Iowa Lakes Softball player, Eliya Johnson, has recently signed to continue her athletic and academic careers at Valley City State University. She will be studying Math and Chemistry at the university located in Valley City, North Dakota.

Johnson had this to say about choosing Valley City State, "I chose Valley City State University because I loved the small-town environment, smaller university, and the winning culture the coaches have created. I also gravitated towards the energy and passion the coaches have for the game. Valley City has a great teaching program in the areas of emphasis that I want so they are a very good fit for me."

Johnson is the daughter of Byron and Sonja Johnson. She is from Coon Rapids, MN, where she graduated from Coon Rapids High School with three varsity letters. She also holds the record for single-season homeruns with seven (2018) and is tied for career homeruns (12) at her high school.

In her first year as a Laker, Johnson made an impact both on the field and off. She was selected to the ICCAC All-Region 1^st team because of her .414 batting average. That average saw 60 hits, including 14 doubles, 1 triple, and 8 homeruns. Johnson drove in 39 runners, while crossing the plate 30 times herself in 46 games. Johnson also pitched 96 innings and struck out 60 batters. In addition to being a softball player, Johnson is a presidential scholar, where she has sustained a 4.0 GPA for three semesters. She was awarded 1^st Team Academic All-Region three times and 1^st Team NJCAA Academic All-American.

She is also a member of the Laker Ambassador Crew, a peer tutor, and holds a work-study job.

Coach King had this to say about Eliya, "Valley City is getting a good one in Eliya Johnson. She has shown her commitment to excellence in softball, academics, and extra-curricular activities. The amount of hours this kid has put in when nobody else was watching is the reason that she excelled here, and she will continue to shine at VCSU. We can't thank her enough for all she has done for this program, and we can't wait to see all that she can accomplish at her next school."

"I have loved my time at Iowa Lakes," commented Johnson. "Katie, Courtney, and the other coaches have pushed me to become the player that I am today. Katie saw something in me and took a chance on me. My teammates have also pushed me to be a better teammate and person. I am thankful for Iowa Lakes Softball and the opportunities that have come by playing here."

Photo ID: Photo of Eliya Johnson signing her letter of intent. From left to right: Byron Johnson, Eliya Johnson, Sonja Johnson.

  MEDIA: For more information, please contact Head Softball Coach, Katie King at (712) 362-8367 or the Iowa Lakes sports information office at (712) 362-7928.