Sep 9, 2022
Woodlawn High opens cross country season eager to take next steps both on the tracks and as a program.
The Panthers open their 2022 schedule at 8 a.m. Saturday at Highland Road Park for the Episcopal Round Table Run with improvement on personal times and expansion of the roster both top of mind.
“I’m just looking forward to running,” senior Jaden Sylvester said. “As a team we’re just looking forward to pushing forward and, just, finishing. Like the new incoming freshmen that we’re getting, we’re looking for them to finish. And the veterans, we’re looking for better placement out of them from last year, better times and those things.”
Sylvester, who joined the team last year from football, is among a core senior group that also includes Dylan Aucoin and Hunter Kullman on the boys side and Andrea Rodriguez on the girls side.
Sophomore Kennedi Kullman is another key returner on the varsity squad.
And new athletes with high expectations include A.J. Warner, whom coach Tim Spruill said has the drive and leadership of a veteran, and Winston Dunn, who will join the team when possible around his football duties.
“Our No. 1 goal is always to have fun and turn these kids into life-long runners,” Spruill said. “But, beyond that, we really want more top-10 individual finishes and at least one top-three finish as a team for both boys and girls.”
The Panthers accomplished that goal last season with a deep roster on the girls side and just a few boys on the team.
Those numbers have flipped this fall with more boys on the roster to enter the season, but more athletes are welcomed to join the program at any time.
“We are always looking for new athletes,” Spruill said. “We train all year, and you can join at any time. It is difficult for seniors to join midseason, but ninth, 10th and 11th graders can join any time during the season or offseason.
“It takes a lot of work and a long time to get fit to compete in this sport. When you join as a freshman, you are really training for your sophomore year. If you stick with it long enough, you can break school records by your junior or senior year.”
Any students interested in joining should email [email protected], visit coach Spruill in room 559 or join the remind @woodlawncc and send a message.
Following this Saturday’s event, Woodlawn will attend meets at Brusly High each of the remaining two Saturdays in September.
Sep 9, 2022
The Woodlawn High volleyball team has won four straight matches in five days to bounce back from a tough start to the season.
The host Lady Panthers claimed back-to-back victories Saturday in the South Louisiana Volleyball Invitational against St. Louis Catholic and Loyola Prep and added wins Tuesday against Springfield and Thursday against St. John to even their record at 4-4.
“The tournament, I put them in a good bracket against some good teams,” coach Maria Gonzalez said. “That’s the type of competition we need to see, then they had a good practice, and I’m proud of them. They’re playing really well right now. This is how they should be playing.”
Losses to Parkview Baptist on Monday and Madison Prep on Wednesday carried into a slow start to the weekend with straight-set losses Friday to Westminster and Academy of Our Lady.
But Woodlawn was able to rebound and build some positive momentum on the final day of the well-attended event, which brought 20 teams from across the state and strong fan numbers to campus.
“The turnout was good,” Gonzalez said. “Usually that first tournament of the season, Labor Day weekend, is a lot of out-of-parish schools. I think we had four local teams and the rest from all around the state. And it’s really good competition. That’s what I like. That’s how I know we can play. So that’s what I’m excited about.”
Senior Reagan McDowell earned one of the nine spots on the all-tournament team, which featured representation from nine different schools from across south Louisiana.
And the Lady Panthers kept rolling at home from there in four sets against Springfield and three against St. John.
“We’ve been very inconsistent,” Gonzalez said. “And what I told them was we make too many mistakes in a row. We’re going to make mistakes, but we can’t make 10 in a row. If we’e consistent, we’ll be good.
“Elysa (Pitts) stepped up with her setting, and she’s doing well. Karma (Kasubaski), a weapon on the outside, she’s doing well. And Reagan’s been playing like she usually plays. She’s been playing pretty well. Pitts is pretty consistent also. And then, of course, I have my little liberos, my firecracker (Krystel Amo) and my other freshman (Katelyn Reed). Everybody’s doing well. Lacie (Sierra) has been playing well in the back row, and her sister Marie is my other setter and is doing well.”
The Lady Panthers visit Capitol on Monday before returning home Wednesday against McKinley.
