Ed. Note: We are back with the weekly summer feature that looks at the returning athletes at both Tippecanoe and Bethel. This week, Maddie Montgomery is ready to leave her mark one final time with the Bees soccer program.

Maddie Montgomery is ready to leave her legacy with the Bethel girls soccer program for one more season, as the senior gears up for what she hopes it her most productive season yet. Coming off a 5-12 season and fourth place in the Three Rivers Conference, the Bees are hoping that Montgomery can be a key part of a big turnaround toward the top of the league this fall.

“I am looking forward to my senior year of soccer more than any year previously,” Montgomery said. “Looking at our team, we have a great number of returning players and underclassmen that can step into roles as needed. With all the talent we have spanning from the freshman to us seniors, I believe we have a good chance of succeeding greatly this season.”

“I expect for us to surprise many teams throughout our schedule because of the season we had my junior year and the one we look to have this season. We have also added some great coaches to our coaching staff, and I believe they will do an amazing job in helping lead our team to success.”

Montgomery has been sharpening her skills on the travel circuit with a lot of success to help prepare her for what she expects to be a much different year in 2024.

“Playing club soccer in two national leagues and winning two state championships has led me to grow as an individual in so many ways,” she said. “This club has allowed me to gain confidence in myself as a player, thanks to the support of my coaches, teammates, and all our parents. We play at such a high level that all the teams and athletes we play against give us a good game and push us to always be our best.”

“In order to get the results we want playing at this level, we know it is more than important to show up and give 110% each time we are on the field. This mentality has allowed me to grow as a player as well. Not only has it helped me grow as a soccer player, but it has taught me many valuable lessons and given me my best friends.”

“The ultimate goal going into both sports (soccer and basketball) for my senior year that I want to accomplish is to create an environment every player wants to be a part of each and every day, in or out of season. For me teams that have a solid structure and culture have the most success on the field or court.”

After taking off her junior basketball season to focus on her soccer, she has decided to return to the hardwood and enjoy her senior season with the Bees.

‘It definitely was a hard decision my junior year to take the season off of basketball and I am more than excited to be back on the court with my girls for my senior year,” she said. “I am excited to see what we are going to do this year because looking at the team we are going to be very successful and do great things.”

Her future once she finishes her time with the Bees will be to continue her soccer career at the collegiate level, and she is still working toward a decision where she wants that to be.

“I have not yet made a final decision regarding where I will be continuing my academic career and playing college soccer; however, I have narrowed down my options quite a bit at this point, with my top 5 schools being Ohio Northern University, Wright State University, Wittenberg University, Denison University, and Ashland University,” she said.

“I am looking to go to school to be a pharmacist, so it is helpful that I will be graduating at the end of the 2025 school year with not only my high school diploma but also my associates degree of science through Edison State College.”