October 31, 2025 — Each week, Cobb Schools, with the support of BSN Sports, celebrates student-athletes who inspire and excel in their sports, academics, and communities. This week's Athlete of the Week (AOW) honors go to Emanuel Butler of Pebblebrook High School and Maddy Meadows of Pope High School for their achievements on and off the field.
Emanuel impressed with his dedication and standout performances for the Falcon cross country team, while Maddy demonstrated exceptional spirit and leadership as a key member of the Greyhound cheer squad.
Emanuel Butler, Cross Country, Pebblebrook
This is Emanuel’s first year running cross country, and he’s already made a remarkable impact. A senior at Pebblebrook, he is also an active member of ROTC and the Raiders team, where his leadership and discipline shine. He is an extremely dedicated athlete and has shown significant progress this season. Emanuel is genuine, motivated, and positive, and is always looking for ways to encourage those around him. His teammates admire his work ethic and upbeat spirit, and his classmates respect the example he sets both on and off the course.
"Emanuel has been an incredible addition to our cross-country program," said Falcon Cross Country Head Coach Cherisse Thompson. "His positive attitude, determination, and commitment to improvement have inspired the entire team. He leads by example every day, both in practice and at meets. He has shown consistent growth and improvement at every meet. His dedication to personal progress has raised the bar for everyone on the team, earning him recognition as our most improved athlete this season."
His coach's praise didn't stop there.
"He embodies resilience and heart and represents what it means to be a true Pebblebrook Falcon: driven, disciplined, and dedicated. His enthusiasm for learning and competing reflects the pride and spirit of our school community. Emanuel's commitment to excellence—in cross country, ROTC, or the classroom—makes him truly deserving of this Athlete of the Week honor!" concluded Coach Thompson with pride.
Maddy Meadows, Cheer, Pope
As an upperclassman, Maddy is a great role model for the younger members of the Cheer team. She is a leader, dependable, and consistent. She has a great work ethic and is patient with those who are still learning the routines. She is a high-achieving student-athlete in Cheer, as well as in the classroom. Maddy carries a 3.9 GPA while completing rigorous coursework.
"Maddy is a true leader on our cheer squad. With a young squad, any success results from the examples set by the older athletes. Luckily for Pope, Maddy is a positive role model for her teammates and is helping to lead them to a successful season this year," said Pope Athletic Director Josh Mathews.
Maddy’s leadership extends beyond the cheer practice, setting a standard her teammates strive to follow.
"As a leader by example, she challenges herself academically and athletically. Her teammates see what she can do and believe that it is possible to achieve a high level of success in both aspects of being a student-athlete. She's a great example of what we're trying to teach here, in the classroom and in athletics," AD Mathews said about his school's Athlete of the Week.
Congratulations, Emanuel and Maddy! Keep up the great work and positive attitudes. You are both showing your teammates and classmates what can be accomplished with hard work and determination. Great job supporting these Athletes of the Week, Pebblebrook and Pope!
