As Gordon Lee Memorial High School athletes and coaches present and future look back on this school year, it will likely be one that stands out.
Winning five state championships and three runner-up state championships, GLHS has certainly had a stellar year. The school year ended with GLHS winning the prestigious sports Regions Director's Cup for Class A. The Georgia Athletic Directors Association presents the cup to the top athletic departments in the classifications. The actual trophy will be presented to GLHS soon.
"For the first time ever in school history we won the Director's Cup," said GLHS Athletic Director Shonn Weldon. "When you win something like this it takes the whole year and all the teams have to have a good year. We have a small student body, so it takes a good percentage of the kids to play more than one sport. Athletes sacrifice fall, winter and spring to play sports."
Many times it's private schools that win the Director's Cup, he said.
"We are very excited about winning it," said Weldon. "I'm very proud of our coaches. They really support the athletes and push them. We have high academic expectations as well as high athletic expectations."
In the 2012-2013 sports season, GLHS athletes broke the school record for the most wins in one year. The athletes may have broken the state record or at least tied it for the most wins in one school year too, according to Weldon.
"Community support is a huge part of this win," he added. "Winning the Director's Cup is a win for a lot of people."
This summer, football, basketball and band camps will take place on the campus of Gordon Lee Memorial High School.
"Sports is nonstop," said Weldon. "Teenagers need to be busy. Sports keeps them out of trouble. Sports is good for them emotionally and physically."