By Garrett Mitchell
Fall sports are just about over in Woodruff, with football’s postseason and the final cross-country races still ahead. As the season winds down and winter sports loom closer on the horizon, here is a look back at two seasons and what’s to come for two more in the final weeks of fall.
Football playing for postseason seeding
The Woodruff football team has had a rough go of it in region play, dropping three straight games entering the regular-season finale against archrival Clinton.
However, under the new playoff seeding system, which uses an RPI format, the Wolverines’ strength of schedule means they will qualify for the postseason regardless of the score on Friday night.
Should the Wolverines lose to the Red Devils, Woodruff would be the No. 14 seed and likely travel to Crescent in the first round. A win would mean a higher seed and a potential rematch with region rival Chesnee in round one.
Volleyball falls to St. Joseph Catholic in the playoffs
The Woodruff volleyball team fell in the first round of the playoffs to St. Joseph Catholic. The Lady Wolverines improved on their win total from last season, finishing 14-15 overall, and battled valiantly in what is arguably the best 2A region in the state.
With a core of three freshman starters, Woodruff volleyball is primed to continue rising through the ranks in the coming years. The seniors laid the foundation for a comeback for a program that was previously one of the best in the Upper State.
Cross-country runs hard in region championship race
The Woodruff cross-country teams competed hard in the region championship race.
The Wolverine boys finished fourth behind Southside Christian, Greer Middle College and Landrum, with an average time of 18:15. Jayden Day was Woodruff’s top finisher, placing 10th with a time of 17:00.50.
The Lady Wolverines also finished fourth, behind Landrum, Greer Middle College and Southside Christian, with an average time of 22:16. Zoey Jayne Lawson was Woodruff’s top finisher, placing 17th with a time of 20:58.80.
Next up for Woodruff cross-country are the Spartanburg County championships, followed by the 2A Upper State qualifier on November 7.
Lady Wolverine tennis falls to Clinton in round one
The Woodruff girls’ tennis team fell to region foe Clinton, 4-2, in the first round of the 2A playoffs.
The Lady Wolverines’ record did not reflect the improvements made throughout the season, and the future is bright for a young roster that returns a wealth of talent next year. Woodruff finished the season with a 7-14 overall record against one of the toughest schedules in 2A.
Expect big things from the Lady Wolverines next season.
