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After not having any of its sports programs last year due to the pandemic, one non-profit youth organization is back in full force this year.

Greene County Youth Athletic Association President Travis Warnke says they began the sports year with baseball and softball this past summer and are finishing up the football season. GCYAA has two leagues, including flag football for 3rd and 4th graders and tackle football for 5th and 6th graders. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio even though there were no sports last year for GCYAA, he’s happy to bring back the programs this year, even though for football, COVID-19 has still impacted the season overall by parents keeping kids from practicing at times.

“Because their parents are being precautions which we greatly appreciate. But it’s hard to coordinate schedules that way. We’d started the season with two teams (for tackle) and with everything that was going on, we decided to buckle that into one big team to kind of help things out. That way when someone was sick, or we needed to fill a spot it was easier to do it that way.”  

Warnke says to help raise additional funds, there is going to be a scrimmage game on Tuesday at Linduska Field in Jefferson. The 5th and 6th graders will scrimmage each other and at halftime will be the flag football league demonstration. Warnke is expecting a fun atmosphere for their fundraiser.

“Everybody getting together, sitting around and get to talk, enjoy a sporting event, watch the kids have fun, let them show off their skills. The kids are really excited for this.”

Gates open at 5pm and a meal, grilled by the Greene County Cattlemen’s Association, will be at 5:30pm for $6 per person and the game will start at 6. A free-will donation will be accepted when fans enter and there will also be a raffle, bake sale and t-shirts will be sold. The event is open to the public.