Cobb Schools’ Athlete of the Week (AOW) program is a weekly recognition of male and female student-athletes performing at high levels in their sport, classroom, and school communities. The program is made possible by support from BSN Sports.
This week’s winners are from Allatoona and Harrison. Alyssa Strain is a senior gymnast for the Buccaneers, and Zach Light is a sophomore golfer for the Hoyas.
Alyssa Strain, Gymnastics, Allatoona
Becoming a state champion is a very difficult task, especially in the competitive world of gymnastics. In late April, Alyssa became a Georgia State Champ in the beam with a score of 9.800! An extreme level of concentration and a very short memory are absolutely critical to success in gymnastics, and Alyssa proved that she has what it takes. She has been a gymnast for 14 years, is a Level 10 at her club, and trains 20 hours every week. She is also involved in Student Government, National Honor Society, Athletic Leadership, Shop with a Buc, and more while maintaining a 4.0 GPA! She is headed to SUNY Brockport in the fall, where she will continue her academic and gymnastics career.
"Alyssa is a leader on our team," said her coach, Jennifer Michael. "The other gymnasts look up to her as someone who has the most experience on the team, and it means a lot to them to have her in their corner. She is always encouraging and always so helpful to everyone."
"She is extremely disciplined with her studies and her sport, but she maintains a positive attitude, and always has a smile on her face. She leads by example and does not complain when things get difficult. She has challenged herself through her studies by taking a rigorous course load, including many AP-level courses. Alyssa is a model student-athlete, and we are so proud of her!" concluded Coach Michael about her Athlete of the Week.
Zach Light, Golf, Harrison
In the recent Area Championship, Zach tied for first in the individual tournament with a 71. He staged a remarkable comeback to propel himself and his team to the top spot. He was +4 (40), and the Hoya team was +12, and sitting in fourth place after the front nine holes. Zach led a charge on the back 9, hitting -5 (31) and birdieing 5 of his last six holes to move the team from 4th place to tied for first, winning Co-Area Champions. Zach's efforts led the Hoyas to their 33rd consecutive State Tournament appearance!
"Zach is a very important member of our team," said Hoya Golf Coach Travis Farmer. "On the course, he is one of the best golfers in the state, and a tremendous leader for the others in the program. He has been playing golf since he was little, when he lived in South Africa."
"He is a great student who makes sure he communicates effectively with teachers about when he is going to be out for golf tournaments and makes sure his grades are taken care of. His teammates view him as a role model with a work ethic that they can aspire to have," said Coach Farmer with admiration.
Congratulations, Alyssa and Zach! You are both perfect examples of what it takes to be exceptional student-athletes in and out of the classroom. Great job supporting these Athletes of the Week, Allatoona and Harrison!
