cougar strong racing 999
​8th grade team

Coaches: Matthew Graham & Chris Morris
Cougar Strong Racing 999 Team Photo
2023-2024

Zoe Caudill
TEAM POSITION:
​driver / media team

I'm Zoe Caudill, I am in 8th grade, and I joined the Greenpower racing team because I was in it for the last two years and I enjoyed it. While I was a part of it, I noticed that it significantly improved me. I also wanted to strengthen my team working skills. This year is the third year that I have done Greenpower.  My favorite part of Greenpower is being able to work with my team and do something I love, problem-solving. Two jobs I think I would enjoy the most would be a driver and a part of the social media team. The reason why I want to be a driver is that I have always LOVED driving a vehicle. I feel like driving could give me a great experience with racing. I  want to join the social media team because I love to be social. Talking to people is not a fear.

​FUN FACT: In my spare time I love to do photography. Also, I enjoy playing video games with my friends.

JAXON HULL
TEAM POSITION:
​driver

Hi, I’m Jaxon Hull and I am in the 8th grade. This is my 3rd year on the Cougar Strong Race Team. I would love to be a driver again this year. 

FUN FACT:  I have 4 dogs, 1 cat, and 10 chickens, and I am working on starting my own soft plastic bait business.

WESLEY LEWIS
TEAM POSITION:
pit crew chief

Hey my name is Wesley Lewis I’m 14 and I am going into 8th grade for the 23-2024 school year. This will be my first year on the team. The reason I wanted to join the team is because I have always liked working on small engines and anything with an wheels. I also have always liked to drive go karts, it has always been fun to me.  Those are the main reasons why I want to be on the team.
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FUN FACT: I got to meet former University of Georgia Football Coach & Athletic Director Vince Dooley.

GARNER LITTLE
​TEAM POSITION:
​team manager

I’m Garner Little and I am in 8th grade. I wanted to join CSR because I wanted to lead and have fun. This is my third year on the team. The positions I'd like to be in are pit crew chief or assistant pit crew chief and pusher. 

FUN FACT: I went to Texas to see the Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. ​

LUKE NGAFOE
TEAM POSITION:
pit crew / gopro manager

My name is Luke Ngafoe. I am in 8th grade and this will be my third year on the Cougar Strong Racing team. I want to be on the team again this year because it has been a great experience so far. For as long as I’ve been on it, I learned new things each year, went to different places that I would never think I’d go to, and met new people at those places. This year, I would like any role in pit crew. I’d love to be pit crew chief or manager, but just being part of the pit crew team would be great. I love working with my friends toward a goal. 

FUN FACT: I love swimming and boating and anything else that has to do with being out on the water.

JESSICA ROBERTSON
TEAM POSITION:
​data manager / battery manager

My name is Jessica Roberson. I am in the 8th grade and this is my second year on the team. I wanted to be a part of the team because it is something that I can do and learn more about the sport. I am interested in doing the batteries again this year and wiring the car. I am looking forward to wiring. 

FUN FACT: I enjoy watching wrestling with my mom, dad, and little brother.



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ARABELLA SPRAYBERRY
TEAM POSITION:
​Pit crew / trailer manager

Hi, My name is Arabella Sprayberry. I'm in 8th grade, I wanted to join Cougar Strong Racing because I have had fun on the team for the past 2 years. I also want to further my knowledge of the car and how our team operates. I have been on Cougar Strong Racing for 2 years and this is my 3rd year. The positions I am interested in are Social Media Crew/Manager and Team Manager. 

FUN FACT: I am a photographer.



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ANTHONY SWANSON
TEAM POSITION:
​assistant pit crew chief / alternate driver

My name is Anthony Swanson and I am in 8th grade. I wished to join the CSR team because I had a great experience while I was on the 6th and 7th grade team for the past two years. Things that I enjoyed about being on the team during my previous years were all the new places we went and learning how to design, build, and maintain our race car. This is my 3rd year in CSR. Cool right! Last year I was on pit crew and really enjoyed troubleshooting problems with the car and working with my crew to get the car running and back on the track. The position I am most interested in this year would be a pit crew member. If not pit crew, I would also enjoy being a driver or pit crew manager. In my spare time I enjoy going fishing, gaming, and sketching. I also like weight lifting, wrestling and football. I am really looking forward to a great year on the CSR team!

​FUN FACT: My family owns a store called Hometown Market. I help my dad process cows for farmers and also skin deer during deer season at the store. ​

KATALINA SYNOGROUND
​TEAM POSITION:
driver / marketing manager

Hey, I'm Katalina Synoground, I'm in the eighth grade and I’ve been on the team for three years. I wanted to join Cougar Strong Racing once again this year because I’ve really enjoyed the overall experience and I am still searching for that National Championship win. This year I would like to be a driver and on the marketing team again like I was the past two years I've been on the team.

FUN FACT: In my free time I like to do photography.

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ALEAH THOMPSON
TEAM POSITION:
​Media team

Hi my name is Aleah Thompson, I  am in the 8th grade and this is my first year on the Cougar Strong Racing team. I decided to join the Greenpower team because my friend said it was fun and I am into racing. I would like to be a driver, pusher, or photographer.

FUN FACT: I play softball (not for the school).

CARTER WEEMS
tEAM POSITION

My name is Carter Weems and I am entering the eighth grade at Long Cane Middle School. I applied to be a part of the Cougar Strong Racing team because I enjoy going to new places, watching the electric powered car race around the track, and the thrill of anticipating who will acquire first place. This is my second year on the team. Last year, I was the Data Manager and Pit Crew Manager. The positions I am interested in are Driver, Data Crew, & Pit Crew.  Go Cougars!

FUN FACT: I met Fred Haise who was the Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 13 mission. I vow to be a valuable member of the team. ​

 Team coach / teacher - Matthew graham

Mr. Graham created the very first Greenpower Tech class and GreenpowerUSA team in Troup County in the fall of 2017. Over the last 7 seasons the program has grown to 3 teams and emerged as the most dominant middle school GreenpowerUSA program in the United States. His teams have earned the following honors...

999 Team - Started Fall 2019
National Champions: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 - Intermediate Modified Division
Season Points Champion 2022, 2023 - Int. Mod. Div.
​2nd place national finish 2022 - Int. Mod. Div.
000 Team - Started Fall of 2017
Runner up 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 - Int. Modified Div.
National Champions 2022 - Int. Mod. Div.
555 Team: - Started Fall of 2020
National Champion 2021 - Intermediate Stock Div.
3rd place National Finish & Season Points Champion 2022, Season Points Champion 2023 - Intermediate. Stock Div.

Mr. Graham's goal goal is to serve as an ambassador for GreenpowerUSA in Troup County and the surrounding areas to increase awareness & participation in this exciting and engaging STEM program for elementary, middle, & high school students. He looks forward to building on last year's success to achieve even greater goals for year 5 of this program at LCMS!
​Mr. Graham holds a Specialist Degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of West Georgia, and is certified in Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, Special Education, and Gifted Education. He has been teaching at Long Cane Middle School for 20 years. ​

 assistant coach - chris morris

Chris Morris got involved with Greenpower in the fall of 2017 when his daughter Chloe joined the team as a 6th grade student. He began volunteering in various capacities and quickly became an integral part of the team. His contributions have made a tremendous impact on the success of our program across the three years in which his daughter Chloe was a member. After she moved up to the high school Chris decided to continue serving as an assistant coach with Cougar Strong Racing because he believed in the value of the experience for our students. He is solely responsible for all the modifications and upgrades found on the inside of our race trailer, and he has been a great mentor to our team members. The 2023-2024 season will be the seventh season for our program and he has been there every step of the way, having never missed a race event in 7 years. We are thankful for the time he has invested in our program and hope he stays with us for many years to come.