CAIRO — 2020 has been a difficult year for many, but for the children in the Grady County Recreation Department’s 10-and-under co-ed soccer team it ended with victory and pizza.

The All-Stars came away victorious in Georgia Recreation and Park Association state championship in Thomasville earlier this month.

Grady County commissioners recognized the young champions for their accomplishment last week.

“It’s been a hard year, everybody knows that,” said County Administrator Buddy Johnson. “We’ve had to put off a lot of sports, but this is one we were able to put out there and let you do and you made us proud.” 

The team’s championship trophy will be housed at the Grady County Recreation Department.

The members of the team are:

• Brian Albino-Perez, 8

• Fernando Amaya-Lopez, 9

• Marco Raul Aparicio, 10

• Andy Gerard Barreno-Chilel, 7

• Robinson Barrios-Hernandez, 7

• Christopher Paul Ellis, 11

• Brady James Hammond, 9

• John Rene Hernandez, 11

• Alan Vicente Menchu Zacarias, 8

• Justin David Menchu Zacarias, 10

• Angelica Yazmin Gutierrez Mendez, 10

• Eddy Ventura Perez-Guzman, 10

• Josue Puac-Perez, 10

• Avery Maddox Sessions, 9

• Eliseo Miguel Vasquez, 10

The team was treated to a pizza party following the ceremony.

Recreation Department director Becky Bracewell also recognized head coach Carlos Deleon and assistant coach Carson Hair for doing “a wonderful job” with the team.

“We’ve got the best coaches in the world,” she said.

Deleon travels long distances each day for practice, Bracewell said, and “they practice every day unless it’s hailing.”

“They really put the work in and it showed on the field,” she said.