VALDOSTA –– Valdosta High School’s 10th annual Lil ‘Cats Camp wrapped up Wednesday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

The two-day camp was designed to teach children about the game of football, featuring hands-on instruction from the Valdosta Wildcats coaching staff and players.

Following the event, senior quarterback Tate Rodemaker spoke about what being a part of the camp as a senior meant to him.

“I just know that when I was out here, I used to look up to these guys and (now as a Wildcats player), I just want to portray a good image for all of the young kids out here and want them to look up to me and just be a good person,” Rodemaker said.

The camp ended with a series of “Cat Ball” scrimmages and getting the chance to be spoken to by former Wildcat great Stan Rome.

As a child, Rodemaker recalls his experience at the Lil ‘Cats Camp and the impact it made on his life as the current quarterback of the nation’s winningest football program.

“I thought of the Wildcat players as so much bigger,” Rodemaker said. “I looked up to them and I thought they were like…famous. I just tried to look up to them –– they were good leaders back then. I just want to be the same as they were to me while I’m here at this camp.”

The summer rolls on for the ‘Cats as they host their 11th annual Valdosta Wildcat Shootout golf tournament today at 1 p.m. at Valdosta Country Club. The Shootout is an annual fundraiser for the Valdosta football program with more than 30 teams of four players competing. The Shootout generates about $10,000 for the program yearly.