Cooper, Bettinelli named The Grove Student-Athletes of the Month for October

STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton Athletics has announced that Darius Cooper of Tarleton Football and Mila Bettinelli of Tarleton Soccer are the October recipients of the ‘Tarleton Student-Athletes of the Month’ award, presented by The Grove.

The student-athlete of the month is selected based on the all-around student-athlete for one male and one female. The student-athlete will show effort and excellence in academics, leadership, civility, dedication to the team, campus involvement, community service, and the ability to serve as role models for current and future Tarleton State University students and student-athletes.

To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Only athletes competing in their championship season are eligible for the award each month.

Cooper had his best month on the football field in October in his third year with the team, combining for 20 catches for 406 yards and five touchdowns. His two 100+ yard games were the most he’s had in any month in his collegiate career, capped off by a career-best performance against Sam Houston, going for 191 yards on nine catches and two touchdowns. Following his big October, Cooper had the tied-second most receiving touchdowns in the Western Athletic Conference (seven), the fifth most receiving yards (719) and the fifth most receptions (37).

As Tarleton entered the stretch run of its inaugural soccer season, Bettinelli finished the season stronger than she started. Over the final month of the season, the freshman striker put 13 shots on goal in the final seven matches of the season to lead all Texans. Of those 13 shots, a team-best five found the back of the net. Bettinelli single-handedly outscored SFA in Tarleton’s 4-1 victory in Nacogdoches with two goals scored. Bettinelli was named to the WAC All-Freshmen team at the conclusion of the season. She scored eight goals on the season and had one assist for the year.

Once selected as student-athlete of the month, the recipients are eligible to be selected for Tarleton Student-Athlete of the Year award at the end of the season. The yearly award will be recognized at the beginning of the following fall semester.

The list of the year’s complete award winners are as follows: