September 11, 2025—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 Allatoona High School and Walton High School. Sam Howren runs cross country for the Buccaneers, and Addison Contestabile plays volleyball for the Raiders.
Sam Howren, Cross Country, Allatoona
A runner since middle school, Sam has been running for the Bucs for four years. He recently led the boys' cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the Kowboy Invitational in Florida with an eighth-place individual finish and a great start to his senior season. Sam also participates in the Athletic Leadership Council at the school. He is a hard worker on the course and in the classroom.
"Sam is the true heart of this team," his coach Patrick Parsons said. "He leads by example and motivates his teammates to work hard every day in practice. He is the perfect example of 'trusting the process.' His buy-in has helped him tap into a different level of competition and confidence. We are excited about his senior season!"
Others at Allatoona echo the coach's praise.
"He is a great example to the team," agreed Allatoona Athletic Director Chris Murray. "Sam consistently works hard and perseveres to improve over time."
Addison Contestabile, Volleyball, Walton
In her second year as a varsity starter, Addison has become an integral part of one of the top teams in the state. She is very consistent and dependable in her play for the Lady Raiders. Mainly an outside hitter, she plays multiple positions. She can be relied on to score points in crucial moments. In a match against Cartersville last week, she led the team in digs and pass percentage, and scored three aces.
"Although she is only a sophomore, Addison is a leader on this team," said her coach Ashley Jones. "She is fairly quiet and still finding her voice, but she is always good for a smile and an encouraging word on and off the court. She has an incredibly positive attitude. Although she is very talented in many ways, I think her greatest strength is her attitude and focus at practice. She’s a selfless player and always there to cheer on and encourage her teammates."
Her impact extends beyond the court as well.
"Addison is a leader in the classroom and hallways. She takes challenging classes and is a role model for all students with her high character and work ethic. She is an outstanding student who takes honors courses and has earned over a 3.9 GPA," concluded AD Chris Jones about his school's Athlete of the Week.
Congratulations, Sam and Addison! You are both great examples of what it takes to be a successful student-athlete in Cobb! Well done, Allatoona and Walton, for supporting these athletic and academic standouts!
