Copperas Cove's Cotton signs with Southern U.

COPPERAS COVE, Texas – Anthony Cotton became the first Copperas Cove athlete in at least 15 years to ink a scholarship primarily for track.

On Thursday morning, Cotton signed his national letter of intent to pole vault for Southern University, a Division I school in track located in Baton Rouge, La. The senior was all smiles as he soaked in the fact that he will get to go to college and do what he loves.

The choice eventually came down to Southern and Texas State, but Cotton was wowed by the family atmosphere in Baton Rouge. "When I went down there for my visit, everything about it screamed family and closeness," he said. "Being from Cove, that's what we're all about, that's what we preach."

Cotton also said academics played a role in his choice. He thought Southern placed an emphasis on being a student, which was an important issue for the pole vaulter. "You're a student first and an athlete second (at Southern)," Cotton said. They're (Southern) so adamant about that and it appeals to me greatly." Cotton plans on pursuing a degree in engineering, either mechanical or electrical.

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