May 8, 2026 — This week's Athletes of the Week (AOW) are outstanding student-athletes who excel in the classroom and in their sports. The honors go to Jolee McCauley from Lassiter High School and Nick Bobrowski from Pope High School.
Cobb Athletics awards AOW to celebrate student-athletes who achieve and inspire in their sports, academics, and communities. The award is made possible through the continued support of BSN Sports.
Jolee McCauley, Gymnastics, Lassiter
After a fall on the bars at the preliminary meet, Jolee knew she had to come back and deliver at state, and she did exactly that. She showed incredible resilience, competing with focus and confidence when it mattered most, earning first place on bars with a 9.750 and a GHSA state championship! Jolee has battled through multiple injuries over the past few years, and this state title reflects the hard work and dedication she has put in to reach this goal. She is also a strong student who consistently performs well in her classes and takes pride in her academics.
"Jolee sets the standard for our team through her work ethic and quiet determination," said her Head Coach Alicia Bennett. "She leads through accountability and the example she sets for others. To our team, she represents what it means to be a dedicated and humble student-athlete."
Her coach's praise doesn't stop there.
"As a leader, she is more of a behind-the-scenes motivator. She may be quiet, but her actions speak volumes. She shows up prepared, works hard, and always cheers on and supports her teammates. Her teammates and classmates respect her for her consistency, determination, and her ability to advocate for herself. Jolee is truly one of the best gymnasts to ever represent Lassiter!" Coach Bennett concluded about her state champ and Athlete of the Week.
Nick Bobrowski, Baseball, Pope
After pitching a no-hitter and a complete game, Nick recorded eight strikeouts to become Pope’s all-time strikeout leader. With the victory, he also became the school’s all-time wins leader. He has been playing baseball since kindergarten and is a three-year starter for the Greyhounds. Nick has committed to Georgia Southern in the fall. He is a leader in the classroom and a role model for future Pope students, demonstrating excellence and maintaining a high level of achievement.
"Nick gives the team the confidence that we will always have a chance to compete when he takes the mound," explained Pope Head Coach Chris Turco. "His teammates view him as an intense competitor and an emotional leader. Nick has placed himself in the conversation as being one of the greatest pitchers in the storied history of Pope Baseball!"
That praise is echoed by school leadership.
"He has great pride in his craft, but also in his school," agreed Athletic Director Josh Mathews. "Nick can be found supporting our other sports throughout the year. He is the prototypical Pope student-athlete, achieving success in the classroom and on the field. I'm sure he will have continued success at Georgia Southern."
Coaches of the Month
"Our coaches teach a full day, and when the bell rings at 3:30, their work is only half done. Coach of the Month is a small token of our appreciation for their incredible efforts, both in and out of the classroom," explained Cobb's Director of Athletics Don Baker. "They dedicate countless hours to supporting our student-athletes—often at the expense of time with their own families. We truly believe we have the best coaches in the state, and we want to celebrate them as often as we can."
The Coach of the Month award recognizes one female and one male coach who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment across the District. In partnership with the Atlanta Braves and Good Game Atlanta, each winner receives a complimentary one-night stay at Aloft Atlanta at The Battery, along with a dinner provided by Good Game Atlanta.
This month's celebrated Coaches hail from Osborne and Pope high schools. Coach Phil Sandifer leads the Cardinal Girls Soccer team and Coach Jenny Lang oversees Girls Tennis for the Greyhounds.
Phil Sandifer, Girls Soccer, Osborne
Coach Sandifer has totally changed the culture and expectations for the Girls Soccer program in just two short years. Under Coach Sandifer’s leadership, the program went 9-8 this year, a school record for wins in a season and the program's first-ever winning season!
Six girls in the program have been offered and committed to play soccer in college, also the most in recorded history. In fact, what Osborne Girls Soccer has achieved under Coach Sandifer is so well-respected that his peers voted him the 2026 Region 3-6A Coach of the Year.
"Coach Sandifer has created a total mindset shift in our athletes," said Osborne Athletic Director Ron Boggs. "They practice and play with a dramatic increase in mental toughness, grit, focus, and self-confidence."
Jenny Lang, Tennis, Pope
"She coaches Girls Tennis, but she basically runs the entire tennis program from a booster club perspective," exclaimed Pope AD Josh Mathews about his Coach of the Month. "She is always ahead of deadlines and looking ahead for potential games and logistics."
Coach Lang's team won the Region and was ranked in the top three in the state in Class 5A.. The Lady Greyhounds went undefeated throughout the regular season, 19-0. Unfortunately, they lost a tough quarterfinal matchup with Milton, who will now play in the state finals against Lakeside (Evans).
Congratulations to Coach Lang and Pope tennis on a great season!
