Oct 3, 2016
It took until the fifth week of the season, but the Woodlawn cross country team finally got to run on a dry course, and the results were spectacular. Every Woodlawn competitor turned in their best time of the season. Twelve out of the eighteen that competed turned in career bests.
The boy’s squad turned in their best team performance of the year, averaging 19:04 over the three mile course as six runners went under 20 minutes. Khidhr Al-Mustafa turned in a season and team best 17:33. Brandon Williams finished in a time of 18:29. Junior Saulomon John was the third Panther across the line with a personal record of 19:34 and was closely followed by the trio of Coby Sanchez (19:34), Darmar Galvan (19:52) and Marshall Bayles (19:53), all of which were personal records.
The boys moved up ten places over their finish in the same meet last season and are really beginning to race and compete as a team.
Coach Wallace says the key to the team’s success is no secret. “It’s hard work, nothing but hard work. As the season has progressed the boys have really embraced our weekly workout plan and are competing with each other and pushing each other in practice. That makes us run faster in practice which makes us run faster in the meets. In other words, the faster you train, the faster you race.”
The girls’ team finished five places better than their finish in 2015. They were led by a season best 22:33 performance by junior Alexis Martin. Her time was the team’s best of the year and seemed to be just the motivation the rest of the squad needed as every girl on the team ran a season best at this meet.
Junior Melissa Grant was the second Lady Panther to finish in a personal record 23:51.
After the race Grant could not control her enthusiasm for the day and for the future as she echoed the sentiment of the entire team when she commented, “Coach, I want to work harder than I ever have this upcoming week and dominate the Highland Road course next Saturday.”
Grant’s excitement and work ethic, along with the leadership of Alexis Martin and team captain Shelby Sanchez, has been a great help to the girls’ team as they continue to improve from week to week.
Freshman Aimee Martin set another personal record of 28:10, as did sophomore Alexis Aucoin, who competed in her first varsity contest. Kelli Oubre and Rayan Kaadan both set personal records in the two mile JV race. Oubre is likely to see her first varsity action next Saturday.
In the boys JV race, freshman Tyler Lewis saw his first action of the season, finishing the two mile course in 16 minutes.
The boys and girls teams will return to Highland Road Park this Saturday for the Catholic High Invitational.
Oct 3, 2016
This is part one of a four part series highlighting the students named to represent Woodlawn High on the 2016 Homecoming Court. The junior maids will be spotlighted Tuesday, followed by the sophomore maids on Wednesday, and the freshman maid on Thursday.
Nakavia Chapman
Nakavia was born in Monroe, LA on February 3, 1998. She has attended Woodlawn all four years of high school, and currently has a 3.3 GPA. She says that she enjoys participating in cheer and dance. Nakavia says that her favorite memory from Woodlawn High is of her “freshman year Homecoming game, when we won the football game 40-12 and later went to the playoffs.” She is most looking forward to graduation, and plans to attend ULM once she graduates. Nakavia says that if she could give any advice to the freshman class, it would be “to stay focused because everything will add up at the end. Make every year count.”
Monica Jackson
Monica is originally from nearby Plaquemine. She was born on February 27, 1998. A four year student at Woodlawn she currently carries a 2.8 GPA. Monica is a member of the Pantherettes and a member of the Lady Panthers soccer team. She looks back fondly upon her freshman year, when she was able to get onto the soccer field for the first time as a Lady Panther. After graduation, Monica plans to pursue a degree in psychology. Monica’s advice to the class of 2020 is “to not give up, keep pushing through the tough times, and finish strong.”
Lillian Khemmanyvong
Lillian was born on May 23, 1999 in Lafayette, LA. She has been a Panther for four years and carries a 3.5 GPA. Lily runs cross country and is one of three captains for the Lady Panther softball team. She is also on the newspaper staff, and is the Panther football team sports writer for the school website and Panther Post. Her favorite memory at Woodlawn is the Warren Easton “game when the student section tossed baby powder. The class of ’15 had the best student section at Woodlawn!” Lily plans to put her time with the Panther Post to good use, and she intends to pursue a degree in mass communication and continue as a sports journalist. Lily’s advice to the freshman class is to “Study! Study! Study! Your academics are important in high school, so don’t let yourself get too far behind.”
Kamryn Williams
Kamryn, born right here in Baton Rouge on May 25, 1999, has attended Woodlawn for the past four years and maintained a 3.6 GPA. Kamryn is the captain of the cheerleading squad at Woodlawn. Her favorite memory from her four years here are the Homecoming weeks and all of the activities that go along with it. After graduation, Kamryn plans on attending Southern University and majoring in nursing. Her advice to freshmen is “to stay focused and enjoy all four years because they go by fast.”
Sep 29, 2016
Yusra Chabayta ’18
The Lady Panthers volleyball team hosted “The Rumble in the Jungle” tournament on Friday, September 23rd at Woodlawn High School; matches started at 4:00pm, with new games beginning every 50 minutes until 8:10pm, when the last games of the night began. They continued playing matches on Saturday, September 24th, with games beginning at 8:00am. Bracket play began Saturday at 2:00 pm, with the Championship Game beginning at 7:20 pm. Games were played both days on three courts at Woodlawn High and another court at Woodlawn Middle.
Hannah Luker and Kennedi Barnes attempt a block during the Tara Tournament.
When asked before the tournament if the players were ready and excited about the tournament, Hannah Luker said, “Of course we are excited, but our tournaments are always a tough competition and allow us to challenge ourselves.”
Twenty-five teams from across Louisiana participated in the tournament. Each team was placed in a pool which contained five teams each. Teams played all of the teams in their pool and received points according to how many games they won. Once the pool games were over, the top fifteen teams from the five pools were seeded and bracket play began. The winner of The Rumble in the Jungle was determined by these games.
Woodlawn was placed in a pool with Byrd, Loranger, McDonogh 35, and St. James. The Lady Panthers finished their pool with a 3-1 record. Their first game versus Loranger was their only loss in pool play (23-25, 18-25). Woodlawn then defeated Byrd (25-22, 25-10), McDonogh 35 (25-3, 25-11), and St. James (25-18, 25-20). Winning three out of four games was enough to place Woodlawn High School as the second place team in their pool. The Lady Panthers were seeded seventh overall going into bracket play.
In bracket play, Woodlawn defeated West Feliciana in a hard fought contest by the score of 25-23 and 27-25, before falling in the second round to eventual tournament runner-up Ben Franklin. Fontainebleau High School finished the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record and walked away with the championship.
Sep 28, 2016
Elizabeth Roquemore ‘18
Woodlawn High School is finally bringing back tennis! Ms. Bailey, one of the Woodlawn English teachers, is going to be coaching the new team. Because Ms. Bailey played tennis herself, she decided to organize a team and would love to share the sport with interested students. Tennis, which was once a mainstay in the athletic program, is back again at Woodlawn, and Ms. Bailey is excited to guide and teach young Woodlawn students.
Tennis was created in 1879 and has a lot to do with hand eye coordination and being alert. Tennis can be easy to pick up on and a lot of fun, all while hitting the ball back and forth behind the net. It is a great exercise and another way to get out the house. To be on the team students must have a 2.5 G.P.A. and a real drive to play and work hard. Students must bring their own rackets and practice clothes, along with a positive attitude.
Ms. Bailey is excited and cannot wait to meet her team and start coaching. The new coach has set several team goals: having fun, working hard, creating a positive environment, and learning about tennis! All students are welcome to join, even if they do not know how to play. Tennis is very easy to learn and a lot of fun once you learn the sport. Come out and join the team to have fun with tennis. You could even meet new friends. The signup sheet is on the door of room 408, so hurry and come join the team!
