Eight Cooper athletes are Scholar of the Year finalists

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Eight senior athletes from The John Cooper School were named finalists for the Rotary Club of Lake Conroe's Mike Ogg All-Montgomery County Scholar of the Year, two of which were selected winners in their sport.

Honored finalists and their sport include Alex Farley, boys' soccer; Alexa Coughlin, girls' soccer; Jack Wiernicki, boys' basketball; Muna Uzodike, girls' basketball; Julianne Malek, girls' volleyball; Kayleigh Murphy, girls' softball; Pedro Nasta, boys' cross country; and Samara Sargeant, girls' track.

Those selected as winners to represent their sport were Wiernicki and Malek. Wiernicki, selected for basketball, was the co-captain and forward on the team. He has been on the varsity team all four years of upper school. Jack Wiernicki is an honor roll student on the steering committee of the school's Habitat for Humanity program and serves as an ambassador in the Student 2 Student program, an organization that welcomes new students to campus. In the fall, Wiernicki will play basketball for Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. And work toward a degree in engineering.

"This year as a senior, he was our team leader and worked extremely hard in the weight room to get himself ready. He led the team in shooting and rebounding," said Mike Cooper, head boys' basketball coach for Cooper. "I'm very excited about him continuing his basketball career at Washington University in St. Louis."

Malek, selected for volleyball, is a high honor roll student and a Cooper Pioneer, meaning she has attended the independent, college preparatory school since kindergarten. Malek also plays club volleyball. In the fall, she will play volleyball for Washington University in St. Louis, MO as she pursues a degree in business.

"Julianne is a leader; she leads by her actions on the court and the other players rally around her." said Jim "Smoki" Richardson, head girls' volleyball coach for Cooper. "She brought excitement to the court with some of her amazing kills and the team loved it. You would not be able to tell by watching Julianne, but she is a very humble player."

"I am extremely proud of this excellent group of seniors the Rotary Club selected this year. All of them are exceptional scholar athletes and are tremendous representatives of The John Cooper School," said Mike Cooper, athletic director for The John Cooper School. This was the 10th annual Mike Ogg All Montgomery County Scholar Athlete of the Year Award, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lake Conroe, created to honor outstanding men and women. Area high schools nominated an athlete per sport and five were chosen as finalists in each sport based on ability in their chosen activity, academic achievement, school awards, activities and community involvement. Finalists were honored at an awards banquet at The Lone Star Convention Center May 6, where one winner per sport and one overall boy and girl winner were selected.