By Garrett Mitchell
Fall sports are winding down for Woodruff athletes as volleyball and tennis come to an end, cross-country races toward the finish line, and the end of the regular season fast approaches for the Wolverine football team. Take a look at all the latest news and updates for our fall sports teams and athletes from the past two weeks right here.
Lyles Sets New Rushing Record for Football
Woodruff senior running back Jaylen Lyles etched his name in the record book last Friday at Chesnee, setting a new single-game rushing record of 329 yards on 30 carries. His mark eclipses that of Shun Tribble, who rushed for the old record of 312 yards against Union County in 2011.
Jaylen has also rushed for 15 touchdowns this season and is averaging 155 yards rushing per game. He has rushed for 100 yards or more in six of the Wolverines’ eight games.
As Woodruff fights for playoff seeding, Lyles’ efforts running the ball will be a critical factor in the Wolverines’ success over the coming weeks.
Woodruff Volleyball Earns Playoff Spot
The Lady Wolverine volleyball team made continuous strides during the 2026 season, eclipsing last season’s win total and finishing with a 14-14 regular-season record.
Woodruff finished in fifth place in Region 2-2A against a stacked field that includes some of the state’s best teams, including Mountain View Prep, High Point Academy, Landrum and Chesnee.
The Lady Wolverines finished the regular season strong, with a 3-1 victory over rival Clinton while also taking powerhouse Landrum to five sets in the final week of the region slate. Woodruff qualified for the 2A playoffs and takes on St. Joseph’s Catholic in the first round.
Cross-Country Readies for Region Race
The Woodruff boys’ cross-country team swept its home meet against Chesnee and Oakbrook Prep on Oct. 8 with a dominant performance.
Jayden Day (18:18), Sam Ringgold (18:44), Wes Newsome (19:27.35) and Aidan Lawson (19:27.84) finished in the top four spots, respectively, as the Wolverines defeated second-place finisher Chesnee by 30 points (16-46).
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams are gearing up for the region championship race on Saturday, Oct. 24, with both squads carrying high hopes of bringing home the title.
Girls’ Tennis Peaking as Playoffs Start
From head coach Robert Vanadore:
“This has been quite the season for us. We started out of the gate kind of slowly, mainly because we have a lot of young players who are learning on the fly. If you were to go back and watch our progression throughout the season, I believe you would be amazed at the growth of each player and the increase in tennis IQ with regard to spatial awareness and stroke accuracy. We are 4-10 in the Region and 7-13 overall. The good news is that we are playing our best tennis right now.
“Stella Harrison has been our rock at number one. She has taken on everybody’s best and handled each unique player with great play. Kaelyn Young has been our most consistent player, winning the majority of our matches. Larson Abrams has been the heart and soul of the team, leading by example in words and actions on and off the court. Harrison Hatchett brings positive energy to the team with attitude and tremendous play.
“The Taylor twins, Lexi and Lily, have come so far this season. They have gone from picking up a racquet for the first time in August to playing meaningful tennis at singles and doubles for us.
“All told, I am extremely proud of the young ladies, from varsity to the JV team. Each has added a layer to the team; without them, we wouldn’t be playing as well as we do. Go Wolverines!”
