Cypress Ranch’s O’Connor named top scholar-athlete

Cypress Ranch senior Alex O’Connor recalled some long nights, as well as support at home and school ash est rived to make the most of his high school experience. Balancing football and classwork with a multitude of extra-curricular activities, his work ethic has resulted in an academic ranking near the top of his graduating classanda 1,560 SAT score, among other successes.

O’Connor was recognized for his efforts during a luncheon Wednesday at the J.W. Marriott on Westheimer, being named the Touchdown Club of Houston’s 2017 High School Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year over 24 other finalists. The award includes a $1,500 scholarship.

All finalists received a minimum $500 scholarship. Conroe’s Travis Null was the runner-up, earning a $1,250 scholarship, while Stratford’s Ben Kuhn took third and $1,000.

“It’s an awesome honor,” O’Connor said. “Those guys up there were some of the best football players and the smartest guys in the Houston area. It’s a huge honor to stand up there with them at all. Then to win that award was a great experience. It’s been difficult and long, but it’s been a good ride. I want to thank all my coaches and the district in general because they really value education as a whole.”

Cy-Fair ISD had two finalists, including Cy-Fair linebacker Patrick Atkinson. The senior has a 6.8 grade-point average (6.0 scale), top-10 class ranking and 1,440 SAT, and is committed to Air Force.

Both Atkinson and O’Connor were secondteam all-district defensive players last year and helped lead their teams into the playoffs. O’Connor, an inside linebacker, ranks among the Mustangs’ leading tacklers with 35 tackles, four tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries through six games.

Cy Ranch will make its fourth consecutive playoff appearance with a 7-2 record, anchored by a defense that has allowed 13.4 points per game. The Mustangs finished undefeated in district play the previous two years.

“It’s a blast,” O’Connor said. “To be able to come out and see all the fans that always comeout every week, and to have that expectation that we’re going to come out with a victory, that’s what’s been driven home to us. We always like to leave that tunnel with some confidence and that edge. It’s a blast to play for Cy Ranch. I’m looking to get a few more games out of it.”

Off the field, O’Connor is involved with several activities, including the National Honor Society.

He has not decided where he will begin his next freshman year, though he plans to continue playing football.

“I plan to study chemical engineering,” O’Connor said. “I have a few offers from D-III schools. The top of my list right now is probably Johns Hopkins in Maryland.”