By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine.
That mantra has lived in the hearts of Woodruff High School athletes both past and present over the decades. Now, a group of former Wolverines competing at the collegiate level are giving new life to that timeless adage as they return to their alma mater to continue training during the summer.
Former football players Anthony Graybill, Micah Horton, Tre Rodgers, Damarian Elmore, and Hunter West, along with basketball star Nick McConnell, have been working all summer with Woodruff strength and conditioning coach Ryan Thomas. They see it as a way to not only better themselves as athletes, but also maintain a connection to their hometown school that fostered the start of their athletic careers.
“The Wolverine bond that football has helped create in all of us is one that lasts forever,” West, who now plays for Gardner-Webb, explains. “These guys will always be my brothers. Coming home and being able to train with Coach Thomas is special because he helps keep us in shape and accountable to our workouts. We trust Coach Thomas to push us and create an environment that makes us want to work hard. Returning to our alma mater to work out with fellow teammates is just the icing on the cake.”
Playing sports collegiately means you have advanced technology at your disposal. For a high school, the resources offered at Woodruff are as next level as most college and university programs. Coach Thomas has embraced modernization when it comes to athletic training, and having those tools available even outside of their college seasons is a huge benefit, according to McConnell, a 2024 Woodruff graduate and current member of the North Greenville University basketball team.
“Being able to have an additional support system makes an incredible difference in the development of my game and athletic performance,” he said. “Speed and force training, especially. Having such a relational, faith-oriented coach certainly makes it even more special and I could not be more thankful for Coach Thomas and his work.”
Graybill, who starred at wide receiver and defensive back for the Wolverines and graduated in 2023, is a current wide receiver for Anderson University and a projected starter for the Trojans. Anthony was a speedster in high school, but coming home to train, especially with a tool known as the Shredmill, has made him even faster. Graybill was hand-timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.32 seconds, a world-class speed measurement.
“Especially since we just got the Shredmill, I feel like from the sprinting aspect and acceleration, that has definitely increased,” Graybill said. “But I mean, a 4.32 is hand-timed, so you might have to add a little bit to that, but I feel like I am a whole lot faster now from being able to go back to the high school and train.”
McConnell states that so many athletes returning home to train, even away from their collegiate teams, is a testament to the true commitment and benefits that the Woodruff strength and conditioning program offers. He says it has helped each player better prepare for collegiate athletics while consistently maintaining their level of fitness.
“I can easily confirm that the Woodruff strength program and the two years I had with Coach Thomas (in high school) helped me in becoming a college athlete by leaps and bounds,” McConnell added. “I think the fact that athletes are returning is definitely a testament to the difference he and his program make in athletics and in the lives of those he trains.”
And that impact goes far deeper than just physical training. The emotional support each receives from Coach Thomas and from each other has been incredibly valuable as well. During his first season at Anderson University in the summer of 2024, Graybill suffered a catastrophic complete UCL ligament tear in his left elbow during practice, requiring reconstructive surgery, which he had on Halloween night 2024.
His recovery from surgery and return to the field less than a year after such a gruesome injury have been facilitated in large part by the camaraderie of his teammates and the support of Coach Thomas, something Anthony is extremely grateful for.
“It was great having that support system around me,” says Graybill. “Having a season-ending injury like that sucks, but having people you can count on and being able to come home and work out, and having your workouts adjusted based on the injury, was great. I’m just really thankful to have a good group of people around me to help me get better.”
At the end of the day, it is not just one reason that Woodruff’s former Wolverines come back home; it is many, and it means something different to each one. One constant, though, is that these are not a former band of brothers, but a current one still. They may play for different teams and are taking different paths, but all roads still lead them back to the weight room and practice field of Woodruff High School, where they work tirelessly to hone their craft.
Home really is where the hustle is.
“Once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine really comes alive in that gym where guys from years past reconvene around a love for the game, a love for their fellow teammates, and a love for their alma mater,” states West. “The laughter, encouragement during the workout, and old memories rehashed make for a special time that is not only productive but leaves us wanting to come back for more.”
Author: gmitchell85
