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Cobb Schools’ Athlete of the Week (AOW) program is a weekly recognition of male and female student-athletes performing at high levels in their sport, classroom, and school communities. The program is made possible by support from BSN Sports.
This week’s winners are seniors from Kell and Pope. Mary Babcock plays volleyball for the Longhorns, and John Stuetzer plays football for the Greyhounds.
Mary Babcock, Volleyball, Kell
A four-year starter for the Longhorns, Mary recently logged 1500 career assists, a Kell school record. She also has a 94% serve percentage. She has helped lead the team to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and final 4 in 2023. Mary has been playing volleyball for 6 years and started in the 7th grade. She has also played Club Volleyball with several local teams.
“Mary has been an integral part of our team’s success for the last 3 seasons,” said her coach Joseph Auriemma. “She is a player every coach would want on their team. She has a fast instinct and plays with high intensity.”
“She also balances responsibilities between family, volleyball, work, and school. She is a role model for others and is well-respected by her teammates, coaches, teachers and friends. This is a well-deserved honor for this young lady,” Coach Auriemma said enthusiastically about his Athlete of the Week.
“She is an outstanding student both on and off the court,” agreed Kell Athletic Director Oneisha Young. “She excels in the classroom and always has a smile on her face, no matter what challenges come her way.”
John Stuetzer, Football, Pope
In last week’s home win over Dunwoody, John had an exceptional game with five touchdowns. He scored three on receptions and two on the ground, contributing 30 points to the Greyhounds’ first victory of the season, 41-27. He tallied more than 300 total yards with 266 through the air and 35 rushing. John is committed to Florida State next year to play baseball for the Seminoles.
“He is a top-tier talent and a spirited student-athlete who plays with great passion,” said Pope AD Josh Mathews. “A lot of people are excited to see him compete in football and baseball and the fact that he is wearing a Pope jersey exemplifies the great talent that we have here.”
AD Mathews mentioned that John also demonstrates his great passion for Pope by showing up as a fan to support his classmates. “He treats others with great respect and constantly exhibits humility and appreciation for others,” he said proudly.
In the classroom, John is a solid student who balances a rigorous academic load while playing multiple sports, which is uncommon in today’s world of specialization in high school sports.
“He is very deserving of this award after his spectacular effort last week, but we are most proud of the growth he has shown in his career at Pope. We look forward to watching him reap the success he has earned through hard work and commitment to his crafts,” AD Mathews concluded proudly.
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