VALDOSTA — Valdosta High School secured the Region 1-6A Regions Bank Director’s Cup Wednesday.

The award recognizes athletic departments in all GHSA classifications who have excelled and demonstrate superior performance.

Established during the 1999-2000 school year, the Georgia Athletic Directors Association has handed out awards each year. The Valdosta Wildcats athletic programs racked up 828 points — 421 for boys athletics and 407 for girls athletics — ranking first in Region 1-6A and finishing ninth in Class 6A.

“Receiving this plaque — it’s one of the awards that any athletic program can receive in the state of Georgia,” said Reginald Mitchell, Valdosta City Schools athletic director. “You have two opportunities to show how well your athletic programs are doing –– one with the All-Sports Trophy, which is just regional, and then you have the Director’s Cup sponsored by Regions Bank and the Georgia Athletic Directors Association which tells you how you’re doing in the state.

“We’re certainly proud of it. We’re proud of our student-athletes, proud of the accomplishments of our athletic programs the past couple of years. A year ago, we won the All-Sports Trophy and we fell short a couple points of winning it for the second year in a row this year. We’re proud of our athletic accomplishments.”

The 2018-19 school year was the first at the new $85 million Valdosta High School location at 4590 Inner Perimeter Road. The school moved from its 3101 N. Forrest St. location after 40 years.

As a result, the new VHS facilities have garnered attention from other schools in the region and other schools in Class 6A. The ‘Cats hosted the Wildcat Invitational, Region 1-6A championship and Class 6A State Sectionals in track and field this year as well as the region sectionals and regional tournament in wrestling. 

In addition, the ‘Cats football team will host its Second Annual Winnersville Showdown 7-on-7 football tournament today. According to Mitchell, hosting more events in other sports is a major possibility for the upcoming school year.

“The three things we talk about in our athletic program and with our coaches and our student-athletes are culture, tradition and legacy,” Mitchell said. “Of course, we have a rich tradition here at Valdosta at the old site but the new site gives us a new sense and updated awareness and pride of where we want the program to go. 

“We realize the shoulders we’re standing on and the legacies of the ones that have come before us, but now we’re building off that tradition and off that culture and off that legacy at our new facility. It’s going to open more doors for us to enhance what has already started here in Valdosta.”

As an alumnus of Valdosta High School and a former student-athlete at the school, Mitchell takes a great deal of pride in leading the VHS athletic programs and said he hopes to do so for many years to come. After winning the All-Sports Trophy last year and the Region Director’s Cup this year, Mitchell said he hopes to add to the culture, tradition and legacy with his own diligence and pursuit of excellence.

“I would like to be remembered as someone that poured his heart and soul into the athletic programs of Valdosta City Schools for our student-athletes,” Mitchell said. “Everything I do, every decision I make, every thought I have in regards to our athletic programs is about the student-athletes of our program. It’s about having a great experience.

“As a former graduate of Valdosta High, I had a blast being a Valdosta Wildcat. So I want these young people to experience the same thing I experienced. I just want to leave a legacy of excellence — that everything we did, we did it with excellence and with class and we competed at a high level.”