Callaway’s Ella Kelly selected as one of 20 GHSA Student-Athlete Advisory Council members for 2025-26 – LaGrange Daily News

Callaway’s Ella Kelly selected as one of 20 GHSA Student-Athlete Advisory Council members for 2025-26

Published 3:04 pm Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The 20 members of the 2025-26 GHSA Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) have been selected, and Troup County will be represented. The 2A female representative is none other than Callaway High flag football, soccer and softball star Ella Kelly.

“I was kind of hesitant to fill out the application at first because I was thinking ‘what are the odds I actually get picked,’ but my parents kept pushing me and telling me that anything could happen,” the rising sophomore said. “Honestly, I was shocked for a little while after I got the email telling me I was selected.

“To even be nominated alongside all these student athletes from across the state is an honor, and I really didn’t expect to be selected,” she continued. 

Members of the Cavaliers have applied for this position in the past, but Kelly is the first Callaway High student selected for this position.

It didn’t happen overnight. Kelly had to go through an extensive application process, and the rising sophomore is proud to represent the Cavaliers in such a manner. 

“It’s really cool because we are a smaller school and it means a lot to represent all the 2A schools alongside all the bigger ones from around the state,” she said. 

Members of the GHSA contacted her coaches at Callaway High to find out just what kind of athlete and academic Kelly is, and based on her selection, they only had glowing things to say about her. 

Kelly represents the Cavaliers well in everything she does. In addition to being a part of three different sports teams at Callaway, Kelly is also a member of the Circles of Friends Club and FCA. Outside of school, she helps with the nonprofit organization called Good Sam, where she helps pack food bags for kids in Troup County. 

“It keeps me going and it keeps me busy,” Kelly said, laughing about how much she takes on. 

SAAC organizes the Student Section Spirit Challenge, Inspiration Award and hosts the annual Student-Athlete Leadership Conference in April. The council may also help organize other GHSA events throughout the year.

Kelly attended the annual Student-Athlete Leadership Conference earlier this year, where she was introduced to the idea of the SAAC. 

“Most of the people at that leadership conference were upperclassmen, and they were surprised I was there as just a freshman,” Kelly said. 

Representatives that are sophomores and juniors are allowed to remain on the council for a maximum of 2 years and Kelly is hoping to return to the council for her junior year if everything goes swimmingly this year. 

The 20 members of the 2025-26 SAAC will have their first opportunity to meet in person on Aug. 20 in Macon. 

Kelly will be balancing her new role with her many activities that she takes on at Callaway High. During the first part of the year, she will be juggling school, softball and this new role.

“Most of the meetings will be on Zoom and not in person,” Kelly said of the SAAC. “It seems like a lot, but I’m excited to take this on.”

Kelly will kick off her 2025-26 athletic season when the Callaway softball team takes the diamond on Aug. 5 at home against rival Heard County. 

“We have like 10 freshmen coming up and I’m friends with all of them,” an ecstatic Kelly said. “The summer workouts have been really tough, and now I’m ready for the games to get here.”

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