At the Montgomery Town Board meeting on May 6, Jonathan Walsh, coach of the Valley Central High School girls varsity soccer team, was named the Town of Montgomery Citizen of the Month for leading his squad to its first Section IX title in the history of the program.

After years of coming up just short of winning a Section IX title, the girls varsity soccer team finally broke through. On April 19, they capped off an undefeated season with a 2-1 win over Monroe-Woodbury High School to capture the Section IX crown. By winning that game, the vikings broke Monroe-Woodbury’s streak of capturing seven consecutive Section IX girls soccer titles. Monroe-Woodbury had also won two consecutive New York State championships.

At last Thursday’s town board meeting, Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher presented members of the team with certificates and praised their accomplishment.

“Being an alumni of Valley Central, a former athlete myself, I have so much admiration for what you guys accomplished with everything that’s going on with the pandemic,” he said. “That is truly inspirational. It’s something that we will never forget. You made everyone in the Town of Montgomery and all three villages very proud and your school district proud.”

The girls capturing the Section IX title inspired Maher to name Walsh the Town of Montgomery Citizen of the Month, as he led them to victory.

After receiving the award, Walsh thanked the town board for the honor and recognized his team’s hard work.

“Thank you to the girls, what a fantastic job you guys did this year,” he said. “With the pandemic and everything, pushing forward, striving. Going undefeated for the first time as well at Valley Central and really laying the groundwork for what we hope to do in the future.”