Allosso and Wesley, True “Student-Athletes”
When describing an outstanding athlete, any coach will mention competitiveness, dedication and ability. These qualities lead directly to excellence and wins on the field. As a student-athlete, possessing these same attributes in the classroom opens opportunities for the future, vaulting that player above the rest.
Cox High School is fortunate enough to have two such athletes who lead on the field as well as off it. Dakota Allosso and Wesley Drew embody the term student-athlete, not allowing their athletic endeavors to overshadow commitment to schoolwork. Aptness in both arenas will allow them to attend exalted academic institutions after high school.
Drew began her high school athletic career on the junior varsity field hockey team, but that didn't last for long. When the JV season ended, Drew was immediately called up to play varsity.
“She was the only freshman that got pulled up to varsity,” said field hockey coach Julie Swain. “Wesley just had maturity, strength and poise under pressure, so I thought she could compete at the varsity level.”
It was in the Beach District Tournament against arch rival Princess Anne that Drew saw her first varsity action. Under a strange set of circumstances, she didn't stay in the pressure-packed situation for long.
“Our senior forward got hit near her eye with the ball, so I went in for her,” Drew said. “I only played for a few minutes though, because almost as soon as I went into the game, I was hit in the same place.”
Subsequent games went a bit smoother for Drew. After gaining experience during her sophomore season, Drew began to come into her own as a junior. Helping thrust the Falcons all the way to the State Championship, she made First Team All-Beach, All-Region and All-State. The following summer she won a gold medal at the Canada-American Games.
Heading into her senior season, Drew was elected as a captain of the Cox squad. Again leading the Falcons into the postseason, Drew repeated as All-Beach, All-Region, and All-State, as well as earning Regional All-American and 2nd Team All-American honors. She was named Regional Player of the Year and the Falcons' MVP.
Throughout her success on the field, Drew maintained a 3.4 GPA, demonstrating her emphasis on achieving as a student as well as an athlete. Next year she will attend the College of William and Mary where she'll continue to play field hockey.
“I know there has to be something outside the field, because I'm not going to be playing field hockey forever,” said Drew. “I want to be able to have a career doing something I enjoy, so I know it's important to keep my grades up.”
Allosso, like Drew, made an early impact on varsity. As a sophomore he started at quarterback for the football team, leading the squad to a school-best, 7-3 record.
During his junior year of high school, Allosso helped the soccer team reach the State Semi-Finals playing sweeper, and in the winter kept busy wrestling for the Falcons. Playing so many different sports has helped Allosso improve as an overall athlete.
“When you're playing three sports, there's never really any downtime to lose focus or get out of shape,” said Allosso. “Because you don't train the same way for each sport, the different workouts improve your all-around agility.”
As a senior, Allosso led the football team in tackles earning 2nd Team All-Beach and won the most matches of any wrestler in the State Tournament. He captained the football, wrestling and soccer teams, crediting his work ethic with the leadership that so many different teams bestowed upon him.
“I always do things that other people don't want to do, and I lead by example,” Allosso said. “My dad always tells me, ‘There's someone out there working right now,' so I always try to work harder than that person out in California or someplace that is competing for the same things.”
Allosso has also shown leadership in the classroom, earning a 3.7 GPA that put him in the top 10% of his graduating class. He has been accepted to the College of the Holy Cross where he'll play football next year. Allosso has big plans both as an athlete and a student.
“As an athlete, I plan on making the traveling team this year playing special teams, and I want to be starting games by sophomore year,” he said. “As far as schoolwork, one day I want to work for the FBI or CIA, so I want to make the Dean's List so I can get into a good law school.”
