Cobb Schools' Athlete of the Week (AOW) 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 Sports.
This week's winners—the first of the 2023-24 school year—are a junior middle hitter for Pope Volleyball and an SEC-committed senior for Walton Football.
Ellis Crawford, Pope, Volleyball
Ellis has been a key player in leading Pope to a 10-0 start. The Greyhounds won the Showdown at the Sunsphere Tournament in Knoxville, TN with wins over Tennessee's top-ranked team Cleveland and Kentucky powerhouse Sacred Heart. Ellis has already amassed 60 kills with a .416 hitting percentage, 12 blocks, 26 digs, and 14 aces.
"She is a quietly fierce, dependably consistent, and humbly impactful player on the court, as well as an excellent teammate, listener, and learner off the court," said her coach Erica Miller.
"Ellis is a phenomenal volleyball player who had a tremendous week helping our volleyball team defeat several strong opponents," said Pope Athletic Director Josh Mathews. "She is continuing a lineage of superior volleyball players at Pope as she starts her junior year. She recently announced her decision to commit to play collegiately at the University of Maryland after she graduates."
"Most impressive though, is her combination of athletic performance, academic prowess, and modeling of high-level character. She brings incredible energy on a daily basis, practices intensely, and understands that excellence is achieved by getting better each and every day. She is fun to watch and a pleasure to see in the hallways of Pope High School. I’m glad she is on our team!" concluded AD Mathews proudly.
Wendell Gregory, Walton, Football
In their game against Grayson at the Mercedes Benz Stadium, Wendell had 6 tackles (3 solo/3 assist), 3 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks in the Raider's impressive season-opener, 49-27.
"Overall, he is a very disruptive force on defense," said head coach Daniel Brunner. "He caused multiple holding penalties for Grayson’s offensive line. When he is not making the play in the backfield, he draws multiple defenders and frees up his teammates to make plays."
"Despite the fact that he is considered a top-100 recruit in the country and committed to play in the SEC for the University of South Carolina, Wendell is a humble young man who simply puts in the work every day and leads by example," said Raider Athletic Director Chris Williams. "He is committed to having a great senior year and enjoying every moment on and off the field with his teammates and coaches. He is a fine young man and a great representative of Walton High School."
Well done, Ellis and Wendell and great work Pope and Walton for supporting these amazing young student athletes! We look forward to the rest of your seasons and what lies ahead for both of you...
