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 a junior defensive end from Hillgrove and record-breaking senior pitcher from Pope.

Nick Mathious, Hillgrove, Football

A junior defensive end and three-year starter, Nick had a monster game against Allatoona. He had 5 tackles including 3 for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 pass breakup, and 3 QB pressures that helped to contribute to Hillgrove's first win of the season, 24-7. He has been playing football in the Hillgrove feeder program since fifth grade and made First Team All-Region last season. Nick also excels in the classroom with a 3.5 GPA.

"Nick is a quiet and driven individual who never misses a day," said his proud coach Justin Deshon. "He is extremely coachable and full of character. He is also humble, dedicated, and passionate. He is as precise in the classroom as he is on the field. He is a leader in everything he does and our team knows that. We all respect him and I couldn’t be happier and think of a more deserving person!"

"He is a pleasure for us to have as a student athlete and his coaches and teachers know that he gives his all in the classroom and on the field," agreed Hillgrove Athletic Director Jonathan Brown. "He displays leadership skills by his actions and is focused on being a playmaker to help his team win. He is an awesome student and teammate with the mindset of We, not me. Our school saying is to be deliberate in everything that you do, and those words truly represent Nick Mathious."

Kendall Frost, Pope, Softball

In the Lady Greyhounds recent game with North Atlanta, Kendall pitched a perfect complete game with 15 strikeouts. This win gave her the Pope Fastpitch All-Time Wins record! She moved ahead of Hallie Adams' (Class of 2020, now at Georgia State) previous record of 68 career wins and Kelly Barnhill's (Class of 2014, University of Florida and former pro and Olympic pitcher) record of 64 wins.

"Kendall has been a key part of the Pope Fastpitch program from her freshman season in 2020," said her coach Elizabeth Viland. "She proved right away to have that 'it' factor: the competitive drive to win coupled with an unmatched work ethic. She loves the big stage moments and continues to grow in her caliber of play and works tirelessly to refine her craft. She leads the team from the circle and supports all her teammates at the same time."

"She gets the job done in the classroom and is bragged on by teachers and school staff for her work ethic and extra efforts she goes through, especially during the hectic time of the season. She is a leader by example and competes hard and supports her teammates harder," said Coach Viland about her Athlete of the Week.

"She grew up here watching her brothers play on successful baseball teams and it was evident from day one that she was going to strive to help her softball teams be in the same class of champions," revealed Pope AD Josh Mathews. "That school spirit is displayed by her whether she is playing on the softball field or if she is in the stands at other sporting events."

"Further, Kendall demonstrates all the traits we want in our student-athletes: she excels in the classroom, she dedicates focused hours to her sport, she supports her peers, and she serves the Pope community. In short, she is a leader. We are proud she is a Pope Greyhound!" concluded AD Mathews. 

Well done, Nick and Kendall! We can't wait to see what the rest of your seasons have in store. Nice job supporting these exceptional student-athletes, Hillgrove and Pope. You are all great examples of why Cobb Athletics leads the pack year after year.