Woodruff Spring Sports Athletes Gearing up for an Exciting 2024 Season
By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
After a long, cold winter, spring is around the corner and with it, a new season of Wolverine athletics. The busiest time of the year for high school sports, seven different programs will be competing for Woodruff over the next few months, with high expectations abounding. Baseball, softball, boys’ and girls’ soccer, track and field, boys’ tennis, and golf are preparing for the start of their campaigns. Here is a look at all the Wolverines’ spring sports teams and what their coaches think about the 2024 season.
Baseball
Head coach- Wesley Brown (2nd season at Woodruff)
Last season’s record- 16-16 (4-4 Region 4-3A)
Returning starters- 6
Key returning players-
Collin McAbee (P/C), Whit Harrison (1B/P), Ashton Mock (P/2B), Zack Kehn (P/OF), Walt Caldwell (P/OF), Kayden Barnaby (SS), Connor Kelley (3B)
Key newcomers- Luke Cooper, C.J. Bennett, Eithan Richards, John Carter Murphy
Coach Brown says:
“This year’s team is bigger, stronger, and faster thanks to (strength) Coach Ryan Thomas and his relentless effort to prepare our kids for competition in the weight room. They are more mentally tough than a year ago. The pitching and defense should be the strength of the team. If the hitting improves from a year ago it could be the missing piece to the puzzle. The culture is very strong right now, with standards set in place to have a successful year. The biggest key is the players must stay focused on the field and ignore the outside noise. Sticking to the process and the goals each day will carry them late into the season. We have an extremely tough schedule for out-of-conference, which should prepare us for region play. This should be an exciting team to watch by the end of the season.”
Softball
Head coach- Will Lanford (21st season at Woodruff)
Last season’s record- 11-11-1 (8-1 Region 4-3A and region champions)
Returning starters- 6
Key returning players- Kaitlynn Jackson- Sr (P/SS), Ruthie Sheffield- Soph (2B), Kara West- Jr (CF), Taylor Lambert- (3B), Corey Fortner- (OF), Alexis Mock- Fr (C)
Key newcomers- Mary Ellis Mitchell (1B), Hayden Means (OF), Sadie Burnette (INF)
Coach Lanford says:
“While we only have one Senior, we do have six returning starters that won a region championship last season. We are hoping that experience will allow us to compete for a region and district championship.”
Girls’ Soccer
Head coach- Jorge Santos (2nd season at Woodruff)
Last season’s record- 14-8 (8-1 Region 4-3A and region champions)
Returning starters- 4
Key returning players-
Melody Earley, Jocelyn Perez, Nallely Perez, Tera Sharpe, Peyton Cox, Reagan Barrett
Key newcomers- Willah Romanie, Lily Horton, Abagail Matthews
Coach Santos says:
“We are replacing 10 members of the varsity team from last season. The girls have worked extremely hard by attending summer workouts and have participated in open-season training in October and January. Our goal this season is to continue to be competitive and continue to grow in this beautiful game. We are looking forward to what 2024 has in store for us.”
Boys Soccer
Head coach- Aaron Chappell (2nd season at Woodruff)
Last season’s record- 11-7 (7-1 Region 4-3A and region champions)
Returning starters- 9
Key returning players-
Brandon Hernandez (Senior), Tavo Bastos (Junior), Eric Perez (Sophomore), Ian Silverio (Sophomore), Sergio Quijano (Junior)
Key newcomers- Cohen Perry (committed to play at Limestone College), Juan Peneda (Freshman), Max Perez, Joan Cortez-Caballaro, Jordan Quijano
Coach Chappell says:
“We are excited about our young players who are improving each day. Our team is still considered to be on the younger side, with only four seniors. We are leaning heavily on a year’s worth of experience from last season from our returning guys, as well as a mix of improving youth. We are working hard to build our culture each day and hope to make our school and community proud of what we accomplish this season. Our expectations are for our program to be disciplined and work hard on and off the field. We believe with those two qualities we can establish consistent success. Go Wolverines!”
Boys Tennis
Head coach- Elise McGill (1st season at Woodruff)
Last season- Third place Region 4-3A
Returning starters- 4
Key returning players- Cohen Lyda and Jacob Thompson
Key newcomers- Owen Edmondson
Coach McGill says:
“This team surprised me at the first practice with their joy in playing the sport of tennis and their ability to take the newcomers under their wing. They work hard, challenge each other, and never give up. My reminder every day at practice is that “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” My goal for the season is to become comfortable playing outside our comfort zone.”
Boys Track and Field
Head coach- Duane Thompson (16th season at Woodruff)
Last season’s record- 29-7 (2nd place in Region 4-3A)
Key returning athletes- Landon Thomas (sprinter), Happy Lea (hurdles), Samuel Blake Westmoreland (pole vault/distance runner), Jacob Craig (distance runner), Roman Ungurean (discus throw), Preston Sams (shot put)
Top newcomers- Jayden Day (distance runner), Quinn Barnett (discus/javelin), Dawson Clevenger (discus/shot put), Paul Davis (discus/shot put), Nathan McConnell (pole vault), Landon Knighten (pole vault)
Girls Track and Field
Head coach- Duane Thompson
Last season’s record- 24-13 (Region champions, Region 4-3A)
Key returning athletes- Adaline Rudder (distance runner/4×800 relay), Jasmine McKnight (sprinter), Ry-Jaden Sweeney (hurdles), Emma Stubbs (shot put), Alyssa Dolquist (pole vault), Olivia Lee (javelin), June Welch (4×800 relay)
Top newcomers- Sydnee Cothran (distance runner/4×800 relay), Stella Harrison (javelin), Harrison Hatchett (pole vault), Pressley Pate (4×800 relay)
Coach Thompson says:
“We are looking to have the best year yet for Woodruff track and field. We have more athletes out for track than we have ever had. We have 161 kids, which is the largest group for track in school history. We look to be good in discus and we are solid at pole vault. We have some good sprinters, too. The goal is to win the region championship in both girls’ and boys’ track. Something is bringing these kids out, and they want to be here and work hard. I could not do all of this without my wonderful coaching staff, including Jamie Taylor, Darrell Dawkins, Nathan Chiffon, and Dymitric Ray. And we have three former Woodruff track standouts helping this year, too in Sherita Wedman, Ollie Rhodes, and Chasity Hines. I appreciate all of them.”
Golf
Head coach- David Beddingfield (1st season)
Last season- Region and state champions
Key returning golfers- Parker Sloan, Grady Nelson
Key newcomers- Thomas Watson, Jack Epton, and Evan Smith
Coach Beddingfield says:
“New team with a lot of first-time players. We are just looking to build on course management and tournament playing time. I want the boys to enjoy this game and have fun while they are learning to get better and better. I would really like to say a big thanks to Three Pines Country Club, staff, and members. They have been great to let the boys come out and practice and play, and without that, it’s hard to grow this great game of golf.”
Author: Tracy Sanders
