Episode 5
Cobb Athletes Are Built for Beyond
In the final podcast of the 2025-26 school year, the team discusses Spring playoffs, a charity basketball game sponsored by the Cobb Schools Foundation, and a new intern program.
There is always much to consider when it comes to sports in Cobb Schools, and this episode highlights just a few of the activities happening around the District as seniors get ready to graduate and students (and families) look forward to summer.
Key Takeaways:
- A unique charity basketball game was organized by the Cobb Schools Foundation to raise funds for autism awareness, demonstrating community engagement.
- The introduction of an internship program for high school students aims to enhance their practical experience in sports reporting and media, thereby developing their skills.
- Cobb sports teams have achieved significant success this spring, with several advancing to the postseason and competing at high levels in their respective sports.
- An impressive 141 individual or relay teams from Cobb schools have qualified for the state track and field championships, underscoring the district's athletic prowess.
Transcript
Cobb County School District is one of the largest districts in the country with over 16 competing high schools and a deep pool of talent in every sport.
Speaker A:This is the Cobb Sports Podcast.
Speaker A:Let's dig in.
Speaker A:Welcome to the Cobb Sports Podcast.
Speaker A: s is the final episode of the: Speaker A:And for this episode of the Cobb Sports Podcast, we wanted to have a few special guests on.
Speaker A:I have.
Speaker A:I have.
Speaker A:Sitting to my left, I have Brad McBear, who will talk about specific sports especially.
Speaker A:We're in the throes of.
Speaker A:Of the.
Speaker A:The spring sports playoffs, and we'll talk about that in.
Speaker A:In more depth here in a little bit.
Speaker A:But there's two.
Speaker A:Two things that I wanted to highlight, and we have our social team of Amelia and Aniston joining us.
Speaker A:So welcome to the Cobb Sports Podcast.
Speaker B:Thank you for having us.
Speaker A:So, Amelia, let's start with you.
Speaker A:You were at a unique fundraising event sponsored by Cobb Schools Foundation.
Speaker A:So tell us a little bit more about that.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:There was a charity basketball game in support of autism awareness between local police officers and teachers at Cob County.
Speaker B:It was held at south Cobb, and there was quite the turnout.
Speaker B:It raised funds to benefit the Learning and Interventions Fund.
Speaker B:And this is a program that supports students who need additional support with learning, coping, or processing.
Speaker A:Okay, and you said it was held at south Cobb.
Speaker A:And the question everybody wants to know, who won?
Speaker B:The teachers won.
Speaker A:Of course the teachers won.
Speaker A:So congratulations, teachers, and congratulations, Cobb Schools foundation, for raising.
Speaker A:Raising these funds for the learning Intervention Fund.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:And so thank you, Amelia.
Speaker C:Okay.
Speaker A:Thank you, Aniston.
Speaker A:Yes, we.
Speaker A:By we, I mean the Cobb School District communications department are starting a new intern program to involve students, high school students, in sports reporting, in all aspects of photos, videos, sports articles, maybe even the sports podcast.
Speaker A:Going forward, we might have some of the student reporters involved as well.
Speaker A:So you've been very instrumental and you've been helping set this program up.
Speaker A:And as I understand it, we have a representative, at least one representative from every high school in the district.
Speaker A:So is there anything that you could tell us more about that?
Speaker B:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker B:This fall, we're gonna have student interns showcasing their skills of photography, videography, graphics, writing, and any other skills that they bring to the table.
Speaker B:We're going to be collaborating with them and their content, and there's just so many student creatives.
Speaker B:So we thought, why not showcase their work on a bigger platform?
Speaker B:That way we're covering more events and we're giving these students a platform to show their work.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:So what I mean, you kind of already said it.
Speaker A:But what's in it for the students then?
Speaker A:What do they get out of it?
Speaker B:So the students get to have real world experience.
Speaker B:Many colleges have programs like these.
Speaker B:I was in program like this at my school.
Speaker B:And it's just a way that students who know that they want to do something like this can get a head start before they get into the real world.
Speaker A:But what if.
Speaker A:What if somebody doesn't.
Speaker A:Has never done anything like this before and they think they might be interested in it?
Speaker A:Is this still something that we could.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:I think it's a great test to see if you like it, if you have a passion for photography, videography, and you want to see what it might look like in sports.
Speaker B:I think it's a great way to test and see if you actually enjoy doing something before you go straight.
Speaker B:First, we want to give the students the chance to learn and enhance their skills and abilities that they bring to the table.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:And along with that, we are also going to start with the next year's school year.
Speaker A:In the fall, we're going to start doing a sports newsletter.
Speaker A:Is that correct?
Speaker A:A sports email newsletter?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:And that will feature some of the articles that are from that particular week that the interns have written and of course, that our own sports team has contributed to.
Speaker A:So there'll be multiple ways for students to get involved next year.
Speaker A:But are we still accepting applications for this year?
Speaker B:Applications are closed for next semester or the fall semester, but we will open them back up for spring semester.
Speaker A:Okay, so semester by semester?
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker A:So if somebody likes it and they're in the fall, can they reapply for the spring?
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Is there anything that I haven't asked you that you want to add about the intern program?
Speaker B:I don't think so.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker B:All right, well, that covers it.
Speaker A:Thank you, Aniston and Amelia, for being a part of the Cobb sports podcast.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker A:Now you ladies can go back to being our social media wizards.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:On to Cobb Sports.
Speaker A:Sports.
Speaker A:Brad, we are.
Speaker A:We are well into the.
Speaker A:The end of spring sports.
Speaker A:So our third major sport season is coming to an end.
Speaker A:And interestingly enough, so is graduation.
Speaker A:So is it.
Speaker A:So is the end of school.
Speaker A:So is lots of other stuff.
Speaker C:A lot of stuff.
Speaker C:A lot of stuff.
Speaker A:It is.
Speaker A:Things are, things are wrapping up and, and sports is, is.
Speaker A:Is no different.
Speaker A:In fact, if we, we're going to, we're going to talk about baseball first.
Speaker A:And if, if, if the two teams that, that are, that are still in it, that are in the semifinals if they.
Speaker A:If they make it to the finals, I believe both of them will be playing after their.
Speaker A:After their seniors graduate.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's.
Speaker C:That's kind of a weird quirk in the scheduling from jhsa.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C:That baseball seems to go beyond graduation.
Speaker C:Some of them, I know in the past, some players have even missed their graduations in order to play in the baseball.
Speaker A:State team.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Well, let's get into it here.
Speaker A:So we had.
Speaker A:We'll start in 6A.
Speaker A:There's nobody left.
Speaker A:No teams left for Cobb in 6A baseball.
Speaker A:But we did have four teams make it to the postseason.
Speaker A:Hillgrove, McEachern, Harrison and Walton.
Speaker A:And Walton made it the farthest.
Speaker A:Everybody else got eliminated in the first round.
Speaker A:McEachern.
Speaker A:Hillgrove actually got eliminated by Walton.
Speaker A:So unfortunately, we had.
Speaker A:We had two of our own teams play.
Speaker A:Hillgrove got eliminated, McEachern got eliminated, and Harrison got eliminated in the first round.
Speaker A:And then Walton made it to the second round, but they were eliminated by Carrollton.
Speaker A:So no more teams left in 6A.
Speaker A:But.
Speaker A:But a great, A great, A great baseball season overall for 6A in Cobb.
Speaker A:And then in 4A, we have.
Speaker A:We only have two teams in 4A anyway, so we have Kel and, and Altoona.
Speaker A:Both of them made it.
Speaker A:Made it to the postseason.
Speaker A:Altoona, I believe, got eliminated in the second round, but now Kell is still in it.
Speaker A:And the interesting thing about Kel is they were a four seed.
Speaker A:They were in a pretty competitive region, and, and they.
Speaker A:And they made it to the postseason as, as the four seed.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:Which means four course, they've had to play all their games on the road, and they've.
Speaker A:And they've won all four of their games or all three of their games so far.
Speaker A:They.
Speaker A:They eliminated Locust Grove in three games.
Speaker A:They eliminated Harris county in three games.
Speaker A:And then just most recently in the quarterfinals, they eliminated East Forsyth to make it to the semifinals where they will play Cartersville.
Speaker A:And once again, the KAL Longhorns are going to be playing on the road, so they have to travel to Cartersville.
Speaker A:And if they can.
Speaker A:If they can win that game, they will be in the finals.
Speaker A:So great job, Cal.
Speaker A:Great season.
Speaker A:So far, The Longhorns are 23 and 15 overall, so so far overall this season.
Speaker A:So great job, and we look forward to hopefully seeing you guys in the finals in 5A.
Speaker A:And I know you've gotten.
Speaker A:You've gotten to see this.
Speaker A:This team play a few times this year.
Speaker A:Brad Pope is having an outstanding season.
Speaker C:Incredible.
Speaker C:I think before the Playoffs started, they'd only lost twice all year.
Speaker A:If I'm not mistaken.
Speaker A:They're 34 and 2.
Speaker A:They've only lost two games this, this entire season.
Speaker A:They're on a 23 game win streak.
Speaker A:They are actually ranked number one.
Speaker A:They're number four in the state, but they're number one in 5A.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker A:And they will be playing Houston county, another perennial powerhouse team.
Speaker A:They'll be playing Houston county, who's ranked number six in the state and number three in 5A.
Speaker A:They'll be playing them.
Speaker A:And unfortunately because of the.
Speaker A:The way the coin flip goes, the, the coin flipped to the top part of the bracket.
Speaker A:So Pope will be on the road.
Speaker A:They have.
Speaker A:They've been playing at home so far throughout the playoffs, but now they have.
Speaker C:To travel and they've been dominant at home in the playoffs.
Speaker C:So hopefully they can carry that over to the.
Speaker C:The opponent's field.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So Pope's path to the semi semifinals were they beat.
Speaker A:They've beaten everybody in two games.
Speaker A:They haven't even needed that that third day.
Speaker A:So they're able to rest on that on that day where they might have to have a, have a, have a tiebreaker.
Speaker A:They just haven't had the.
Speaker A:Had to utilize that.
Speaker A:So they've beat, they've beaten veterans, they've beaten McIntosh and they've beaten Glenn Academy in two games.
Speaker A:And they were all pretty easily Pope.
Speaker A:I don't think they really struggled with anyone so far this year.
Speaker A:But you know, they're get to the semifinals, then if you make it past that, you're in the finals playing some elite ball.
Speaker A:So we hope to see the Pope Greyhounds win.
Speaker A:This game is actually a rematch of last year's quarterfinal loss that Pope lost to Houston county last year.
Speaker A:And then Houston county went on to the finals and lost that game or that series.
Speaker A:But they were.
Speaker A:They're the reigning state runner up.
Speaker A:So this game against Houston county will be a rematch of last year's and we hope for a different.
Speaker A:A different outcome and we wish you the best of luck.
Speaker A:Pope Greyhounds and coach Turco.
Speaker A:Anything to add there, Brian?
Speaker C:Yeah, I would just say they're doing it both offensively and defensively.
Speaker C:So I think they've got a good shot.
Speaker C:It'd be great for them to get a measure of revenge on last year's defeat.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker A:Yeah, so we look forward to it.
Speaker A:Pope bring home.
Speaker A:Bring home the title.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:In addition to baseball, Brad, the back, the back sheet, or the back part of my sheet has many other sports listed here and You've been keeping up with them that we've.
Speaker A:We've just.
Speaker A:This is why we need interns.
Speaker A:There's.
Speaker A:There's so much.
Speaker A:Especially.
Speaker A:The spring is just so packed with.
Speaker A:With all these activities.
Speaker A:But not only is it packed with activities, but.
Speaker A:But there's.
Speaker A:There's boys and girls and everything in.
Speaker A:In everything.
Speaker A:And then track and field, which is.
Speaker A:Which is.
Speaker A:Which is.
Speaker A:With a sport full of all sorts of different events.
Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker A:So let's start with track and field.
Speaker A:What.
Speaker A:What's.
Speaker A:What's.
Speaker A:What's the.
Speaker A:The outlook look like, like for Cobb?
Speaker C:So, amazingly, almost every high school in Cobb has a state qualifier, which is in Athens this year.
Speaker C:They've moved the track and field championships to Athens.
Speaker C:And there's a day for 4A and a day for 5A, a day for 6A.
Speaker C:Those are the ones we obviously cover because those are classifications that our schools are in.
Speaker C:But amongst all of the high schools and across all the classifications, Cobb Schools has 141 individual or relay teams that have qualified for the state this year.
Speaker C:141 Between the three classifications.
Speaker C:I mean, that's just incredible.
Speaker A:Yeah, that is.
Speaker C:And, you know, you mentioned all the things going on in spring.
Speaker C:We did an article recently about all the spring signees.
Speaker C:And, you know, if you're paying attention, in Cobb county, we have hundreds of student athletes that have signed to play at the next level or compete in the next level.
Speaker C:And that just goes to prove that Cobb athletes are kind of built for beyond.
Speaker C:And, you know, that's kind of a theme that we've taken up, is that Cobb athletes are built for beyond, and they're proving it here in the track and field state championships again.
Speaker A:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker A:So moving on from track and field, want to move on to soccer?
Speaker C:Yeah, soccer.
Speaker C:You know, we have a defending state champion in girls soccer, and that's from Walton High School, and they've made the finals again this year.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:And, you know, in soccer alone, Cobb schools have won four state titles in the last 10 years.
Speaker C:So the Walton girls are going for our fifth state title.
Speaker C:You know, and then in Bo, boys, Walton has made the state final as well.
Speaker C:So both 6A teams, we have representation.
Speaker C:Those are only two teams left in soccer this year, but both in 6A.
Speaker C:And in boys soccer, Cobb has won a state title four straight years.
Speaker C:Wow.
Speaker C:Five titles in those years across classifications, but we're going for a fifth straight year of a soccer champion in boys soccer.
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker A:So congratulations, Walton boys and girls, for making it to the finals.
Speaker A:And do you know, offhand when those games will be played.
Speaker C:Those will be played Thursday in Duluth, so May 14th in Duluth.
Speaker C:So if you have a chance, go out and support the Raiders girls and guys on the pitch.
Speaker A:Okay, so we've dealt with track and field.
Speaker A:We've dealt with soccer.
Speaker A:How about lacrosse?
Speaker C:Lacrosse is an interesting one.
Speaker C:We have one team that has made the final, and it's the girls Lassiter team.
Speaker C:And you know, Cobb schools have done well, you know, comparatively to most school districts.
Speaker C:We have three state titles in girls lacrosse since the inception.
Speaker C:Now, I will say that Lasseter has a tall order because they're about to face Milton in the finals.
Speaker C:And Milton has won.
Speaker C: GHSA sanctioning lacrosse in: Speaker A: Since: Speaker C:Yes.
Speaker A:So pretty much all of them.
Speaker C: titles since: Speaker C:And.
Speaker C:And that's who Lasseter faces.
Speaker A:Okay, so what does.
Speaker A:Has Lassiter ever.
Speaker A:Ever won a title?
Speaker C:Lasseter has not won a girls lacrosse title.
Speaker C:So this would be their first Walton.
Speaker C:Our only girls lacrosse title winners are from Walton and Kell.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And lacrosse is one of those sports that still hasn't.
Speaker A:Hasn't caught on all across the state.
Speaker A:So it's not broken into regions.
Speaker A:It's broken into areas.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker C:Divisions.
Speaker C:Divisions.
Speaker C:And there's fewer divisions than there are classification, region.
Speaker C:So, you know, we go single A to six A in classifications, but in lacrosse, it's just division one through three.
Speaker A:And Lassiter plays in which division?
Speaker C:They're in division two in division two.
Speaker A:Okay, so congratulations.
Speaker A:Lassiter girls go on and beat Milton.
Speaker C:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker A:Moving on to tennis.
Speaker C:Yeah, tennis is a.
Speaker C:So I was shocked when I looked into this.
Speaker C:So our one remaining Cobb schools team that is in the tennis final are the girls Walton team.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:And as spectacular as the Milton lacrosse program is, the girls Walton tennis program is even more amazing.
Speaker A:Really.
Speaker C:They have won 23 state titles, the Walton Raider girls in tennis.
Speaker A:Really?
Speaker C:So they are going for their 24th state title as a program.
Speaker C:We celebrated, you know, in the fall, we celebrated the Walton volleyball program.
Speaker C:How many they had won.
Speaker C:Well, the Walton tennis programs won even more.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker C:So they're going for title number 24 this year.
Speaker A:Wow.
Speaker C:And.
Speaker C:And in a span of.
Speaker C: , I guess, in the: Speaker C:So that's incredible.
Speaker C:The Walton tennis girls have been dominant.
Speaker A:And do you know who they're.
Speaker A:Who they're playing in the finals?
Speaker C:They are playing South Forsyth.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:So, yeah, so we are.
Speaker C: th title since: Speaker C:I mean, our.
Speaker C: th title since: Speaker A:24Th overtime overall probably means they're the defending state champs now.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker C: ir last title was actually in: Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Well, Walton soccer.
Speaker A:Walton.
Speaker A:Walton tennis girls are.
Speaker A:Girls are showing the way here.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:So congratulations, Walton Girls, and best of luck in your.
Speaker A:In your final against South Forsyth, Right?
Speaker C:That's correct.
Speaker A:South Forsyth.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker A:Is.
Speaker A:Is there anything that.
Speaker A:That.
Speaker A:That I think covers all the sports except for golf.
Speaker C:We got golf.
Speaker C:Yeah, golf is another one.
Speaker C:It's kind of, you know, it's a little all over the place.
Speaker C:We do have several teams that have made the final tournament that's coming up this weekend, and 4A and 5A get to compete in Savannah and Jekyll Island.
Speaker C:So we need to figure out how we're going to get to go report on that.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker A:That's right.
Speaker C:But we have teams that are.
Speaker C:Have qualified for state, and then we have individuals who aren't on state qualifying teams, but they get to compete as individuals in the state tournament as well.
Speaker C:So.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:Hopefully we'll have a few title winners in golf.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So best of luck, Cobb Golf, and great job on a great season and on continuing that season for those of you in the postseason.
Speaker A:So that.
Speaker A:That's it.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker C:That's all the sports.
Speaker A:Okay.
Speaker C:That are left.
Speaker C:There's not much more to go about, but it's a lot to cover.
Speaker A:It is.
Speaker A:It is.
Speaker A:And again, that's one of the rationales for needing student interns, not to mention the fact that they're already there, you know, and they're going to the games.
Speaker A:They know the players, so it's kind of a win.
Speaker A:Win for everybody.
Speaker A:But it also allows these interns to build.
Speaker A:Build a portfolio if this is something that they want to pursue.
Speaker A:This gives them a leg up on college applications and just experience in general, and they have a nice portfolio.
Speaker C:And it's going to expand our coverage, too, because you and I, eric, we're only two guys covering 16 high schools, and those 16 high schools have 20 sports, and those 20 sports sometimes have two girls and boys.
Speaker C:So we can only be in so many places.
Speaker C:And so having these student interns, I think, is going to be, like you said, a benefit for them, but it's going to benefit the community and Cobb sports coverage as well.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So that's going to do it for this year, for 20, 25, 26, and as I said earlier, look for a potential to sign up for a Cobb Sports newsletter, which will be all, all things sports.
Speaker A:So any, any, any information that we're getting from the interns, plus, plus the things that that Brad and I are doing online with videos and these podcasts and other things like that, they will all be included in the newsletter.
Speaker A:So look for that if you want to be in the know on Cobb sports.
Speaker A:So, Brad, anything to add here before we go?
Speaker C:Just remember, Cobb is built for beyond.
Speaker A:Built for beyond.
Speaker A:All right, so thanks for listening to this episode and we will see you next year.
