By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
As the weather warms and the days get longer, Woodruff High School is turning the page from the winter sports season to the spring campaigns for each Wolverine squad. Spring is the busiest time for high school sports, and the Wolverines field six teams ranging from baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, and track and field. Woodruff’s spring athletes are ready to get their seasons underway, and many of the teams return with a wealth of experience from a season ago. Here is your first look at your 2022 spring sports Wolverines.
Softball:
Head Coach: Will Lanford
2021 Record: 11-5 (7-3 Region III-3A)
2021 Region finish: Tied for 2nd
Returning starters: 7
Key returning players: CF Natalie Montjoy, Sr, LF Bre Mock, Sophomore, P/1B Kylie Hitchcock, Junior, P/1B Kaitlyn Jackson, Sophomore, P/1B Makenzy Caldwell, Junior, INF/OF Julie Sinclair, Sophomore
Top newcomers: Kara West, Freshman, Taylor Lambert, Freshman
Must-see games: Region games with Broome, Chapman and Union County
Coach Will Lanford says:
“We lost two big bats in our lineup with the graduation of Brooke Bailey and Regan Kay. They both made the All-Star game last season, were both All-Region, and Regan Kay was a two-time All-State Catcher. They provided a lot of power to our lineup. So, the way we play on offense will be much different this season. We will need to rely on our speed and athleticism to produce runs. We should have strong pitching with Katie Mae Jackson and Kylie Hitchcock. Also, our defense should continue to be a major strength of the team.”
Baseball:
Head Coach: Ryan Perkins
2021 Record: 1-21 (0-10 Region III-3A)
2021 Region finish: 6th
Returning starters: 8
Key returning players: Senior- Zach Aylor (P/INF), Senior-Stetson Schubach (P/INF), Senior- Hayden Gosnell (INF), Junior- Nemo Cochran (OF), Junior- Carson Tucker (OF/INF), Sophomore- Collin McAbee (C/P), Sophomore- Whit Harrison (INF), Freshman- Connor Kelley (INF)
Key newcomers: Freshman- Ashton Mock (INF), Sophomore- Walt Caldwell (OF/P)
Must-see games: Home vs. Clinton Apr. 11 7:45 first pitch, Home vs. Broome Apr. 22 7:45 first pitch
Coach Perkins says:
“This young group battled through a tough season last year but has not wavered. Look for the Wolverines to be a much-improved unit with a group of guys that love each other and are committed to getting better. The Wolverines will be led by two senior starting pitchers in Zach Aylor and Stetson Schubach. We will look to improve offensively in the 2022 season.”
Boys Soccer:
Head Coach: Joseph Federspiel
2021 Record: 13-7 (9-1 Region III-3A)
2021 Region finish: Region champions
Returning starters: 7
Key Returning players: Jesus “Chuy” Tranquilino–Senior—Sweeper, Anthony Gonzalez—Senior–Forward/Center-Mid/Goalie, Zachary Hang—Senior—Stopper, Adrian Williams—Junior–Center-Mid, Anthony Zuniga—Senior—Right Back, Logan Gaspar—Junior—Wing/Forward, Brandon Hernandez—Sophomore—Wing
Top newcomers: Tavo Bastos—Freshman—Center-Mid
Must-see games: Chapman and Emerald in Region III-3A competition
Coach Federspiel says:
“Our team is looking to improve on last season. We had one loss in the region, and I know they want badly to go 10-0. But it will be tough with teams like Emerald and Chapman, and we always have close games with those teams, and they are always very skilled. My players would also like to go further into the playoffs. This senior group of players has made it to the second round of playoffs two times, and they really want to do better. Their confidence is higher than it has been in the past, and their teamwork is coming along nicely. Our upperclassmen are holding our younger kids to a high standard, and the underclassmen are working hard to meet those standards.”
Girls Soccer:
Head Coach: Emaleigh Beeler
2021 Record: 13-6 (10-0 Region III-3A)
2021 Region finish: Region champions
Returning starters: 6
Key returning players: Junior Jasmine Pineda (Stopper), Senior Emily Brown (Striker), Senior Jenna Peace (Right back), Junior Lauryn Beeler (Midfield), Senior Samantha Garrett (Sweeper), Senior Haley West (Midfield)
Top newcomers: Freshman Tara Sharpe (Midfield), Freshman Leah Brown (Left attacker)
Must-see games: March 11 at Powdersville, April 12 vs Chapman, April 26 vs Clinton
Coach Beeler says:
“As a graduate from Woodruff High in 2015, whose high school career was greatly
enhanced by being a member of the girls’ soccer team, I look forward to pouring back
into a program that means so much to me. That being said, my goal is to not only provide
the opportunity for these girls to improve as soccer players, but to also develop them as
teammates and leaders. One of the major goals for our team this season is to continue the
19-year streak as region champions. In addition, we would like to excel past the regular
season and have the opportunity to compete in playoffs.”
Boys Tennis:
Head Coach: Lea Ann Skinner
2021 Record: 3-8
2021 Region finish: 4th in Region III-3A
Returning starters: 5
Key returning players: Jace Fortenberry, Junior (number one singles/number one doubles), Jackson West, Junior (number 3 singles), Ben Burden, Junior (number 5 singles), Jack Epton (number four singles/number two doubles), Chris Burden, Sophomore (number two doubles)
Top newcomers: Bryce Collins, 7th grader
Must-see matches: Union County and Chapman matches in Region III-3A with playoff implications
Coach Skinner says:
“We will be missing two of our returning starters which will hurt in our level of experience. Our success will be measured in the growth of young players that stick with the program and are willing to work, extra not only in team practice, but individually. I look for us to work hard against strong non-region teams early in our schedule to help our performance once we reach region matches. Our eye will be on qualifying for postseason play.”
Track and Field:
Head coach: Duane Thompson
2021 Region Results: Girls (3rd Region III-3A); Boys (4th Region III-3A)
Key returning athletes:
Girls- Sophomore Autumn Bishop (Hurdles and mid-distance runner), Sophomore Asia Green (sprinter), Senior Chasity Hines (state qualifier in javelin and discus), Senior Ollie Rhodes (pole vault), Junior Olivia Watts (high jump and javelin)
Boys- Junior Eastin Burch (sprinter and javelin), Junior John Hiott (distance runner), Sophomore Happy Lea (hurdles, javelin, and high jump), Junior Jayden Johnson (distance runner), Sophomore Rashad Reid (shot put and discus)
Top newcomers:
Girls- Sophomore Mya Jackson (sprinter), Sophomore Erin McCallion (distance runner)
Boys- Junior Kristopher Ramos-Cruz (sprinter and 400 meters), Junior Anthony Graybill (sprinter), Junior Serghei Ungurean (javelin, shot put, and discus)
Must-see meets: April 27th and 28th Spartanburg County meet, May 4th and 5th Region III-3A meet
Coach Thompson says:
“We are very excited for the track season to begin. This year’s track team is the largest team we have had in a while and comprises only nine seniors. However, there are a lot of experienced underclassmen who are great leaders from which our younger athletes learn. This year’s team has an opportunity to do very well in the region and have a lot of participation in the post-season meets. This year, we have athletes that can be competitive across the full range of scoring events at our track meets, which will keep us very competitive. Also, with the number of middle school athletes that we have this year, all of whom have given maximum effort in the pre-season, the future of Woodruff Track in Field looks strong.”
Author: Tracy Sanders
