STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton Athletics has announced that Texan Football's Darius Cooper and Texan Soccer's Avery Harr are The Grove Student-Athletes of the Month for October.
 
The student-athlete of the month is selected based on the all-around student-athlete for one male and one female. The student-athlete shows 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 totaled 15 receptions for 314 yards and three touchdowns across four games in October. He led the team in receiving twice, including an incredible effort at Eastern Kentucky, going for six catches, 149 yards and two touchdowns. In that game, his 30-yard touchdown on 4th and 15 in the first overtime kept the game alive for Tarleton State. In Tarleton's final game of October, Cooper showcased a SportsCenter Top-10 worthy one-handed catch that helped the Texans upset No. 18 Central Arkansas on the road, 25-23.
 
Harr continued her strong Texan career with two more goals in October, finding the back of the net against Abilene Christian and California Baptist. Against ACU, Harr executed a spectacular crossover to weave past two Wildcat defenders, beating the goalkeeper to the back right of the net. Overall this season, Harr was one of two Texans to start all 19 games.  
 
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 list of the year's complete award winners are as follows:
 
September: Kevin Baez (Cross Country) and Rajini Fitzmaurice (Volleyball)
October: Darius Cooper (Football) and Avery Harr (Soccer)

ABOUT THE GROVE
The Grove is a fully-furnished apartment complex in Stephenville catered to the students of Tarleton State University. They will be the title sponsor of the Student-Athlete of the Month awards for the 2023-24 season.