VALDOSTA, Ga. (WTXL) - "I have seen every kid run through that kid tonight, every child, Wildcat or Viking, and every one of them is sprinting on this field and smiling like they are a kid in the candy store," commented George Page Thursday night at Martin Stadium in Valdosta.
Page, the Executive Director of Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority, oversaw and helped create the first ever Mini Winnesville Classic. Over 150 youth football players and cheerleaders from several Lowndes County elementary schools took the field like the big boys Thursday night in the "Concrete Palace."
The VLPRA boasts 31 teams across three leagues, kindergarten and first grade, second and third grade, and fourth and fifth grade. The kids that suited up Thursday represented All-Star teams from those leagues, and to give these kids a chance to live a dream is what it's all about.
"Being able to get them into that environment at such an early age is great," said Page. "Not many communities allow their youth teams to play in the high school stadiums. We're very blessed in Valdosta and Lowndes County that we play in both Stadiums on Saturday's, Monday's, Tuesday's, so they're getting that experience at a very early age while most kids don't get it until they get to high school."
Lowndes won the flag football game for kindergarten and first grade, while Valdosta won both the second and third grade and fourth and fifth grade match-up.
