Oliver Cookman Reached Athlete of the Year Quarterfinals
A junior at Maria Carrillo High School has advanced to the final 1% of a national competition.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Track & Field
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Maria Carrillo High School junior Oliver Cookman has advanced to the quarterfinal round of a national athlete of the year contest. He is currently among the final 1% of the original 172,000 participants.
Why it matters
The competition acts as a fundraiser for the Why Not You Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Russell Wilson to support youth education and health. Advancing in the contest requires participants to secure sufficient votes from the public during each stage.
The contest winner will receive $25,000 in prize money and national media exposure. Cookman is currently competing to survive the quarterfinal cut from the original field of 172,000 applicants.
The players
Oliver Cookman
He is a junior student and athlete at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa.
Why Not You Foundation
Founded by Russell Wilson, this organization provides opportunities for youth through education and health initiatives.
Russell Wilson
He is a professional athlete who established the Why Not You Foundation to support various charitable causes.
The details
Cookman, who is also a baseball player for the Pumas, relies on public voting to move through the brackets of the competition. If successful in the upcoming stages, the winner will earn a feature in Sports Illustrated and an appearance on CBS.
Timeline
Quarterfinal voting ends at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Oliver Cookman plays baseball for the Pumas in the spring of 2027.
Season Trajectory
This story follows a fundraising pattern set by the Why Not You Foundation, which uses public competitions to drive philanthropic engagement. The contest highlights how grassroots athletic achievement is increasingly leveraged to support charitable foundations.
The progress of Cookman depends entirely on the volume of votes he receives from the community before the Thursday deadline. Advancement will determine whether he remains eligible for the $25,000 prize and national media features.
The takeaway
Public participation remains the primary driver for success in this charity-based competition. Supporters can impact the final results by voting through the official portal before the quarterfinal window closes.
What happens next
Voting for the quarterfinal round is scheduled to conclude at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Further reading
For more news on local athletes, visit Track & Field.
More information
To review the current standings or cast a ballot, visit the contestant voting page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
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