VALDOSTA — The 2017-18 school year was a strong one for Valdosta High athletics.

In fact, this year was recognized as the best in Region 1-6A on Wednesday when the Wildcats were awarded the All-Sports trophy.

Each region in the state competes for an annual All-Sports award, which is decided by compiling a school’s points allocated according to where each sport finishes in the region standings.

Ten points are awarded to the school that wins the region title, the runners-up receive eight points, six points go to third place and so on.

In the 2016-17 school year, Valdosta’s first under athletic director Reginald Mitchell, the Wildcats accumulated the third-highest point total in Region 1-6A.

A year later, Valdosta’s coaches, student-athletes and athletic department staff gathered for a photo with the All-Sports trophy in the school’s gymnasium.

“To set this a a goal for the athletics programs, which means athletics programs are doing well, to reach it in a couple years time, I think we’re heading in the right direction,” Mitchell said.

Though region championships for the Wildcats’ football and the boys track teams were a boon to Valdosta’s score last year, it lacked the success in other area’s, namely its girls athletic programs needed to win the coveted All-Sports trophy.

Dedicated to elevating its girls programs, Valdosta found balance in the form of region titles in girls basketball and golf, and second-place finishes in girls tennis and soccer to complement region championships in boys track, soccer and wrestling, and region runners-up in boys basketball and tennis.

But the Wildcats aren’t satisfied yet.

Now, Mitchell and the collective Valdosta athletic department have its sights set on the classification’s equivalent of the All-Sports award — the Director’s Cup.

Valdosta still has a bit of a climb to make to draw within serious contention of the prestigious award, but it’s trending in the right direction.

“Two of the goals I gave the coaches is, ‘Let’s win the All-Sports trophy award for our region, and let’s win the Director’s Cup,’” Mitchell said. “So, we’re definitely aiming for the Director’s Cup next, but we want to consistent win the All-Sports trophy award.”

Derrick Davis is the sports editor at the Valdosta Daily Times.