By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
The regular season has come to a close for Woodruff High School spring sports. With the play-offs getting underway this week, take a look back at the final week of the season for the Wolverines as they prepare for postseason play, including a region championship for the men’s track and field team.
Woodruff Boys Track Team Wins Region Championship
The Woodruff boys’ track and field team captured the region championship on Friday at Chapman High School with an overall score of 167. The host Panthers finished second.
Aiden Gibson and Malachi Thompson finished second and third in the 100-meter race. Skylar Barker placed third in the 400-meter. The Wolverines won the 4×100-meter relay race by two seconds over Union County.
It was the jumping and throwing events, however, that sealed the deal for Woodruff. Gibson and Rhylan Renfrow finished second and fourth, respectively, in the high jump. Nathan McConnell won the individual region title in the pole vault with a vault of 3.5 meters. Jaylen Lyles and Renfrow placed fourth and fifth in the long jump, and Skylar Barker won the individual region title in the triple jump.
In the shot put, Daniel Haas and Dawson Clevenger took the top two spots, with Haas’ winning throw measuring at 13.44 meters and Clevenger’s at 13.35. Haas also finished third in discus. Dyonee Hall placed second in the javelin throw.
Dolquist Wins Individual Pole Vault Title for Lady Wolverines
Though the Woodruff girls’ track and field team finished fifth overall in the region championship meet, several Lady Wolverines had great showings.
Alyssa Dolquist won the individual region title in pole vault with a vault of 2.75 meters. Her teammate Callie Adams finished right behind her in second place. In another high placement, Alexis Baldwin finished fourth overall in the javelin throw with a distance of 28.1 meters.
Woodruff Baseball Riding Momentum into the Play-offs
The Woodruff baseball team is riding a wave of momentum into the playoffs, finishing the regular season winning five of their final six games.
Woodruff finished 12-14 overall and fourth place in region play but has caught fire at the right time. Shortstop Kayden Barnaby, a USC-Sumter signee, has rewritten the record book in multiple categories, and the Wolverines have used their speed and craftiness to make life difficult for opponents.
Expect Woodruff to be a tough out in the district round.
Woodruff Softball Finishes Strong
The Lady Wolverine softball team is playing its best ball at the right time.
Despite an up-and-down season in which Woodruff finished third in region play with a 4-4 mark, the Lady Wolverines ended the regular season by winning their last four games, three of which were one-run victories.
Their 2-1 win over 4A #4-ranked Fountain Inn has been a high-water mark of the 2026 season for Woodruff, as was their 8-7 victory over powerhouse Union County on April 27.
Strong pitching down the stretch by Danicka Simmons and seventh grader KK Bailey has been a catalyst in the turnaround. Look for the Lady Wolverines to be a tough out in the playoffs.
Boys Tennis Falls in Play-offs
The Woodruff boys’ tennis team fell to Powdersville in the first round of the 3A playoffs, 4-2, in a hard-fought match.
Following a slow start to the season, the Wolverines played well during their conference slate and earned the number nine seed in the upper-state bracket. It was a marked improvement for the Wolverines throughout a highly competitive season.
Boys Soccer Rolls in Play-off Opener
The Woodruff boys’ soccer team cruised in their first-round play-off game, routing West-Oak 8-0.
Carlos Garcia scored five goals for the region champion Wolverines, who improved to 16-2 overall. Joining Garcia in the scoring column were Joan Cortes with two goals, along with a goal from Max Perez. Perez also recorded two assists.
Woodruff will host St. Joseph’s in their second round game on Thursday evening.
Lady Wolverine Soccer Team Advances
The Woodruff girls’ soccer team advanced to the second round of the 3A play-offs on Tuesday night with a solid 4-1 win over Pendleton.
Eviya Pankovets, Kennedy Scruggs, Ella Flack, and Emma Carpenter all scored goals for the Lady Wolverines. Flack also dished out two assists.
With the win, Woodruff improves to 14-7-1 on the season and will travel to the number one overall seed Christ Church for their second round matchup on Friday night.
