By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
The 2024 fall sports season is now well underway for the teams at Woodruff High School and there have already been lots of exciting moments and memories made. With football, volleyball, cross-country, and girls’ tennis all in high gear, it has been busy in Woodruff. Here is this month’s Wolverine sports update and a look at how all the teams have been doing on the field, court, and course.
Football:
What a start it has been for the Woodruff football team. The Wolverines are unblemished through three games, starting 3-0 for the first time since 2019, and after defeating Emerald 62-35 in the home opener on September 6, found themselves ranked #4 in the 3A official media poll. Senior quarterback T.J. Morris has been brilliant, passing for 707 yards and eight touchdowns through the first three games, and sophomore running back Aiden Gibson is averaging over 150 yards rushing per contest. Receiver Kori Moates set a new single-game Woodruff record with 355 all-purpose yards in the win against Emerald and junior tight end Kam Taylor notched a career-high three touchdown catches in the same game. The defense has played very well against the run, with Shaun Graybill and Hunter West currently leading the team in tackles. After two straight wins on the road over Clinton (40-36) and Fountain Inn (30-27), the Wolverines have four out of five games at home through October 4.
Volleyball:
The Woodruff volleyball team is coming together as region play begins. Through the first ten matches of the season, the Lady Wolverines had a 4-6 record against a monster schedule that has included matches against multiple powerhouse teams. Woodruff has wins over Fountain Inn, Clinton, and, most impressively, a victory over 5A power J.L. Mann. It is a team laden with experience and athleticism, so expect the Lady Wolverines’ volleyball team to continue improving and make lots of noise as they enter the heart of region play.
Cross-Country:
While the cross-country season for the girls’ and boys’ teams is just getting underway, the early results have been positive. Both squads have raced just one meet against other schools through September 9, but it was an excellent showing for the Wolverines. The boys’ team finished second out of a field that included Clinton, who won the meet, and Byrnes, Broome, Emerald, and Thornwell. In the lades’ portion of the same meet, the Lady Wolverines finished first out of four teams, including Byrnes, Clinton, and Broome. Led by two sensation runners, including Sydnee Cothran (first place) and Arlene Mondragon (second place), the girls’ cross-country team is primed for a very successful season.
Girls’ Tennis:
The girls’ tennis team has yet to play many matches, but the early season results have been resoundingly positive. The Lady Wolverines defeated Boiling Springs on September 9 to improve their record to 2-1, including a victory over powerhouse Clinton. Expect the ladies to be in contention for a region championship later in the season as a talented and experienced core continues getting better.
Author: Tracy Sanders
