VALDOSTA —
During his days at Valdosta High School, Edra Gipson was a two-sport student-athlete.
In college, Gipson will also get the opportunity to play two sports.
On Tuesday, the recent Valdosta High graduate signed to play football and run track at Chattahoochee Technical College in Marietta.
“It is nice,” Gipson said. “I feel like Valdosta High and the coaches I had, they got me mentally prepared and physically prepared for the next level. And that is dealing with my work ethic.”
While Gipson will join the Golden Eagles football team this fall, his performance on the track is what likely got him noticed.
Gipson, who began running track in the sixth grade, was named to the All-Region 1-AAAAA track and field team this year, as he helped the Wildcats’ 4X100-meter relay team win region and sectional championships.
Individually, Gipson’s strongest events were the 100-meter and 200-meter events. Gipson won every 100-meter event he competed in until the region meet, where he narrowly lost to Coffee’s Tyreek Hill, who has recently broken two Under-20 World Records.
At the state meet, Gipson finished fourth in the 100-meter dash.
While many marked Gipson’s senior season a success based on his awards and accomplishments, his coach, Alan Rodemaker, says the true sign of success can be found in Gipson’s improvement in his official time in the 100-meter dash.
In 2011, Gipson’s best time was 11.0 seconds. In 2012, Gipson cut 1/2 second, posting a 10.5 second 100-meter finish this season — a 10.52 second finish in sectionals.
“In 2011, he had a really good year in track, but nearly what he had this year in 2012,” said Rodemaker. “Our 4X100-meter relay team wasn’t beat once until the state meet. We won the sectionals, we won the region, we won every meet we were in, and he was the last leg of it.”
On the football field, Gipson will serve as a defensive back for the Golden Eagles, who currently compete in the National Club Football Association league. The school is expected to become competing members at the National Association Intercollegiate Athletics level in 2013.
Last season, the Golden Eagles won the NCFA championship, beating 2010 champion New Orleans 51-6 in the title game.
As a member of the Wildcats football team in 2011, Gipson was named Defensive Back of the Year, sharing the honor with Terrance Foster, who has signed to play at Valdosta State, and Jason Jelks. Gipson was also named Second Team All-Region 1-AAAAA.
“He played corner for us last year and never got beat the whole year,” said Rodemaker, who serves as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator.
Along with competing in a fall and spring sport, Gipson said he is planning on working hard in the classroom. He hopes to obtain a degree in Marketing Management. Gipson also said he hopes to be able to track down his biological family one day.
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Related Photos
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Surrounded by family and Coach Alan Rodemaker, front left, Valdosta’s Edra Gipson, middle, signed with Chattahoochee Technical College on Tuesday. The former Wildcat will play football and run track for the Golden Eagles this upcoming year. Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times
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Gipson to play football, run track at CTC
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