Do you remember the first time that you kicked a soccer ball or the first time that you held a bat? Can you still feel the excitement that you had before your first game? Some children dream to become varsity athletes, collegiate athletes, or even reach the professional level one day. That dream all begins with those first special moments with youth sports. At GAC we strive to provide opportunities for our youngest Spartans to develop into student-athletes.

In the Lower School, students can join the Spartan Aquatic Club or the GAC Tennis Academy. Led by Emily Krug and Scott Hutchinson respectively, both of these auxiliary programs provide hands-on instruction for students from preschool age through high school.

Our wrestling program also provides opportunities for students. The Lower School Wrestling program is helmed by coach Marvin Galette and he instructs students from ages five to eleven years old. This club program serves as a bridge for our Middle School wrestling program by introducing the sport to our Lower School students. “The growth of the wrestling program has been fun! I am so grateful for the parents, and GAC for allowing me to have the unique opportunity to coach Lower School students. I am looking forward to not only coaching these students in wrestling, but through life and helping them become young adults. I can’t wait to see the continued growth and rise in GAC wrestling,” said coach Marvin Galette.

Our Rookie Tackle Football program gives youth football players from fourth to sixth grade an introduction to 11-man football. The Rookie Tackle Football team just finished its second season as a program. Their schedule included home games against Mount Pisgah Christian Academy and Strong Rock Christian School. The young Spartans also had an amazing opportunity to attend the Atlanta Falcons’ game against the Houston Texans on October 8th. After the NFL game concluded, the Rookie Tackle Football team was escorted down to the field to play against The Walker School. This was the first NFL game for many members of the team, and they even got to meet the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank.

Under the direction of Coach Christy Dixon and Dan Voelzke, the Middle School Girls Lacrosse team won their league championship this past spring. They helped unite the middle school team with their lower school and high school counterparts. “When the younger kids have a chance to try a new sport and watch older kids play and succeed, it fosters a great mentoring sport. It creates the feeling of family and becomes an environment of encouragement throughout all the levels. This past season we enjoyed success on three levels. A highlight for me this season was hearing our middle school girls cheer on the elementary team in their championship game and then seeing our high school girls with homemade signs cheering on the middle school girls in their championship game. When all the girls love each other and desire to support one another that will always be the biggest win in my book,” said coach Christy Dixon.

Last year, GAC opened a new strength and conditioning weight room in the Spartan Gym. This facility allows our middle school student-athletes to maximize skills that will directly translate to improved athletics and a lifetime of wellness. Middle School Head Strength and Conditioning coach, Kenny Watt, believes in developing the “Whole Athlete” for our middle school athletes and not just focusing on specific areas. “Our focus is on building solid foundations physically, mentally, and spiritually. With a solid foundation, our potential is limitless! I want our students to walk away feeling challenged and accomplished all while still having fun. Recognizing that they’re on a journey and we’re just equipping them with all the tools along the way.” Whether in Lower School or Middle School, a world of opportunity awaits our students at the youth level. GAC is continually creating more options for young students to grow and develop together as athletes.

For more information and program offerings, visit the “Youth Sports” tab under Athletics on the GAC website.