Cook signs scholarship with Augusta
Coosa High senior Sophia Cook signed a cross country and track scholarship Thursday with Augusta University.
Cook said of the signing: “It’s definitely getting real now. All the hard work I’ve put in is paying off. I’m excited for the athletic part of it (at Augusta), but also the academic part of it. I can go get my degree there and then go to physical therapy school after that. I’m really looking forward to it and excited to get to go to Augusta for college.
“The girls on the team (at Augusta) were really nice, and out of all the schools I visited, they were the most welcoming as a team. Nobody is jealous of each other’s success. They all truly support each other and want everyone on the team to do their best. It’s definitely a team-first attitude, and the school itself is beautiful. I feel like, with the academic and athletic part of it, that was where I wanted to be.
“I’m really trying to slow things down and enjoy the last few months here at Coosa and this track season. That’s the thing with running is you can have fun with it and also turn that switch on to be competitive. That’s what I want to do at the next level too and something I look forward to. I’m ready to see how well I compete with everyone in college because once you get there everything is on a different level competitively.”
Also attending the signing ceremony Thursday and pictured along with Cook (seated, center) were (seated, from left) father Rodney Cook, mother Nohemi Cook, (standing, from left) Coosa High head cross country coach Chris Parker, brother Jorge Castillo, sister Alishia Cook and Coosa High girls head track and field coach Bill Daughtry.
Cook finished fourth in the Region 7-A Division I championships this past fall before going on to take 17th at the Class A Division I state championships in Carrollton. She was also named to the Gogo Running/ Wire2wire Running all-area first team in December.