EVERYBODY, look at this photo in awe. I mean, the chiseled features of this breathtakingly attractive guy are just impeccable. No, I’m not talking about me. This beautiful man’s name is Drew “King” Cooper. King Cooper is one of the more amazing seniors at El Paso Gridley High School. He has attended EPG since Pre-school and has been an important part of the Class of 2026 almost from the beginning. Drew says that what got him through the torture–sorry, I meant to say school–was the help and encouragement of his parents and his sister, Lucy, who graduated from EPG 3 years ago.

Drew Cooper has contributed greatly to EPG athletics, being a 4-year member of both Track and Field and Cross Country. And he wasn’t just a background member either. He qualified for State 3 years in a row in Cross Country, and qualified for State in the 3200 this last year in Track. His success hasn’t just been talent, although he does have a good amount. For the last half-decade, one of his main hobbies has been running. However, in recent years, he views running as “more of a chore. It’s like school, I have to do it every day.” 

Drew plans to go to college, but he has not committed anywhere just yet. When asked whether he would compete in Collegiate Cross Country or Collegiate Track and Field, he emphatically declared, “No. After high school, I’m done with running.” He did, however, admit that he would run in college if it could give him a full-ride. Drew doesn’t yet know what he wants to do after college.

King Cooper draws most of his inspiration from the one and only Lightning McQueen. His favorite movie is Cars. When I say “favorite,” I don’t mean he’s seen it like 6 or 7 times. I don’t even mean he’s already watched it multiple times this year. I mean, he’s probably watched it this morning. Drew watches Cars a lot. Same with pizza. According to him, his parents get several frozen pizzas a week, and he just eats them almost every night.

Drew is a unique figure in EPG. His advice for everybody is to stay out of his way and not compete with him, because he “eats losers for breakfast.”