Wolverine Lifters Win Individual Championships During Meet Hosted by Spring Valley High School
By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Woodruff Wolverine weightlifters had a strong showing at the Palmetto Power Clean championship meet hosted by Spring Valley High School on January 21.
In total, Woodruff had 13 lifters earn All-State power clean honors, and four Wolverine athletes brought home state championships in their weight class. On the ladies’ side, Ruthie Sheffield and Jamie Cole won titles. For the boys, Skylar Barker and Jordan Hood brought home top honors.
Sheffield defended her ‘Miss Clean’ title, which she won in 2025, securing the most weight cleaned by any female lifter in any class during the competition. It was her second consecutive power clean championship for Ruthie, who plays volleyball and softball for Woodruff.
According to strength and conditioning coach Ryan Thomas, Sheffield did not enjoy weight-lifting as a freshman but grew to love it over the course of her high school career.
“Throughout high school, lifting has become more than just a thing I have to do; it has become something I genuinely love,” Ruthie explained. “Competing in the clean competition showed me how far I’ve come physically in strength, as well as mentally.
A big part of our program is the mental part of athletics, and how it’s more than just how strong you are. The day of competition can be nerve-racking, but the mental aspects we have learned in the weight room take control of the nerves and are ultimately the reason I came home with a ring. I would tell anyone that, in my opinion, lifting is the key aspect to be successful in athletics and in life.”
Hood and Barker were key members of the Woodruff football team for the past four years, and both earned success in state strength and lifting competitions. They are representative of Woodruff’s advanced conditioning program, which uses cutting-edge technology to help prepare athletes for the rigors of competition. ‘“It’s always been a great experience competing with other schools around the state,” said Hood.
“To me, it’s not all about winning, but more importantly, learning how to fail and learning how to overcome challenges that come my way. That’s what is so great about the (power) clean. You have to go all in, or you’ll get crushed. I am very grateful to have the best strength coach to teach me and others the right way to do things each and every day, and I will continue to better myself and help others with the lift every day.”
Along with Sheffield, Cole, Hood, and Barker, other all-state lifters for Woodruff included Mariah Waddell, Laney Harper, Callie Adams, Luke Cooper, Demaris Baxley, Jalen Roberson, Shaun ‘War Daddy’ Graybill, Paul Davis, and Ian Silverio.
The Woodruff girls’ and boys’ teams each finished as overall runners-up in the competition.
Coach Thomas said he is extremely proud of the hard work and dedication each athlete puts into lifting and conditioning.
“I’m super proud of all of our Woodruff cleaners as their form was beautiful to watch,” he said.
Author: Vareva Harris
