John Ellis Montgomery signs to Co-Lin

VICKSBURG, Miss.(VDN)—High School soccer is officially over but John Ellis Montgomery made it official on Friday that his athletic career is still in full effect. The St. Aloysius star player signed a collegiate scholarship to Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

“I like all the coaches there but I feel it’s the best place to go and play soccer,” Montgomery said. “I’m pretty excited and I think it will benefit me in the future.”

Montgomery has been starting on the varsity team since his eighth-grade year under Head Coach Jay Madison. Five seasons later, Montgomery stands as one of the top athletes conference as he was selected to play in the MAIS All-Star Game as a senior.

Due to an injury, he was forced to sit out in the final four games of his senior year but still managed to help the Flashes to an 11-4 record while finishing his senior season with eight goals and three assists.

“This season just ended too quickly and I wish we would’ve gone a little further in the playoffs,” he added. “It was heartbreaking not being able to play in the final games but I was still rooting for my teammates.”

John Ellis’ name has been a hot topic for years in the soccer world as he has been around the game since he was 4-years-old. At the age of 9, he joined the Mississippi Rush Soccer Club where he gained the opportunity to travel abroad(London, England) as well as multiple states, including Arizona and Florida.

With years of training and experience, Montgomery ended his high school career with 42 goals and 32 assists. 

John Ellis previously had a connection with Co-Lin as his club team coach was the coach the junior college as well. 

“I was glad he chose to pick me and it means a lot, especially coming from him,” Montgomery said.

Although soccer is the game that Montgomery is known for, he also quickly became a football star when he became the Flashes’ kicker where he made 13 successful extra points, four field goals(45 yards longest), and eight kickoff return tackles. He also played in the MAIS All-Star Game.

For more than a decade, Montgomery has been putting in major work to make this day come true. Although Friday was strictly about him, he chose to mention that his parents were the major reason for his accomplishments.

“I want to thank my coaches and teammates but especially my parents because they were sacrificing their workdays to come and get me out of school and travel long ways for games,” Montgomery said.

John Ellis is the son of Jerry and Speler Montgomery.