Mathis will try to join Marietta elite
By Thomas Ashworth
MDJ Sports Writer
Marietta is considered a blueblood
Sterling Estates East & West
STRONGER THAN EVER!
STERLING STRONGER THAN EVER
STERLING STRONGER THAN EVER
Winners Best of Cobb 2022
LEADING THE WAY
4 YEARS IN A ROW!
“We’re honored that both Sterling Estates Communities have been recognized as ‘Best of Cobb’ for Retirement Living, Assisted Living and
Memory Care again in 2022. I’m proud to say that it’s the 4th year in a row we’ve won these awards and an awesome tribute to our sta
members. We’ve been serving seniors in greater Atlanta for over 25+ years now...we invite you to come and experience what sets us apart.”
“What I’ve learned is that all communities talk about wellness and socialization… but they don’t have the wellness center,
green space, programming and stang that Sterling Estates has. No one can match what Sterling provides for their residents.
My parents are thriving at Sterling Estates… Bet yours will, too” —Susan S.
Marshall Gill, COO & Partner, Sterling Estates Senior Living Communities
Residents Fully Engaged In Wellness & Social Activities • Large Wellness Center With Indoor Heated Pool For
• Award Winning Dining And Healthy Food • Longevity Of Sta • Certied Parkinson’s Delay e Disease Programs
Residents Fully Engaged In Wellness & Social Activities • Local Owners & Managers • Award Winning Dining And Healthy Food
Exercise And Rehabilitative Services With Licensed Exercise And Recreation erapists
• Longevity Of Sta Large Wellness Centers With Indoor Heated Pools For Exercise And Rehabilitative Services With Licensed Exercise And
• Beautiful Courtyard And Front Lawn For Activities And Socialization • Local Owners & Managers
Recreation erapists • Beautiful Courtyards, Lawns and Gardens for Activities and Socialization • Certied Parkinson’s Delay e Disease Programs
• Award Winning Dining And Healthy Food • Longevity Of Sta • Certied Parkinson’s Delay e Disease Programs
BESTOF COBB
2021 WINNER
PRESENTED BYCOBBLIFE MAGAZINE
KICKOFF ‘22 45
LEADING THE WAY
“What I’ve learned is that all communities talk about wellness and socialization… but they don’t have the wellness center,
green space, programming and stang that Sterling Estates has. No one can match what Sterling provides for their residents.
My parents are thriving at Sterling Estates… Bet yours will, too” —Susan S.
Residents Fully Engaged In Wellness & Social Activities • Large Wellness Center With Indoor Heated Pool For
Exercise And Rehabilitative Services With Licensed Exercise And Recreation erapists
• Beautiful Courtyard And Front Lawn For Activities And Socialization • Local Owners & Managers
Come see the dierence: Safe and Social —e Sterling Way
STERLING ESTATES
Sterlingestateseastcobb.com • 678-946-4454 Shelly
Come see what sets us apart —e Sterling Way
Come see the dierence: Safe and Social —e Sterling Way
Assisted & Independent Living Best of Cobb 2019, 2020, and 2021 Assisted Living Facility
STERLING ESTATES
STERLING ESTATES
SterlingEstates.com
2021 WINNER
Sterlingestateseastcobb.com • 678-946-4454 Shelly
Independent, Assisted Living & Memory Care
Assisted & Independent Living Best of Cobb 2019, 2020, and 2021 Assisted Living Facility
East Cobb: 678-9 46- 4454 Shelly
BESTOFCOBB
PRESENTEDBY COBBLIFEMAGAZINE
West Cobb:77 0-255-7 000 Sherry & Lacey East Cobb
Best Assisted Living Facility
West Cobb
Best Memory Care Facility
& Best Retirement Community
H av e
A
Great
Season!
Winner
Taste of
East Cobb
2022
of G eorgia high school
athletics, and senior wide receiver
Christian Mathis comes
from a blueblood family of former
Blue Devils.
Mathis’ brother, Jordan Mathis,
played wide receiver at Western
Carolina, while his father,
Mark Mathis, played cornerback
at Liberty U niversity and eventually
signed with the St. Louis
Cardinals of the NFL.
Now, it’s Christian’s turn to
put the Mathis surname on full
display.
“Because of the history and
tradition we’ve built here, there’s
always going to be a next guy to
step up,” Marietta coach Richard
Morgan said. “It’s one of
the exciting parts about high
school football.”
Last season, Mathis was one of
the key members of the Blue Devils
offense, hauling in 54 receptions
for 9 11 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He was recognized as a
First Team All-Region 3AAAAAAA
selection and an All-Cobb County
honorable mention.
Along with his recognition,
Mathis has so far gathered
offers from schools including
East Tennessee State,
Morehouse College, Alabama
State, U T Martin and G rambling
State.
“When we were younger, we
didn’t really talk about the NFL,
because you’ve got to go to college
first,” Mathis said. “As I’ve
gotten older, we know that’s the
end goal. I think him doing it
and my brother playing at the
collegiate level, it drives me. I
want to be that person for my
family to set us all up.”
As he looks to continue his
success, he has hopes of having
his name etched into Marietta
history, j ust like his father.
“We hear the dad stories about
how it was when he was in high
school,” Mathis said. “I got a
little ragging on because he’s
in the athletic hall of fame, so
it gives me something to work
up to.”
Marietta coach Richard Morgan
has high aspirations for
Mathis as he heads into his
senior year, saying that he’s
the best at his position in the
county.
“I think Christian’s the best
receiver in Cobb County,” Morgan
said. “G reat ball skills, great
route runner, he’s strong, he
knows the game very well. He’s
made an effort to develop leadership
skills but he’s also made
the effort to elevate his game
each year to a higher level. I
think he’s going to have a tremendous
senior year.”
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver
says that despite his appearance,
his style of play is
bigger than his frame.
“I take pride in my ball skills,”
Mathis said. “The way I track it,
the way I attack it. I’m kind of
an undersized receiver, some
might say, but I don’t play undersized.
I play a little bigger
than what I am. I take pride
in that.”
Along with two of his direct
family members playing
football, Mathis said he had
a brother-like relationship
with a pair of former Marietta
receivers.
“Two people that really had a
big influence on me were ( wide
receiver) K amryn Perry and
( tight end) Camden O verton,”
Mathis said. “I was the little
brother out of that group, so
they always kept me focused.
They let me know that ‘when
we leave, you’re going to have
to take over.’ Putting that in my
mind got me ready.”
Both play at Division-I schools,
with Perry heading to Indiana
and O verton with Chattanooga.
In his final year, Mathis looks
to be a role model for the younger
core of the Blue Devils football
program.
“The younger kids, they’re going
to do what you do. They’re
going to say what you say and
see what you see,” Mathis said.
“We try to teach them and coach
them on how we were brought
up. We try to pass down those
lessons and try to keep this thing
going.”
/SterlingEstates.com