Alumni Update: Laura Johnson
3/11/2021
Laura Johnson, a native of Albuquerque, N.M. and collegiate member of the Maroon and Gold from 2002 to 2006, helped lead Minnesota to three top four finishes at the Big Ten Championships and in 2006, the Gophers won the conference crown with a final tally of 195.150.
The same year, Johnson was Big Ten Co-Champion on vault after scoring a 9.800, earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor, collected four All-Time Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors as well as the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year laure. From 2004-06, Johnson was named to the All-Big Ten First Team.
As one of the most highly recruited student-athletes out of high school, Johnson didn't waste any time in establishing an impressive career at the University of Minnesota. During her freshman year, she earned All-Big Ten as well as team MVP honors. She continued her success into her sophomore year earning All-Big Ten honors again and claiming the second highest uneven bar and all-around scores in school history at the time with a 39.575 and 9.95, respectively. Johnson was also named the Miriam Award winner for the 2004 season.
During the 2005 season, Johnson was once again team MVP and earned her third All-Big Ten honor in three years. She also earned an individual berth to the NCAA Championships as an all-around competitor.
Johnson graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Journalism and passed the bar exam after graduating from the William Mitchell College of Law.
What led you to the University of Minnesota?
I was lucky enough to be recruited by most of the collegiate gymnastics programs across the country. However, I never followed college gymnastics until I became a Gopher, which allowed me to make my decision based solely on fit. I visited a number of programs, but Minnesota felt like home, which made the decision to move across the country and away from my family a pretty easy one.
You graduated in 2006, what have you been doing since your time with the Gophers?
After graduation I took the opportunity to travel and explore new places. I lived in Chicago, Boston and Providence before ultimately returning to Minnesota for law school at William Mitchell. While in law school, I took the opportunity to live in Prague and travel parts of Europe. I currently live and practice law in Minneapolis and am married to my husband Derek Vescio.
Have you been able to watch and stay connected to the current team? What advice would you give to them?
I do my best to continue to support the program and my old teammate Jenny Hansen. My advice would be to enjoy every second, drink in every moment whether it be in or out of the gym. Those four years go quickly and you will miss them when it’s over.
What is your favorite memory from your time as a Gopher?
I have many great memories during my time as a Gopher, but if I had to choose, winning the Big Ten Championship would be the highlight (our win broke Michigan’s seven year winning streak, which made it all the sweeter). We didn’t have the in-season distinction during my time at the U, so the actual championship was a team’s only shot at the title.
Have you stayed connected with your former teammates?
The short answer is yes. We are a family and have loved and supported each other not only during our time on the team, but through the years that have followed. We have been present at every milestone whether it be weddings, births, birthdays, holidays and everyday in between. I’m very lucky to have joined this program and to have had the opportunity to have had such amazing women come into and stay in my life.
You are just one of three Gopher gymnastics to be awarded the University of Minnesota’s Big Ten Medal of Honor. What did that honor mean to you?
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is one of the most prestigious conference awards in college athletics. It was an unbelievable honor to even be considered for this award let alone selected. I’m truly humbled to have my name included in a group of such elite and accomplished athletes. This was truly the cherry on top of a pretty wonderful collegiate career.
