HIGH-SCHOOL

Need for speed: Cooper paces Cedar Shoals

Nicole Saavedra

nicole.saavedra@onlineathens.com

Cedar Shoals' Breshawrd Cooper is the Athens Banner-Herald Prep Player of the Week.

As Cedar Shoals entered the final day of the Region 8-AAAAA meet, they trailed Heritage by 22 points.

But there was little cause for concern for the Jaguars - especially with senior Breshawrd Cooper in their corner.

"I was confident that Breshawrd was going to come through for us," said Cedar Shoals coach Stefan Smith, who missed the final day of competition due to class but kept up with the events via text. "When you've got a guy like that, it makes you at ease a little bit."

Cooper cruised to four region titles, including individual crowns in the 200 meters (21.66 seconds) and the 400 (48.46). He teamed with Trent Harris, Ryan Huff and Golden Brown to take the 400 relay in 42.61 seconds and teamed with Huff, Brandon Cobb and Rogerous Swain to take the title in the 1,600 (3:25.16). Cooper's contributions helped the Jaguars snag their fourth consecutive region title.

And the worrisome thing for opponents at sectionals and state? Smith thinks those times could continue to drop.

"Over the season, I think he's gotten more confident," Smith said. "He's dropped his times. When people push him, when he has people competing against him, his times drop and we're looking

forward to that coming up at sectionals and state to really see what he has within him. He probably has more that we haven't seen yet."

Last season, Cooper finished second in the 400 in the Georgia Olympics at Jefferson and helped Cedar Shoals tie for fourth overall with New Manchester. Another bid for the state crown is possible if Cooper can advance at the sectional meet at Loganville on Saturday. The Georgia Olympics will be held from May 14-16 at Jefferson.

Then, Cooper hopes he can end his senior season that way he'd like - with a state championship.

"I want to go out with a bang," said Cooper, who signed with Hinds Community College earlier this month. "I want to go out (knowing) that I came away on top, that we came away as a team on top and win the big trophy overall. …I want to go out in the best way possible."