Yough selects Cook, Ball
Olivia Cook is Yough's winter sports female selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
Eli Ball is Yough's winter sports male selection in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
As standout student-athletes, Yough seniors Olivia Cook and Mikael “Eli” Ball have been chosen as the school’s winter sports representatives in the Centennial Chevrolet Scholar/Athlete Spotlight program.
“It is nice to be recognized for the hard work toward academics and athletics,” said Cook, who swims despite Yough not having a pool in the school. “People who don’t swim are not aware of how demanding the sport is, and I appreciate being acknowledged.”
Ball, the 138-pound wrestler on Yough’s team, has wrestled since he was in third grade and shared his pride.
“I am honored and thankful,” he said.
Cook is the daughter of Tim and Kris Cook of West Newton and has a 4.0 GPA. Ball is the son of Ben and Natalie Ball of West Newton and has a GPA north of 3.7.
Ball is the middle child as he has an older brother Isaac Wiles (20) and a younger brother Nathaniel (12), while Cook is the youngest of three children behind her sister Maddy (23) and brother Corey (21).
Ball and Cook will both major in engineering in college, Ball at Pitt and Cook at Penn State.
“I really like problem solving,” Ball said when asked why he chose engineering. “I also like math and science.”
Cook also shared her reason for going into engineering.
“My brother and sister went into it and like it and we are into the same things,” she said. “I really enjoy science and math and don’t mind the hard work.”
When talking about their respective influences on them as athletes, Cook chose Michael Phelps while Ball picked Anthony Robles.
“He has amazing dedication to have won all of those medals,” said Cook. “He is getting older now and to still be that good, he is incredibly dedicated.”
Ball discussed Robles, the NCAA 2011 champion at 125-pounds.
“I admire his heart,” Ball said. “He won an NCAA title at Arizona State with one leg.”
They both said their respective families have had the greatest influence on them as athletes.
“My parents have had the greatest influence on me,” Ball said. “They have always supported me and had my back.”
“My family is my biggest group of supporters and they are at all of my meets,” Cook said. “And when my sister swam in school, she would always take me to her practices.”
Ball, who also ran on the cross country team and will run track this spring, said his most memorable sports moment was simply when he fell in love with wrestling.
“I was in fifth grade when I realized it,” he said.
Cook talked about her most memorable moment which took place at the WPIAL swimming championships when the girls team, which consisted of three members, outscored at least 10 other schools with full teams.
“It felt good to be able to put together that many points,” said Cook, who specializes in the 100- and 500-freestyle. “I really hope to qualify this year in my events and make a time that I am proud of.”