By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
The spring sports season is underway for Woodruff High and Middle School athletes. With the days becoming longer and warmer, the baseball and softball teams have taken to the diamond, the soccer teams have hit the field, the track and field teams are racing towards success, and the boys’ tennis team has their eyes on being kings of the court. Woodruff baseball and both soccer teams have new head coaches this season as well, looking to lead the Wolverines to success. Here is an inside look at all of Woodruff’s spring sports teams that will be competing during the 2023 season:
Baseball:
Head Coach: Wesley Brown (1st season at Woodruff)
2022 Record: 4-18 (1-9 region)
Returning starters: 6
Key returning players: Whit Harrison, Nemo Cochran, Carson Tucker, Colin McAbee, Connor Kelly, Walt Caldwell
Top newcomers: SS Kayden Barnaby- Freshman
Coach Brown says:
“This team has grown tremendously over the last few months. They shouldn’t be judged on wins and losses but rather effort and pride this season. They are all learning how to practice the right way. The culture is the biggest piece to what we are trying to do. We want a long self-sustaining culture for years to come. If the kids continue to buy in, there is no telling what could happen this season.”
Softball:
Head Coach: Will Lanford (9th season)
2022 Record: 8-14 (4-6 region)
Returning starters: 8
Top returning players: P/1B Kaitlyn Jackson, Jr, 2B Bre Mock, Sr, P/1B Kylie Hitchcock, Sr, C Cassie Worthy, Sr, 3B Julie Sinclair, Jr, SS Taylor Lambert, Soph, CF Kara West, Soph, RF Ruthie Sheffield, Fr
Top newcomers: P Chelsea Booker, Soph, LF Corey Fortner, Fr, 1B Mary Ellis Mitchell, Fr, 2B Haley Rogers, Fr, C/P Alexis Mock, 7th grade, OF Hayden Means, 8th grade, SS/P Danicka Simmons, 8th grade
Coach Lanford says:
“A more experienced team should compete for the top of our conference. We also have a very challenging early schedule by playing some of the best teams in the state. Byrnes, Seneca, and Chesnee will provide stiff tests early on that should prepare us for our tough region.”
Girls Soccer:
Head Coach: Jorge Santos (1st season)
2022 Record: 14-7 (10-1 region, region champions for 20th consecutive season)
Returning starters: 8
Top returning players: Lauryn Beeler (All-Region, Region Player of the Year), Jocelyn Perez (All-Region), and Jasmine Pineda
Top newcomers: Melody Earley
Coach Santos says:
“This year, the expectations are high for our group. We want to win region, play for an upper state title, and play for a state title. We have some fantastic leaders in our two senior captains, Lauryn Beeler and Jasmine Pineda, as well as our other three seniors, Lily Zheng, Olivia Thompson, and Alivia Watts. Our goal is to make some noise at the 3A level this season.”
Boys Soccer:
Head Coach: Aaron Chappell (1st season)
2022 record: 8-10 (6-4 region)
Returning starters: 4
Top returning players: Adrian Williams, Senior, Brandon Hernandez, Junior, and Gustavo Bastos, sophomore
Top newcomers: Eric Perez, Freshman, Diego Delfin, Sophomore, and Juan Espinoza, Junior
Coach Chappell says:
“My expectations in year one is for us to build a solid foundation of our program’s culture and for our players to lay that foundation brick by brick each day at training and each game. I look forward to seeing our young men compete and have fun playing the game that we love so much. I am humbled to be a part of this soccer program.”
Track and Field:
Head Coach: Duane Thompson (15th season)
2022 Region finish: Girls (2nd) Boys (3rd)
Top Returning athletes:
Girls- Erin McCallion- Jr (Distance runner), Alicia Vasquez- Jr (sprinter), Harrison Rhodes- 8th grade (distance runner and relay), Asia Green- Jr (sprinter and jumper), June Welch- Jr (distance runner), Maggie Mooore- Jr (hurdles), Layla-Grey Bennett- Sr (thrower)
Boys- Jayden Johnson- Sr (distance runner), Grayson Fulmer- Sr (pole vault and distance runner), Anthony Graybill- Sr (sprinter), Samuel Blake Westmoreland- Jr (pole vault and distance runner), Happy Lea- Jr (hurdles, jumper, and javelin), Landon Tucker- Sr (hurdles, sprinter and jumper), Serghei Ungurean- Sr (javelin, discus, shot put, and high jump), Eastin Burch- Sr (sprinter, jumper, and javelin)
Top newcomers: Jacob Craig- Jr (distance runner) and Emma Stubbs- Soph (thrower)
Coach Thompson says:
“Last season, we finished second in the region in girls and third in the region in boys. We are hoping to build off that this season. This is the largest team that we have had since I’ve been coaching, with over 130 participants, and is probably the largest team in the history of the program. It is a challenge indeed with minimal coaches, but we manage to love each of them through coaching and teaching life-long lessons. Last season we had more athletes to compete at the state meet than any year that I have coached. We hope that number increases even more this year.”
Boys Tennis:
Head Coach: Lea Ann Skinner (6th season coaching boys tennis)
2022 record: 1-11 (1-9 region)
Returning starters: 6
Top returning players: Jackson West, Ben Burden, Chris Burden, Jack Epton, Cohen Lyda, Bryce Collins
Top newcomers: Per Coach Skinner: “Cohen Lyda was new to our program last year and I am looking for him to move up in our varsity ladder and provide a new level of excitement with his powerful serve and fearless style of play.”
Coach Skinner says:
“We had a young group last year that experienced a great deal of learning opportunities. I am looking for this year’s team to perform well and qualify for state playoffs and definitely come away with more wins. Over 20 young men have joined our program and are working hard each practice. This is the largest group and most interest we have had in several seasons.”
Author: Tracy Sanders
