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Monday, July 28, 2008
ESPN names Valdosta TitleTown USA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For years, it’s been called Winnersville. Now, the south Georgia town of Valdosta has another name: TitleTown USA, thanks to ESPN.
The cable sports network declared Valdosta the winner of its summer promotion that earlier this month featured the city as one of its 20 finalists for the national award.
Other cities in the running ranged from small town to metropolitan city. It included Boston; Green Bay, Wisc.; and Williamsport, Pa. The only other cities driven mostly by its high school sports tradition was Massillon, Ohio., and Parkersburg, W.V.
The cities were encouraged to offer evidence of championships at all levels and sports.
The 20 finalists were visited by film crews and highlighted on ESPN, and the winner was determined by online voting July 23-27.
The trophy ceremony was filmed July 28 at Valdosta High School’s Bazemore-Hyder Stadium and Valdosta was officially announced the winner on “SportsCenter’ later that evening.
According to the Valdosta Daily Times, Valdosta High School has won 116 region and state championships, a large chunk of them in football. The Wildcats football team is the nation’s all-time winningest program and has 23 state championships.
Lowndes High, the 2007 Class AAAAA football champion, has 94 titles, and Valwood, a private school, has 55. Valdosta State University has won another 40 titles, including the Division II national championships in 2004 and 2007.
Kick off the debate: Do you agree with ESPN that Valdosta is sports TitleTown USA? Tell us why or why not.
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