Cosby High School in Cosby, Tennessee, has been awarded $30,000 to enhance its athletic facilities, specifically Virgil Ball Stadium, as WVLT reported. The funds were secured through T-Mobile’s “Friday Night 5G Lights” contest, which aimed to provide significant upgrades to high school football fields across the nation. While the school did not achieve the grand prize of $1 million, the $30,000 award will contribute to much-needed improvements at the local facility.
Cosby High School participated in a national competition that saw numerous schools vie for substantial funding. The school competed in the East Division of T-Mobile’s “Friday Night 5G Lights” contest. During the extensive voting period, Cosby High School garnered more than 40,000 votes from supporters. This level of community engagement placed the local high school in sixth place within its division. The voting results determined the finalists for the competition's ultimate reward.
The East Division championship ultimately went to Buffalo Gap High School, located in Swoope, Virginia. Buffalo Gap High School advanced from the East Division to the final round of the competition, where the ultimate $1 million football field upgrade grand prize was decided. Cosby High School's strong performance, while not leading to the division title, still positioned them for a significant award. The contest structure allowed for multiple levels of recognition and prize distribution.
The $30,000 secured by Cosby High School was the result of two distinct achievements within the T-Mobile contest. The school was recognized as a Top 40 Division Finalist, which contributed to the total prize money. Additionally, Cosby High School was designated a $5K Friday winner, further adding to the funds designated for its athletic program. These multiple categories allowed more schools to benefit from the contest.
The newly acquired funds are earmarked for significant upgrades at Virgil Ball Stadium. Earlier this month, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Levi Cooper addressed the specific needs for the facility. Cooper spoke about the necessity of improving the playing surface, indicating the need for a more durable and safer playing surface for the athletes. The identified improvements aim to enhance both the quality and safety of the athletic environment for students utilizing the stadium.
Virgil Ball Stadium, a central component of Cosby's athletic infrastructure, was constructed in 2001. Since its establishment, the stadium has served as a multi-purpose venue for various athletic programs. Both the high school and middle school football teams utilize the facility for their games and practices. In addition to football, the stadium also accommodates the high school and middle school soccer teams, making it a vital resource for multiple sports within the Cosby community.
