Marshalltown Community College sophomore John Spells (Round Rock, TX/Round Rock) has committed to play soccer at Ottawa University next season. Spells was part of one of the most successful recruiting classes in MCC history.
Members of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC), Ottawa University is an NAIA institution located in Ottawa, KS. The Braves are led by head coach Brendon McGonigle who is in his third year at the helm.
A goalkeeper for the Tigers, Spells elaborated on his decision to join the Braves program next season."From the recruiting process and the coaching staff looking at me as a prospective player to the atmosphere of the team, everything seemed to be suitable for what I was looking for in my next step. I can go to Ottawa University and work on playing as well as being a successful student."
"I feel that the next level will be a change, but I feel that I am prepared to move on to a higher level of soccer as well as taking care of business in the classroom," Spells continued. "It's a new environment, but I feel that if I do what I know I can do, I have nothing to worry about."
"Marshalltown has truly prepared me for this opportunity. Having only played three years of soccer before coming to MCC, I feel that I've improved enough to move on to the next level because of these past two years at MCC. Marshalltown has taught me how to balance being a student and an athlete."
"I'd like to thank my parents for supporting me and keeping my head straight as well as providing for me and making sure that there is nothing that could have taken me off my path. The coaching staff at MCC gave me the training I needed to achieve this opportunity of moving on to the next level."
MCC head coach Rafael Martinez expressed his pleasure of Spells moving on to the next level. "I am very happy with what John has given to this program- a strong contribution on the field that goes beyond stats, an exemplary attitude on campus, and a great deal of positive leadership to our soccer family. I am not surprised that coaches at Ottawa felt he could be an immediate contributor to the team. I wish him the very best and expect great things from him both on and off the field."
Aside from soccer, Spells has taken on a variety of roles throughout campus, including the team manager of the MCC softball team where he excelled in multiple day-to-day activities of the program for the past two seasons.
Spells, who will graduate from MCC Friday night, will enroll in the Pre-Med Biology and Chemistry academic programs at Ottawa next season.
