should be in a good position to score some points for the Dukes.
Johnson is currently the only recruit from the class of 2027 committed to JMU, but there is plenty of time for that to change before she heads to Harrisonburg.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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A fine swimmer and even better young lady! She will be an asset to the team.