Woodlawn High School’s Theater 3 Class will present a virtual production of the play Help Desk. Help Desk was written by Don Zolidis. The hilarious comedy details the problems that arise when you call the help desk. Although you’re looking for a solution when you call the help desk, your problems may just be beginning!
Katelynn Johnson performs her part in Help Desk.
Tickets to the play can be purchased beginning Monday, May 3rd for $8 through the Woodlawn High website. Those who purchase the production online will receive a link to the play via email and will be able to watch the play from the comfort of their own home. While students and parents are encouraged to use their credit or debit cards and purchase the link online, students may stop by the theater to pay in cash if they would like. Students paying with cash must provide an email address when purchasing so that they can receive the link.
The Theater students have worked very hard over the last two months. The production features a collaboration between virtual and in person students in the class and was filmed using Zoom.
“I am extremely proud of the hard work that the students have put in to make this production happen during such a challenging year,” said Ms. Leonard-Brubaker. “Performing with someone who isn’t in the same room with you is difficult for even the most seasoned performer, and these kids really pushed themselves to overcome that challenge and produce a really funny show.”
The cast of Help Desk features Jasmine Gray, Joshua Robins, Braeden Hodges, Yezeed Manna, Jason Delcid, Jianna Ross, Alyric Alexander, and Katlynn Johnson.
Woodlawn’s Tennis Program has achieved many firsts over the past four years. The Panthers Tennis Program has traditionally been small, often not having the necessary number of student-athletes to fill a full team.
After a five-year span without tennis, the program was resurrected in 2018 and has quickly risen to heights never seen at Woodlawn High. The Medine twins, Halle and Leah, were a large part of the rebirth of the program.
“Going into high school, neither of us really expected to play high school tennis. We didn’t think there was a team because we didn’t hear anything about it,” reminisced Leah. “Coach Broussard brought it up to me one day because he heard from Coach Baronich that I played tennis. I was playing volleyball and lifting weights with Coach Baronich.”
The 2018 season saw Leah, as a freshman, reach the Regional Finals in the Girls’ Singles and advance to the State Quarterfinals. She topped her freshman campaign the next year, as she became the first Panther to win a Regional Championship. She went on to the State Quarterfinals again as a sophomore.
The 2020 season also saw a first for Woodlawn tennis. Spring sports were forced to end their seasons early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was difficult to imagine life going back to normal–student-athletes uniting to improve their skills, stands filled with cheering crowds, the unpredictability of the season ahead. The Panthers’ tennis team competed in only four matches before the season was abruptly cancelled.
Dylan and Brady qualified for the State Tournament by winning two matches at Regionals.
Though the 2020 season was cut short, the team has been raring to return to the court. Once restrictions eased, tennis players began practicing for the 2021 season in early January at Southern Oaks Athletic Club with Coaches Brent Broussard and Lucas Richardson. The enthusiasm to return is apparent looking at the impressive 2021 accomplishments.
The tennis program saw many improvements during the 2021 regular season. Even when the Panthers did not come out on top, the scores were much more competitive than in recent seasons. The hard work was then evident at the 2021 Regional Tournament.
For the first time in recent history, three doubles teams came away with victories at the Regional level.
The first team, senior Christian Jones and freshman Miriam Lindsay, finished their Regional run with a 1-1 record. Though they did not qualify for the State Tournament, it was quite an accomplishment to win their first round match!
Woodlawn’s second court boys’ doubles team were perhaps the biggest surprise of the tournament. Coming into the tournament, Dylan Aucoin and Brady Bertrand had played only one match together. However, their athleticism and enthusiasm were apparent, as they advanced to the Regional Quarterfinals. Their two wins were enough to qualify them for the Division II State Tournament.
Finally, senior twins Halle and Leah Medine finished the Regional Tournament with a 4-0 record. After receiving the #1 seed in the tournament, the girls were given a first round bye. The Medine’s dispatched the competition rather easily, not losing a single set in the entire tournament. In the finals, the girls started slow against ED White. After falling behind 3-2, the Medine’s won ten of the final eleven games for the 6-3, 6-1 victory.
Winning the Regional Championship once again set some firsts for Woodlawn High School. Leah became the first two-time Regional Champion. The girls were also the first Regional Doubles Champions in school history. Finally, Halle joined her sister as the only two Regional Champions from Woodlawn High School.
Bertrand and Aucoin and the Medines qualified for the State Tournament thanks to their finishes at the Regional Tournament. The four state-qualifiers matches the number of qualifiers from 2018 and 2019 combined.
Halle and Leah entered the Division II State Tournament as one of the four seeded teams. The girls had three relatively easy wins on day one of the State Tournament, only dropping two games in their three matches.
Day two brought a familiar opponent, as the Medine’s faced their Regional Semifinal opponent from ED White. With a large crowd on hand, nerves and the “bright lights” got the best of the Medine’s during he first set, as they fell 7-5. However, Halle and Leah fought back to win the second and third sets 6-1, 6-4 to move to the Division II State Finals.
Seniors Leah, Christian, and Halle pose for a picture at the 2021 Regional Tournament.
“The competition was definitely harder at State, and it was my first time there,” said Halle. “I was very nervous in a lot of our matches, especially the semifinal match. That was something we had to work through.”
The 6-2, 6-0 win over Neville’s first court in the finals brought Woodlawn High its first State Championship in tennis.
Going through the process of rebuilding the program, followed by the year that was 2020, closing out their high school career as State Champions was extremely significant to Halle and Leah.
“I don’t know if it has completely hit us yet, but it is super-awesome,” Halle explained. “Just knowing that we can take this championship away from our entire high school career and our entire tennis career.”
Even with all of the wins and championships for the Panthers this season, they perhaps have an even more impressive stat. Despite the major focus on winning, the team was able to achieve an overall GPA of 3.9. Eighteen members of the 2021 tennis team also took advanced level courses this year, with several earning future college credit.
As the three senior girls prepare for life after high school, they leave behind a flourishing team of nineteen that has grown from nine their freshman year in 2018. The team will look to continue to improve as practices at Southern Oaks will begin in August of 2021 instead of January of 2022.
The Woodlawn High School English as a Second Language (ESL) Program accommodates 127 students from countries from around the world. Twenty-five of those students are seniors. Students in the ESL Program are limited English proficient. They attain English language proficiency, develop high levels of academic attainment in English, and meet the same challenging State academic standards that all students are expected to meet.
Over fifty percent of the seniors in the Woodlawn High ESL program finished the third semester with a cumulative GPA of over 2.5. Those seniors are Juan Diaz, Thinh Nguyen, Wendy Bonilla, Ngoc Nguyen, Sofia Olvera, Ivette Rivero, Anuar Herrera, Pablo Suarez, Quilder Lopez, Juan Guerrero, Kely Fernandez, and Yacoob Hussain.
Two ESL seniors achieved an even more impressive GPA: a 4.0! Those students are Ty Le and Britney Umanzor!
Congratulations to each of these ESL seniors on their amazing achievement! Keep up the great work!
Victorine Kasangandjo is a senior at Woodlawn High School. She is a citizen of the Republic of the Congo. As a freshman, in 2018, Victorine’s parents decided to bring her Baton Rouge and enroll her at Woodlawn High. The decision was made in order to give Victorine the best opportunity to be successful.
Coach Randall interviews Victorine for Gear Up.
Upon arrival to the United State, Victorine spoke no English. Her native language is Swahili. She was placed into the East Baton Rouge School Sytem’s program for English Language Learners. Each year, Victorine’s knowledge of English grew. This year, she reached the Level 01, which means that she is fully proficient in the English language. Her hard work and dedication to her studies has paid off, as she carries a 2.8 GPA and has never had to repeat a class despite learning English while she completed her course work.
Victorine has also been active outside the classroom at Woodlawn High School. She participated in soccer and was named to the 2020-2021 All District team. She enjoys drawing and participating in Community Sports Leadership Club.
Coach Randall recently completed a video on Victorine’s successes for Gear Up.
“The entire Woodlawn community is so proud of Victorine’s hard work, dedication, and of the resilience she has shown in her time with us,” said Randall. “We look forward to following her success as she graduates and start the next chapter of her life.”
Andrew Barnes, who was the Head Soccer Coach for both the boys and girls programs at Woodlawn High, was recently inducted into the LHSSCA Hall of Fame. Barnes was the head of the boys program from 2001 through 2019, and led the girls program from 2011 through 2016.
During Barnes’ 18 year career, he has coached over 500 games and won numerous District Championships. Coach Barnes guided the Panthers to 11 playoff appearances, which included four Bi-District finishes, one Regional finish, two Quarterfinal finishes, three Semi-Final finishes, and one Finals appearance.
“When I walked into Mr. McCann’s office, at the old school, I never would have dreamed that I would coach at Woodlawn that long,” remembered Barnes. “I loved my time at Woodlawn. The administration always completely supported me. I was never told ‘no’ by any of the four principals that were there during my time.”
It was during the 2007-2008 season that Coach Barnes led the Woodlawn boys on an historic run to the finals. In the state semi-finals that season, Woodlawn, who was one of the lowest seeds in the playoffs, upset the favorites, Jesuit. This led to a state championship game versus Caddo Magnet.
Although the Panthers fell short and finished runner-up, their run to the finals that year is one of the most well remembered playoff runs of all time.
Coach Barnes has been selected District Coach of the Year seven times, as well as Baton Rouge All Metro Coach of the Year twice. He was also selected to be a coach in the LHSSCA All-Star game three times, twice as an Assistant Coach, and once as Head Coach.
“The soccer program at Woodlawn during my time there was a family,” explained Barnes. “It was a small group of very committed, dedicated people. In my 18 years, I only had four assistant coaches and only four concession workers. They stayed with me for the long haul.”
“I still keep in touch with many of my former players. I still love the phone calls, and even the impromptu visits to my home that last a little too long!”
Coach Barnes is married to Gretchen Barnes. Together they have three children, Jonathan, Emilie, and Jacob. All three of the Barnes children attended Woodlawn High, and of course, played soccer for Coach Barnes.
Current Woodlawn Principal Scott Stevens praised Coach Barnes’ as a coach and member of the Woodlawn family.
“Andrew was exactly what every Athletic Department looks for in a coach. He had the ability to connect with his student-athletes in a way that not many coaches can connect. His players wanted to win for him as much as they wanted to win for themselves. He deserves this recognition as much as anyone that has ever coached at Woodlawn High.”
