By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Nine Woodruff High School student-athletes signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level in a ceremony on Friday, May 10. The Wolverines, who signed, span a wide range of sports and have all helped bring success to the Woodruff athletic program over the past four seasons. Meet each athlete and where they signed:
June Welch- Wrestling
June signed to wrestle for North Central College in Illinois. Welch has been a trailblazer and record-setter in her four years wrestling for the Wolverines. In 2022, June became the first female wrestler in South Carolina history to win a state title against an all-male field. In 2023 and 2024, she followed up that feat by winning consecutive championships in the newly-sanctioned girls’ division. She graduates as one of the most accomplished student-athletes in Woodruff’s history.
“I chose North Central because they are the number one ranked women’s wrestling program right now,” June said. “They lost to Iowa by just a couple of points in the nationals, and they have some of the best people.”
Davis Stubbs- Wrestling
Stubbs signed his letter of intent to wrestle at Lander University. Davis won the 215-pound state championship this past season and was state runner-up as a junior in 2023. He plans to wrestle in either the 197-pound or 285-pound weight class. Davis was a mainstay in the Wolverines’ lineup, and he hopes to earn a starting role at Lander through continued hard work.
“I was choosing between the Citadel and Lander,” Stubbs said. “I realized Lander was a better fit for me. My freshman year (at Woodruff), I won only three matches. But building up and going into college I hope to earn a starting spot and hopefully be an All-American.”
Lee New- Wrestling
Another standout for the Wolverines, New signed his letter of intent to wrestle for Averett University in Virginia. New advanced deep into the individual tournament each of the past two seasons and is among the career leaders in several statistical categories for the Wolverines.
“I chose Averett because it was one of the only schools that gave me a good offer,” explained New. “And I like the coach. It means a lot to wrestle at the next level, and I’m just glad I have the chance to do it.”
Whit Harrison- Baseball
Harrison signed with Spartanburg Methodist College to play for the Pioneers. As a first baseman for the Wolverines, Harrison has helped lead a resurgence in the basketball program at Woodruff. During the 2024 season, Whitt batted .313 and drove in 14 runs. Harrison chose SMC because of the present and future opportunities it will provide to further his baseball career.
“I chose SMC because it’s close to home, near my family, and there have been a lot of good prospects come from there,” said Whitt. “I figured that was a good fit with the transfer portal coming in and a chance to stay there for four years if I like it. It’s a chance to develop and see where I can go.”
Arabella Moore- Volleyball
Moore will continue her volleyball career at Columbia International University. Arabella was a star on the court for the Lady Wolverines and will play the libero position at the next level. A hard worker and leader of her team, Moore wants to show those characteristics to her new teammates at the next level while also being on the same campus as her brothers.
“I’m going to CIU to play volleyball, and I think it’s a great Christian school,” said Arabella. “I have three brothers who go there, so it’s amazing to be with them. Volleyball is my top sport, and I just love it so much.”
Nick McConnell- Basketball
McConnell signed to play basketball for North Greenville University after a stellar career that sees him graduate as the Wolverines’ all-time leading three-point shooter and highest percentage free throw shooter in program history. Nick scored 974 career points, seventh all-time in school history. He is the first Woodruff basketball player to sign a college scholarship since Austin Mays in 2014.
“I tried to pick the school I felt like I liked the most first,” said McConnell. “It was really just the sense of community and Christian values there that drew me in. It means a lot. Playing four years here (at Woodruff) it means a lot to represent my school at the next level.”
Adaline Rudder- Track and Field and Cross Country
Rudder signed with Erskine College and has been a star for the Lady Wolverines’ track team, and is instrumental in the squad’s back-to-back region championships in 2023 and 2024. Adaline is a versatile student-athlete who can compete in multiple events, but at Erskin will compete primarily in the open 800- and 1,500-meter running events while also joining the cross-country team.
“I love the community there at Erskine,” Adaline said. “And the coaches and teammates I got to meet. It is a lot like Woodruff, so it reminds me of Woodruff. That’s why I chose Erskine.”
Cohen Perry- Soccer
Perry signed to play soccer for Limestone. A Woodruff soccer legacy whose father and uncle were among the program’s founding members in the 1990s, Perry and his family moved back to Woodruff in 2023. Cohen was a star on the field for the Wolverines, helping lead Woodruff to their second straight region championship in 2024.
“I’ve been committed to Limestone for over six months, but I committed because it was just a great fit,” Perry explained. “A lot of the students are athletes, and the student-to-faculty ratio is like 11 to one. It was a perfect fit because I want to major in business administration. I love the campus, the coaches, the players, just everybody.”
Brandon Hernandez- Soccer
Hernandez was not in attendance to be able to sign his letter of intent during the ceremony, but another of the senior leaders for the boys’ soccer program will have an opportunity to continue his career at the next level at USC-Union. Brandon helped lead Woodruff to the third round of the state playoffs for the first time in program history in 2024.
Author: Tracy Sanders
