By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
The 2025 fall sports season will be a bittersweet one for Woodruff athletes. It will be the final fall sports season for the current Woodruff High School, which opened in 1989. With the new Woodruff High School slated to open in August 2026, this will be one last ride for underclassmen athletes to wear the Maroon and Gold in their current school home, and they want to make the most of it. The football games will continue to be held at Varner Stadium next school year after students are moved to the new high school.
There is much excitement surrounding the Wolverines’ athletic programs as the new year gets underway, and below is an in-depth look at each team by the numbers and what each coach is looking forward to from their teams and athletes.
Girls Tennis
Head Coach- Robert Vanadore (1st season as Head Coach, 4 years total at Woodruff)
Last season’s record- 8-5 (5-3 Regio 3-3A)
Returning starters- 4
Key returning players-
Harrison Hatchett, Emma Vaughn, Stella Harrison, Georgia Amick
Key newcomers-
Kaelyn Young, Adyn Smith, Josie Fortenberry, Koty Richards
Coach Vanadore says:
“I am looking forward to the season ahead. I believe we have quite a few talented young ladies, some returning and others just starting. I would like to build upon the momentum from last year and improve with every practice and match. The veteran leadership will be the compass that guides us to the expected success. There is an old saying which goes, “iron sharpens iron.” That is the mantra I want us to have going forward. We are each accountable to make each other better, so we can reach all of our goals.”
Football
Head Coach- Brett Sloan (3rd season)
Last season’s record- 9-2 (3-1 Region 3-3A)
Returning starters- Six on offense, Seven on defense
Key returning players-
RB Aiden Gibson- Jr, WR Kori Moates- Sr, TE Kam Taylor- Sr, WR Rhylan Renfrow- Sr, OL Ian Jones- Soph, LB Shaun Graybill- Sr, DL Jordan Hood- Sr, LB/DL Travon Lee- Sr, OL/DL Paul Davis- Jr, OL/DL Jayden Hunter- Jr, OL/DL Grayson Patterson- Sr, DB Malachi Thompson- Soph, S/P Jackson McCarley- Sr, K/P Josh Ruiz- Sr
Key Newcomers-
QB Connor Davis- Jr, WR Curtis Bell- Soph
Coach Sloan says:
“I am extremely excited to kick off the 2025 season. This is a very talented group with tons of potential. As a head coach, this is the largest senior class I have ever had. Most coaches say you are only as good as your senior class. Their leadership and drive will determine how far this team goes this season.”
Volleyball
Head Coach- Tonja Westmoreland
Last season’s record- 9-15 (3-8 Region 3-3A)
Returning starters- 5
Key returning players-
Jensyn Turner- Sr, Ruthie Sheffield- Sr, Jaylen Means- Jr, Jordan Robinson- Sr
Key newcomers-
Harrison Rhodes- Jr
Coach Westmoreland says:
“My expectations are for the team to keep their same good chemistry and good connections and keep the drive alive. Personally, I feel like this is the best year because our region did change last year, and our record didn’t reflect the way I wanted it to, but on the court, you could see (the talent and effort). This year, I think you will see it in the record, too.”
Cross Country
Head Coach- Hayley Lawson (11th season and 1st season as head coach)
Last season’s records- Girls (2nd Region 3-3A), Boys (3rd Region 3-3A)Returning runners- 40 (approximately 30 runners return from last year’s teams)
Top returning runners-
Boys- Jayden Day, Aidan Lawson, Josh Terczak, and Nate Kelly
Girls- Sydnee Cothran, Reese Abrams, Lanah Nix, Brenda Orellana, and Marleny Orellana
Key newcomers-
Boys- Connor Rosalez, Nick Wardlow, Henry Zheng, and Wes Newsome
Girls- Leigha Clutter, Lydia Knighten, and Zoey Knight
Coach Lawson says:
“We are ready for a new cross-country season! We’ve added on Coach Jamie Taylor, the track coach for distance, this season. Big welcome to Coach Taylor, and we are also glad to have Coach (Nathan) Chiffon back. We’ve amped up our mileage this summer in hopes of achieving our goals of peaking at Region, State Qualifier, and the State meet. Our personal goal for our students is to not just turn them into lifelong distance runners but to cultivate a team culture where the kids love and respect each other. Our competitive goal for the season is for students to achieve their personal records and to even exceed those by the time their season ends. We have a very competitive region this year, but we would love to put some of our runners in the top ten at our region meet on 10/25. We would also like to take two teams to the state meet again this year and run competitively with other 3A
Author: Tracy Sanders
