Cobb Schools' Athlete of the Week program is a weekly recognition of a male and a female student-athlete that perform at high levels in their sport, in the classroom, and in their school communities. The program is made possible by support from BSN. 

This week's winners are from Wheeler and Pope:

Allyria McBride, Track, Wheeler

At the Cobb County Championships in late March, Allyria scored 34 points for Wheeler, winning both the long jump and 300 hurdles. She also placed second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 200 meter. 

As a result of her performance this season, Allyria was ranked as the #1 High School athlete in the nation in the 400 hurdles in early April. She’s currently ranked third.

"Allyria McBride is a great student academically and athletically," said her proud coach Lundyn Howard. "She has a GPA of 4.175 and has been running since age 7. She is passionate about helping others and making sure students have a voice. She is a member/president of several clubs such as the Black Student Union (BSU) president, Wildcat Student-Athlete Advisory Council (WSAAC), and National Honor Society."

"She goes above and beyond in making sure others are celebrated," Coach Howard continued. "We are fortunate to have her be a part of our team and excited for her future. She is on her way to Vanderbilt on a track scholarship! Keep up the great work Allyria!"

Arish Damani, Tennis, Pope

In the 6-6A Region Tournament, Arish won two key matches to help the Pope Boys Tennis team win their second consecutive Region Championship. He won in straight sets in the semifinals and in 3 sets in the finals. 

Arish also works hard in the classroom and is a great student with a 4.0 GPA as a sophomore. His teachers say they enjoy his fun-loving nature and his teammates enjoy him too, especially when they are debating sports subjects.

"As a player, Arish is very skilled and talented," said head coach Michael Thompson. "He’s a relentless competitor in any drill, match, or pretty much anything to do with a game. He’s viewed by his teammates as a leader on our team. He has helped me to be a better coach by providing insights that sometimes I’ve overlooked during matches. I'm most proud of the growth and maturity he shown from his freshman to sophomore years."

"We were very excited to watch Arish win two very impressive and meaningful matches in the region tournament," said Pope Athletic Director Josh Mathews. "He competes with great intensity, but combines his competitiveness with integrity and respect for his opponent and the game. We are very proud that Arish was named Athlete of the Week for Cobb Schools."

Amazing work Allyria and Arish! Congratulations to Wheeler Track and Pope Tennis for exceptional seasons. Keep up the outstanding performances on the field and in the classroom, Cobb student-athletes!