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 are a freshman softball player from Kell and a senior running back for Wheeler Football.

Lyla Morici, Kell, Softball

Only a freshman, Lyla is killing it at the plate and on the mound for the Lady Longhorns. Last week, she went 2-0 in 13 innings pitched, allowed zero runs, and struck out 17 batters. She leads the Longhorns in all pitching categories. On offense she is leading several hitting categories such as batting average, on-base percentage, doubles, triples, and she is tied for homeruns. 

"Even at a young age, Lyla shows maturity with her teammates and provides support to other pitchers when she is not in the circle," said her coach Kevin Foster. "She is a fantastic player and teammate for this program."

"She is a great talent as a consensus top 100 player for the class of 2027. She is incredibly humble and coachable which is a trait that will allow even more growth in her game. She works closely together with our other pitchers and they feed off one another’s energy. We have wonderful team chemistry and Lyla plays a role in that, along with the other 15 girls on the roster," concluded Coach Foster.

"Having a freshman like Lyla not only playing but flourishing, shows the talent level year in and year out that we have in our Kell community," agreed Athletic Director Jeff Burch. "She is a great representative for Kell athletics. She is a high achieving student, a dedicated multi-sport athlete, and a great teammate. As she grows over the next four years I look forward to her attitude and leadership to shape not only her teams, but all of Longhorn Athletics."

Kentrell Brown, Wheeler, Football

Senior running back Kentrell Brown has nearly equaled his total rushing yards from last season in only two games. In their recent win over Lassiter, Kentrell carried 11 times for 174 yards and 4 touchdowns. His dominance on the ground helped secure the 59-17 win at Lassiter, a game that the Wildcats have lost the last two years. 

Kentrell also had a 100+ yard rushing performance the week before against Centennial. The Wildcats host South Cobb tonight and are looking to keep their undefeated season going.

"He is a huge puzzle piece on the Wheeler varsity football team," said Wildcat Athletic Director Brittny Jones. "He is a team player, a hard worker, and very skilled. He has such a meaningful impact on the football team!"

He's also a standout in the classroom, currently holding a 3.6 GPA. 

"Kentrel is a phenomenal student. He sets the standard as a student-athlete at Wheeler," AD Jones said about her Athlete of the Week.

Great job, Lyla and Kentrell! Well done also, Kell and Wheeler. Thank you for supporting these student-athletes and contributing to their success both on and off the field. Let's keep these wins going, Cobb!