On Thursday, May 1, 2014, Upper Merion senior Austin Cooper was recognized at a special news conference for committing to run track and cross country at IUP. To view photos of the signing, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Cardinal Camera sponsors all SOL college signings on SuburbanOneSports.com. For additional information about purchasing a commemorative keepsake of the signing, please click on the following link: http://www.suburbanonesports.com/forms/college-signings.
Austin Cooper – Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Cross Country/Track)
Major: Accounting and Finance
Final list of colleges: IUP
Reasons for choosing IUP: “The institution itself was a major reason I chose the school. I am a student first, 
athlete second, and the honors program at IUP along with the brand new business school really grabbed my attention. The running program was just the icing on the cake. The coaching staff is phenomenal, and they all have the individual achievements, so I know that they know how to win. They have made strides since being hired to get IUP to the top of the conference, and I would like to help the program in that cause.
“I believe that track and cross country are team sports, not just individuals running for the same school. The PSAC is a fantastic running conference, and I know that I will always have quality opponents to run against throughout my college career.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in track and cross country at the collegiate level? “I started thinking about it probably my junior year. My freshman and sophomore years I just did it because it was fun for me. I was just going along for the ride. In my junior year, I started realizing I was half decent at it, and I thought I could take it a little bit farther and do it in college, so I started contacting coaches.”
Coach Lynda Newhart said: “You saw the talent early on. I think he had to believe it himself, and I think we saw that come about his junior year. He always worked hard, but there’s that combination of working hard and truly believing you belong there and you can excel at this. He always did very well, but I think the turning point was last spring track.
“He’s very versatile. He can go anywhere from a 400 to a 5K, and college coaches have looked at him and said, ‘You can do this cross country thing too.’”
About Austin:
Favorite food: White Cheddar Mac ‘N Cheese
Favorite movie: Limitless
Favorite music: Alternative & Some West Coast Rap
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