By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Paula Watts, Woodruff High School’s new competitive cheerleading coach, is a lady of deep faith.
She took a giant leap of faith that brought her to Woodruff with no promise of being able to lead the program, but the Wolverines’ new cheer coach did know that Woodruff quickly felt like home.
A coach for 16 years, Watts was an assistant at Brookland-Cayce High School in Lexington County before leading the program for two years at Pelion High School. She and her husband, an assistant coach on the Woodruff wrestling team, moved to Spartanburg County last year as she prepared to continue her coaching career. However, an unexpected turn of events left her looking for another school to call home.
“I didn’t know where I would work, but I prayed about it, and I told my husband I would find something to do,” explained Watts. This was after (Hurricane Helene), and schools were slow to hire. I sent out a lot of resumes, and Woodruff High School was the first to reach out.”
Watts says that District Four was open and honest, offering her a job as a teacher’s assistant at Woodruff Primary School. She would have to earn a CDL license and drive a full-sized school bus full-time, too. Before, he had only driven a 14-seat athletic bus to and from competitions. And, there was no opening for a cheer coach.
Still, Coach Watts decided to take the leap.
“We fell in love with (Woodruff). It gave the feel of the town we had left (Cayce-West Columbia), and being here made us feel like we were back home,” she said. “If I was meant to coach, I knew the opportunity would find me. I feel like this is where God means for me to be, and Woodruff quickly became home.”
Watts’ faith paid off.
The Woodruff High School cheer coach position recently opened, and she was offered and accepted the role. The timing was right, and it was an answer to her prayers, she said.
“The opportunity presented itself,” stated Watts. “I prayed about it and felt like the timing was right. I was very humbled and honored to accept the position.”
Coach Watts has already begun building rapport with her athletes, holding four open season practices where she has started improving foundational skills, advanced stunting, and sharper technique.
Woodruff cheerleading will also hold a three-day camp for up-and-coming athletes, ages 4-5th grade, from June 15-17at the current Woodruff High School. It is Watts’ way of helping create a community presence around the program.
She has quickly come to love her cheerleaders as she works tirelessly to strengthen the program’s foundation.
“The athletes here at Woodruff want to learn and be coached,” Watts said. “They work hard, and that’s what I love about them.”
Coach Watts has a vision of what she wants the cheerleading program at Woodruff to become and knows she has young ladies under her charge who want to make that goal a reality.
“My vision is to build a strong, sustained program and culture that continues to grow and improve over time,” added Watts. “Beyond athletic performance, I want our athletes to be leaders in school and in the community while prioritizing integrity.”
coach at WHS (photo provided by Paula Watts)
