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 from Lassiter and McEachern. Isaac Hoshide wrestles for the Trojans, and Exxence Hubbard plays basketball for the Indians.
Isaac Hoshide, Wrestling, Lassiter
Battling through complications from a broken collarbone his freshman year, Isaac has had to undergo several surgeries during high school. As mentally and physically tough as he is, Isaac did not let the injuries deter him. He is a two-time Cobb County Champ and last year's 6A 113-lb state champ. After a long recovery from shoulder surgery, Isaac won his 100th career match to begin his senior season. He is one of the team captains for the Trojans and also wrestles for Team Georgia's National Team. Isaac is also a star in the classroom; he carries a 4.625 GPA and scored 1520 on the SAT!
"Isaac has been a tremendous asset to Lassiter Wrestling," said his coach Matt Brickley. "He has been wrestling since elementary school, starting in Maine, before moving to Cobb in middle school. His junior year was a true test of his determination. Shoulder instability due to the collarbone issues led him to have numerous dislocations throughout the season. He worked through the pain to win his second Cobb County Championship and continue on to win the state title. He was acknowledged by the Cobb County Wrestling Association as Wrestler of the Year and was presented with the Adversity Award."
"The impact and mentorship that he's left on the program and the other wrestlers will never be forgotten. He is the definition of a leader and one of the brightest students we have at Lassiter. He is the type of athlete who is irreplaceable and will be missed terribly after graduation. We are so proud of Isaac Hoshide," Coach Brickley concluded about his state champ and Athlete of the Week.
Exxence Hubbard, Basketball, McEachern
Although Exxence doesn't have the height of some of the other girls on the court, she makes up for it with intensity. Despite taking elbows to the face, she consistently drives inside to disrupt offensive plays. In a recent game, Exxence tallied 5 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals, one deflection, and one block. In fact, she often gets more blocks than the posts. She leads by example, and her teammates respond to her leadership and look to her for clarification on and off the court. In addition, Exxence is a great student, participates in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and volunteers with local food banks.
"She is the glue that holds the team together," said Head Coach Phyllis Arthur. "Her experience on the varsity level has been a tremendous help to a very young and inexperienced team. She motivates teammates, helps with on-court decisions, and maintains team morale. In addition, she openly receives any feedback about her efforts or performance and works hard to improve. Exxence is very consistent and continues to push the other players during practices."
"She is always positive and always displays good sportsmanship, on and off the court. She was the prime reason our team volunteered at the food bank on a very cold Saturday morning. Our AD, Myra Camese, requires all sports to work in the community, and Exxence volunteered and asked us to volunteer with her. She is one small, tough young lady," Coach Arthur concluded with a smile.
Great job, Isaac and Exxence! You are both perfect examples of what it takes to be an outstanding student-athlete in Cobb! Thank you for supporting and encouraging these Athletes of the Week, Lassiter and McEachern!
