Since she graduated high school in May, former Straughn High School student Beth Johnson has been shredding the water in wakeboarding competitions all over the state.

“It’s been a really great year,” Johnson said. “I’ve gotten stronger as the year has gone along, and I still have faith I can stay in first place for the rest of the year.”

Johnson competes in INT Alabama’s WB Entro Women’s division, and is blowing away the competition with just two more stops left in the summer.

Johnson got the season started strong with a big win at the first stop in Alexander City. Johnson won day one with a score of 1,896.8. She finished second in the second stop with a score of 912.63.

At stops three and four in Cullman, Johnson was once again at the top of the pack. Day one she took the top spot with a score of 2,542.67.

She took first place on the second day with a score of 1,985.95.

Johnson’s wins in Cullman secured a spot in the Regional finals in North Carolina in September.

Before heading to regionals, Johnson added another win and second place finish at stops five and six in Wetumpka.

Johnson took second place on day one and first place on day two.

Her first place finish in the second day was a personal best score.

“I’m not even sure what the score was they just told me it was a personal best,” Johnson said of her set in Wetumpka. “I knew it was going to be from the way I rode. The whole ride just felt amazing. I landed all of my tricks including my wildcard.”

Johnson said that a wildcard is a trick from a higher division that riders can attempt for big points.

“They aren’t easy tricks,” Johnson said. “I was excited when I landed it and knew it was going to be a good score.”

Johnson said that throughout the year she has continued to improve.

“I’ve improved a lot over the season,” Johnson said. “I was sketchy with some of my tricks at the beginning of the year, but now I’m landing them all.”

The final stop of the year for the Alabama INT will be at Lake Guntersville on Aug. 13-14, but Johnson said she will make a stop at a bigger event in Montgomery before heading to final INT stop.

“I’m going to do a WWA event in Montgomery before the final INT stop,” Johnson said. “It’s a much bigger league than INT, and I’m excited about competing against a lot of great athletes.”

Johnson’s main goal for the year is stay in first place in Alabama INT, she said.

“I love my competition,” Johnson said. “We really push each other and make each other work hard, but my goal is stay in first place and represent Alabama at regionals.