Marshall University Athletics
Inside The Herd: Madison Townes, Women’s Soccer
9/25/2025 2:15:00 PM | General, Women's Soccer
Virginia-born soccer standout taking flight at Marshall
Editor's Note: Welcome to our new series – Inside The Herd – where we highlight our student-athletes and tell their Marshall stories. Every student-athlete at Marshall has a story about their journey and we hope that their stories inspire others to live their Marshall moments as well! Go Herd!
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – As a young kid growing up in Aldie, Va., Marshall Women's Soccer senior Madison Townes knew very early that she had a love for soccer.
Sure, she tried other sports in her young years, but they just didn't give her that same adrenaline rush of running down the field with a ball at her feet.
Little did Madison know then, however, that a love for a sport played on the ground would ultimately lead her to new heights and taking flight – literally.
Now a senior with the Thundering Herd, Townes is balancing her soccer career and her studies through the Bill Noe Flight School for Aviation.
Recently, Townes achieved the pinnacle of her Marshall student career in early September when she completed her first solo flight as part of her training with Bill Noe Flight School.
"It was amazing! I was so nervous!" Townes recalled, the excitement lighting up on her face. "You go and do a training flight with your instructor at first and then they determine if you are good or not and ask if you feel good. I knew going in that I was doing it. There was no way I wasn't. This is what I came to do and I'm doing it.
"(My instructor) said, "Okay, good luck' and gave me a fist-bump and I was like, 'Okay, I guess I'm doing it.' It is insane. Normally, I'm talking to him and he's sitting to my right, but there was nobody there and I was just talking to myself. It was so weird, but it was so free. I just was able to do everything. I was talking to ATC (Air Traffic Control) by myself and there was nobody to check me. I just knew it.
"That's like with sports. I think that's what being an athlete has taught me – the more you practice, the better you get at it. I was ready. In that moment, I was shaking, but I was ready. I flew a pattern around the airport – I think we did three rounds with three takeoffs and landings by myself."
Now that Townes has her first solo flight under her belt, her goals are to log enough hours to work for airlines and then potentially ascend into the world of private flights.
"I'll see where life takes me," Townes said. "Hopefully, I can fly internationally so I can go to Europe and plan some vacations. Traveling is my favorite thing in the whole world. That's why I wanted to be a pilot – because of the places I can go. I can go anywhere!"
While Townes' destinations are currently unknown, her journey to Marshall is one that has been storybook as well.
Townes is the daughter of Leigha and D'Artagnan Townes – both of whom played collegiately at James Madison University.
That is, in fact, where Madison got her name.
"They named me Madison after the school because they met there and fell in love there," Townes said. "Obviously, being the first kid, that was a no-brainer (for a name). If I was a boy, they probably would've named me James – not going to lie. They loved everything about it!"
That makes for an interesting gameday scenario now that Marshall and James Madison are Sun Belt Conference rivals – one that Townes thinks will make the Oct. 2 matchup between the two schools in Harrisonburg, Va., a fun clash on the pitch and maybe even a clash of colors for her Dad.
"Their whole lives are there," Townes said. "Dad will probably have a Marshall hat and a Purple and Gold jacket because he's supporting Madison - me and the school."
So how did Townes get to Marshall University? It was a special journey that started with Marshall reaching out to her during high school and ended with a perfect feeling after observing the Marshall Memorial Fountain while on her official visit.
"I committed my junior year of high school when I came onto campus with my parents," Townes said. "My Mom always says, 'As soon as you stepped on campus and saw the fountain, it was a no-brainer. We knew that you were going to choose it.' After my official visit, I was stuck on (Marshall) and I knew I wanted to come here."
Townes didn't just come to Marshall searching for what she wanted to do. From an athletic standpoint, she took her coaching from Loudoun FC and FC Virginia and applied it to being ready for collegiate soccer.
The Virginia native immediately made an impact, starting in her first collegiate game and playing all 90 minutes – a feat that she still claims as one of the most fulfilling Marshall moments she has experienced.
"I think that will always stick with me because now, there's a new side of me that I hadn't seen because I hadn't tested myself in that way," Townes said.
Townes said there is a direct correlation between earning that first start at Marshall and making her first solo flight.
Playing soccer and becoming a Division I student-athlete has prepared her to take on challenges she may have never pursued before because you push yourself to a new level to see what you can accomplish.
"Having that mindset and (proper) determination comes into play because you want to be good at it, you want to do it and you need to do it, so you lock in, in a sense," Townes said. "I think it's really helped me because with your focus, you have to be ready to take on whatever it throws at you. Soccer is like that, and flying is the same way. You just have to be on your toes, and I think it's helped me in…having that mindset/mentality that I can do it."
It has been nearly 20 years since Townes' cousin P.J. – whom she said is her biggest supporter and role model – convinced her to start playing soccer at the age of 3.
And while her family and support system back in Virginia laid the groundwork for her to excel and become a Division I athlete, Townes said the family here at Marshall University has also been a huge asset in helping her spread her wings in both academics and athletics.
Townes pointed out the resources that are poured into student-athletes – from training table and fueling stations to athletic training services, the Buck Harless Student-Athlete Program and the support of the Huntington community – to ensure that Marshall student-athletes are successful in their endeavors in all areas of life.
"It's such a big family and everyone here is such a big part of the school," Townes said. "Marshall is Huntington, Huntington is Marshall and it's so lovely to see. Every single person knows everybody….I've made so many friends throughout the years and met so many people even this year. This community is insane. It's definitely a home away from home. I'm about six hours away from home. It's not that far, but the drive is pretty long, yet I never feel like I'm away from home when I'm here."
If Townes has her way, her future journey after Marshall University will take her all over the world, whether by land or by air.
No matter where she goes, though, she will always hold Marshall close to her heart and Huntington will always be her second home.
INSIDE THE HERD
Name: Madison Townes
Sport: Women's Soccer
Year: Senior
Hometown: Aldie, Va.
Major: Aviation
Favorite Restaurant in Huntington: Backyard or Hibachi (sushi)
Favorite Shows: Wednesday, The Neighborhood, Scandal, Friends
Favorite Hobby: Running Around Campus or Ritter Park
Goals: Become a pilot and fly internationally
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