Posted on Friday, January 10, 2025
Senior Baylor Montoya has broadened his range of pursuits across campus—as an athlete, performer and musician. But it’s his voice as a writer that he wants to carry forward into his next chapter.
“After writing my first short story, I realized I had unlocked a passion that made me see my future in an entirely new light,” he said.
What first drew Montoya to LC was sports, but he soon found out that campus life offered additional opportunities for him as well.
“Since I got recruited for lacrosse, I’ve been able to do so many things outside of athletics,” he said.
In addition to serving as captain of the Lacrosse team, he participates as an active member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, performs with the Panther Pulse drumline, leads the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society as president and is a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society. His commitment to academics extends to his roles as a writing tutor and member of the honor council.
Under the spotlight, his recent Price Theater appearances include the “Wizard of Oz,” “The Lottery” and “The Applicant.”
Montoya initially started as a History major, but later added a second major in English Writing and Publication Studies after discovering his knack for crafting stories.
“I enjoy history because it is amazing to learn about events that happened on the same ground where we walk,” he said. “I intended on pursuing a career as a high school history teacher, but I fell in love with writing through survey level English classes.”
English Professor Dr. Anthony Wilson describes Montoya as a Renaissance student who gives his best in everything he does. 
“Baylor shows up every day ready to go—prepared, engaged and thoughtful,” he said. “He's one of those students who makes the classes he's in better through his thoughtful insights and contributions to discussion.”
History Assistant Professor Dr. Richard Soash, who has worked closely with Montoya, said he excels as both a double major and campus leader.
“When we offered to take a student to the Georgia Association of Historians conference last year, he jumped at the chance to present his research on the fall of the House of Godwin,” he said. “His poster presentation was so impressive that a history professor from one of the state universities asked if she could take a picture of the poster to use as a model for her senior seminar students.
“Over the years, Baylor has successfully balanced two writing-intensive majors, leadership in several campus organizations and a demanding lacrosse schedule.”
Montoya says what keeps him grounded is his faith. He leads a Thursday night Bible study on campus and will present a message this month at one of the Chapel worship services.
“God has blessed me with the ability to write, the ability to play college athletics and everything else in my life,” he said. “I want to show other people the transformative power that the Lord has had in my life and can have in theirs.”
After graduation, Montoya wants to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and hopes to one day publish a novel in the field of Christian young adult fiction.
He said his advice for freshmen is to pay attention to who you associate yourself with on campus.
“The people that you put yourself around and the place you put yourself in will completely change you,” he said.
From the Mediterranean Sea to Mars Hill – Apostle Paul in Greece
Thursday, Jan. 16
6 p.m., Online
Men's Basketball
The Panthers closed out 2024 with two losses against Union College and Kean University at the Emory Shootout tournament Dec. 29-30 in Atlanta. LC started the new year on the road, opening conference play against the CCS' top teams in Huntingdon College and Belhaven University. Dropping both due to shooting troubles, the Panthers had their sights set on picking up their first win against a similarly struggling Covenant Scots. Unfortunately, in a game that came down to the wire, LC fell just short after pulling off a 15-point comeback late in the game as it dropped its third conference game in a row 86-84. The Panthers will have the opportunity to rectify their early-conference season struggles when they travel to Demorest, Georgia to take on the Lions of Piedmont University on Tuesday, January 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Women's Basketball
LC has been on one of its most dominant runs in recent memory, winning seven of nine games since November 17, 2024. Two of those victories occurred in the new year against Huntingdon College and Belhaven University on Saturday, Jan. 4 and Tuesday, Jan. 7, respectively. The Panthers' win streak came to a heartbreaking end on Thursday when they fell to the Covenant College team who was red-hot from behind the three-point line. Down 16 late in the game, LC stormed back to force overtime where it unfortunately could not capitalize on the extra period as the Scots survived 88-86. The Panthers will return to the court on Tuesday, January 14 when they hit the road to take on the Piedmont University Lions at 5 p.m.
Football
Sophomore Henry Brodnax and junior Brandon Matson earned College Communicators Men’s Academic All-District selections.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Tuesday, Jan. 14 – Women’s Basketball at Piedmont, 5 p.m., Demorest, Georgia
Tuesday, Jan. 14 – Men’s Basketball at Piedmont, 7 p.m., Demorest, Georgia
LaGrange College group dances for sick kids, LaGrange Daily News, Jan. 7
Category: Students, Academics
Keywords: History, English, Athletics
