DARKE COUNTY – A pair of athletes who have challenged themselves to get better are this week’s Daily Advocate athletes of the week.
This week’s Daily Advocate athletes of the week are Franklin Monroe boys soccer player Cody Coppess and Arcanum girls cross country runner Marcy Bradshaw.
Bradshaw broke Arcanum’s school cross country record at the Cross County Conference meet on Oct. 17 at National Trail, finishing ninth overall with a time of 19:40.
“She has had her eye on Angie Cates’ school record since her freshman year,” Arcanum cross country coach Chris Kessler said. “She thought she had the school record a couple of week ago at the Eaton Ed Leas Invitational, but the course was short. She was disappointed but made her want the record even more. She is now wanting to break her own record along with making it to the state meet. I told her one meet at a time, trying to take pressure off of her.”
Bradshaw’s time of 19:40 is second best among all Darke County girls this season behind only Bradford’s Karmen Knepp. The junior has been able to have a lot of success despite battling injuries throughout her high school career.
“Marcy works so hard at practice and in the offseason,” Kessler said. “She has overcome injuries in her high school career from stress fractures to now fighting with an Achilles injury. I have to slow her down at times because she wants to go hard all the time. She runs a lot with the guys in practice because she wants to be challenged. Every meet she set her own meet goal to either be in the top five or 10, to win the meet or to take so many seconds off her time.”
The Arcanum junior is well-rounded, Kessler said, and in addition to being a great runner also excels off the course.
“She works hard in school,” Kessler said. “She is also involved with 4-H and is on the Junior Fair Board. Very involved in her church, Emmanuel Baptist Church in Arcanum. She is a well-rounded and grounded person. She is loved and respected by hers peers, teachers and coaches.”
Coppess had to sit out the beginning of the season after attending the Genova International School of Soccer in Italy last fall and then training at the Crew SC Academy in Columbus, which is a charter member of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
But as soon as he was able to suit up for the Jets he made his presence known with the game-winning goal against Twin Valley South in his first game of the season.
“He really solidified our midfield,” Franklin Monroe boys soccer coach Danny Diceanu said. “He’s made us a lot strong by being eligible and being able play.”
Coppess is a captain for Franklin Monroe. His passion to win and his desire to make his teammates better have helped make him a great player, Diceanu said.
“Kids always seem to migrate to him,” Diceanu said. “He’s a solid player. I love to have him on my team. He’s a great kid.”
Coppess also is very level-headed and does a great job of controlling the ball, which helped lead Franklin Monroe to the CCC championship.
“He’s very good at controlling the ball, receiving the ball, winning the ball,” Diceanu said.
