Cooper McCage is the Byng High School athlete to look for this baseball season. He is a junior and is an impressive short stop, pitcher, and catcher.

His younger self is the person who motivates him to be the best athlete he can.

“I had a lot of dreams about getting to go do a lot of things through baseball, and I’d like to make my younger self proud and complete my goals,” Cooper said.

Success for Cooper has not come easy. Through his hardships, he has learned that it is important to struggle to grow.

“I think the most important part about reaching success is the failures and heartbreaks,” Cooper said. “It is something that keeps us grounded and motivates me to continue to work hard.”

Cooper looks to Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson as his biggest inspiration: “He is a player with great range, arm, and hands. He’s described as someone who cares about both winning and his teammates. I’d like to become a player like him one day.”

One of Cooper’s favorite highlights from his baseball career happened in regionals last fall, when he hit a home run on his birthday to help Byng to the state tournament.

Cooper would not be the same without the impact of the Byng community and staff who have made him who he is today. “The teacher who has had the biggest impact on me is my second grade teacher, Mrs. Fowler,” Cooper said. “She taught me the importance of hard work and loving others as Christ did.”