ST. PETER, Minn. – Junior gymnast Alex Kopp (Long Lake, Minn.) and senior men’s basketball player Gary Cooper (Detroit, Mich.) have been selected as the Gustavus Adolphus College January Female and Male Student-Athletes-of-the-Month, presented by Thrivent Financial and voted on by the Gustavus Sports Information Department.
Alex Kopp
Gymnastics
Hometown: Long Lake, Minn.
High School: Providence Academy
Major: Management
Parents: Terry and Debbie Kopp of Long Lake, Minn.
The Gustavus gymnastics team is off to its best start to a season in more than a decade, and Alex Kopp is a major reason why. The junior captain kicked off the season by taking first place on the vault (9.375) and second in the all-around (35.275) in a dual against UW-Oshkosh. Kopp then upped her all-around score at the Brooke Baures “Smile On” Invitational, hosted by Winona State, tallying a mark of 37.250. For her performance, Kopp was named WIAC All-Around Athlete of the Week. In the third meet of the season, Kopp won the all-around once again with a total of 31.150. She took first place in three of four events in a victory over Winona State. The Gusties posted a team score of 180.775, which was the highest since 2004, and won the dual, marking the first victory since 2013. For the second straight week, Kopp earned WIAC honors as Specialist of the Week. To round out the month, Kopp earned her third consecutive all-around victory with a score of 37.075. The Providence Academy product posted a career-high score on the floor with a 9.600. She also took first on the vault (9.475).
Gary Cooper
Men’s Basketball
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
High School: Denby
Major: Management
Parents: Gary Cooper and LaTanija Davis of Detroit, Mich.
Despite missing the first four games of the month due to injury, Gary Cooper returned to the hardwood on Jan. 16 against Carleton and didn’t skip a beat. The senior captain scored 20 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, and added four rebounds. Four days later, Cooper posted 19 points at Saint John’s, shooting 50 percent (9-18) from the floor along with six rebounds and a season-high seven assists. Cooper and the Gusties then ended a three-game losing streak against Augsburg, while the senior wing shot 53 percent (8-15) from the field for 17 points and a season-high seven rebounds. In a victory over Saint Mary’s, Cooper contributed a season-high 21 points, including 7-of-8 free throws. The Gusties added to their win streak with a home victory over Bethel where the Denby product tallied 17 points and six rebounds. Cooper and the Gusties capped the month of January with a convincing win over Macalester, as Cooper collected 18 points and tied a season-best with seven assists.