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Of his return to the playing field, Chris says, “When I went back to football [after the therapists] cleared me, I basically had to learn to trust myself again on the football field and how to move without thinking about it.”

The athlete’s triumphant return would not have been possible without his dedicated team of doctors and therapists and his resolve to overcome his injury. Ashley shares that Chris was exceptional in his determination by attending therapy every day, working hard, and putting himself in a position to succeed. “After the initial shock of the injury, he was very dedicated to getting back out there. He did everything we asked of him, and more.” She laughs a bit when she recalls how Chris was initially unhappy when asked to rein in his activity a little, noting that rest and recovery are just as important as straight-leg raises. Northside Hospital outpatient physical therapists Jennifer St. Joseph and Bob Breingan worked with Chris to maintain his pace after the ambitious baller kept asking them to give him more exercises. Ashley explains that Jennifer and Bob worked with Chris to create exercises that mimicked football moves. “Chris was definitely one of the best patients, in terms of following directions. When Chris worked with the physical therapists, they pushed him, and I think that’s why he did so well. His recovery is a huge testament to his demeanor, his willingness to do what was asked of him, [and] the way he got along with our therapists. He is such a fantastic young adult that I can’t say enough about him. He’s a great athlete,” she continues proudly. “I wish more patients could be like him because he is so dedicated. He had the heart to come back.” While ACL tears are common injuries among athletes, the recovery and rehabilitation process is much improved thanks to advances in medical knowledge. “The technology has come so far that it is allowing athletes to go back to the game,” Ashley notes. She describes how surgeons previously used either cadaver ACLs or hamstring tendons to repair ACL injuries. With advanced surgical processes, Ashley says surgeons and therapists are “seeing better recovery rates because we are using a person’s own tissue. Their bodies are accepting it better, and [the repairs] are lasting longer.” Chris advises athletes who experience an ACL injury to be patient and do a little extra work. “I think that was why I was able to recover so fast. At home I did extra exercises, like bodyweight squats, lunges, jogging, running, and stretching.” Chris stresses the importance of not giving up. “[Injured athletes] need to give their minds and bodies more time to heal properly.” He states that keeping a positive mindset is the most important factor. “Stay strong, be positive, and understand that this is just a little setback.” While in recovery and therapy, Chris had time to focus on what he wants to do with his life. Even as a child Chris had entrepreneurial dreams but hadn’t determined the specifics of what kind of business he wanted to run. He says his dad encouraged him to plan his post-sports career, so he researched career paths that interested him. Upon learning more about the foreign exchange market, which he describes as “like stocks but more volatile,” he realized he wanted to pursue a career in that field and has been studying the trade. Staying in his positive mindset, Chris advises, “If you treat [an obstacle] the correct way, it can be the best thing that ever happened to you. Sometimes you need an extraordinary event in your life to open another door.” Enjoy

HS FOOTBALL WILL COOPER:

THE MAN BEHIND THE MIC

By Katie Wheeler, Canton Resident

(l-r) WLJA Broadcast Team Dave Garner, Arthur Mosley, Ronnie Cooper, Zakk Gross, and Will Cooper

FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL is a hallmark of hometowns across the South with cheering crowds, stadium lights, and often the sound of “Touchdown!” being called from the broadcaster’s booth. Cherokee County’s fall Friday nights are no different. Amid the crowd’s cheers and the clashing of helmets, you’re likely to hear WLJA’s broadcast team led by Will Cooper, a local young man with a heart for the game.

Local radio station WLJA 101.1 FM is North Georgia’s home for Southern gospel music year-round, except on Friday evenings in the fall, when listeners delight in hearing Will and his team share action-packed playby-play coverage during the Cherokee County High School Football Game of the Week program.

Will is a Cherokee local who attended Creekview High School and has a love of all things sports. When he took on a social media internship with WLJA in 2018, he never imagined the spark it would ignite. At first his Friday nights consisted of filming sideline videos and posting score updates for broadcasters Michael Searcy and Dave Garner. Will recalls that about three games into the season, “as the game wrapped up, Dave looked at me and said, ‘Do you want to do the post-game show?’ I was pretty shocked, but I agreed. He handed me a headset and said ‘Okay, you’re on.’ And from there I never went back.”

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A few months later Will accepted

@SportsWLJA his first radio job at a station

in Rome. “After the 2018 season ended, I knew I wanted a career in broadcasting,” he says.

When football preparations began again at WLJA, sports director Dave was adamant that the booth needed Will, and he was more than happy to accept. Reflecting on Will’s role on the broadcast team, Dave says, “He reminds me a little of myself when I first entered into broadcast. I had some good mentors that coached me along the way, and I wanted to pay it forward. I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some talented young broadcasters over the years, some of whom have advanced their careers into sizable markets. I see Will as easily being one of those who can take that next step to bigger and better things.” Since joining the on-air team, Will has helped expand the broadcast booth by adding a pre-season coaches show and a podcast—The Football Blitz—all while honing his skills. As he enters his fifth year, Will says the first game of the season still feels like Christmas morning. Each game involves nearly thirty hours of prep work, including team research, film watching, and memorizing rosters. “It’s important to know players’ names and call them correctly. They may be playing for scholarships and using our broadcast in a highlight reel, and we have to give credit where credit is due. I consider it to be a responsibility.” Will admits that his success has not been without blunders. “At my first official game of 2018, I hadn’t paid any attention to prep work. I simply printed rosters, highlighted the starters, and went to call the game, and I completely bombed.” He gives thanks to the support of his broadcast partners, who made all the difference. “The only reason I’ve been successful is because of the kindness and support of others in my circle.