The Panther Play by Play – September 10 – September 16

The Panther Play by Play – September 10 – September 16

Sep 18, 2023

Each week the Panther Play by Play will review the athletic contests from the previous week and look forward to the coming week’s action.

Want to come out and cheer on the Panthers? Tickets for all home events can be purchased online.

Cross Country

Our Panther Cross Country team made their debut this weekend at the 4th Annual Brusly Cross Country Invitational. Sophomores Ty Davis and Liam Dowdy placed 19th and 33rd overall in the varsity 2 mile race. Their times were good for the 3rd and 4th fastest Cross Country 2 mile times in Woodlawn High School history. In the girls 2 mile varsity race, Freshman Kailyn Lebrun placed 26th overall. Her time was the fastest 2 mile time in the history of Woodlawn High School. This week, our Panthers will be back at Brusly High School for the 3 mile Cinclaire Run on the Levee.

Next up for Cross Country: Saturday, September 23 at the Brusly Cinclaire Run on the Levee

Football

Woodlawn hosted Carver for Homecoming this year and everyone left Panther Stadium excited about the home team’s victory. Our Panthers walked off the field victorious, defeating the Rams by the score of 33-6.

Woodlawn held the lead for the entire night, holding the Rams at bay. Carver was never able to muster much of an offensive attack, and never threatened to take the lead from the Panthers.

The Panthers offense was paced by Junior running back Jay’cob Jolla, who scored two touchdowns. Junior Ma’kahi Wilson and freshman Alonzo Luckett also scored offensive touchdowns, while sophomore David Breaud returned a fumble for a touchdown.

The Panthers will be back in action Friday night as they travel to Thibodaux to face ED White.

In the sub-varsity contests versus Dutchtown, one team was victorious, while the other fell just short. Our freshman team began the night last Tuesday falling to the Griffins by one score. The final was 20-12 in favor of Dutchtown. The JV team quickly executed their revenge, coming away with a 14-12 win over Dutchtown. Both the JV and Freshmen will be back in action Tuesday night at Denham Springs.

Next up for Football: Tuesday, September 19 – Freshmen and JV at Denham Springs; Friday, September 22 – Varsity at ED White

Swim

The Panther Swim team were in the water for their first swim meet of the season this past Saturday at Crawfish Aquatics. The boys’ 200 yard medley relay and freestyle each placed 6th in their first races of the season. The boys’ swim team finished 4th overall in the meet.

Individually, James Skiles finished in the top ten in the 200 yard freestyle and John Cador finished in the top ten in the 100 yard freestyle. Cador was joined by Norman Collins, Zack Lemoine, and Reagan Rodgers in the 100 yard freestyle. Ben Mackay, Alex Collins, and Vincent Nguyen each competed in the 50 yard freestyle.

Both of our Lady Panthers swam against a stacked field in the 50 yard freestyle, with Freshman Breanna Barrios and Junior Isabella Winter each finishing with competitive times. The pair from Woodlawn finished back-to-back in the 100 yard freestyle as well.

Our Panthers will be off this weekend and will travel to Lafayette for their first out-of-town trip of the season on Saturday, September 30.

Next up for Swim: Saturday, September 30 – Lafayette Swim League at Crawfish Aquatics Lafayette

Volleyball

The Lady Panther Volleyball team made up for their slow week last week by playing six matches this week. Woodlawn High hosted Ponchatoula and Madison Prep before participating at the Brusly Tournament Thursday through Saturday.

Monday, our Lady Panthers got off to a slow start versus Ponchatoula. All three levels, Freshmen, JV, and Varsity, fell to Ponchatoula after the long layover without matches.

Wednesday, Woodlawn High hosted Madison Prep. The night began with JV action, but the Lady Panthers fell short by the score of 25-13 and 25-7. The varsity team, boosted by the arrival of Senior Taliyah Kirby, came away with a huge win in four sets. After winning the first set 25-23, the Lady Panthers fell 15-25 in the second set. Not to be deterred, our Lady Panthers bounced back to win the next two sets 25-18 and 25-19 for the big win.

Thursday afternoon saw our Lady Panthers travel to Brusly for tournament action. In two best-of-three matches, our Lady Panthers went 1-1 on the evening. Woodlawn faced Terrebonne in the first match of the day, falling in both sets by the scores of 25-19 and 25-12. However, the Lady Panthers bounced back to beat the host team, Brusly, 25-21 and 25-18.

Woodlawn travelled back across the Mississippi River Saturday morning for two more matches. Both matches Saturday were best-of-three. Our Lady Panthers came up short in both matches in three sets. Vandebilt Catholic defeated Woodlawn 21-25, 25-6, and 15-5 in the first match of the day. In the second match, Natchitoches Central defeated the Lady Panthers 17-25, 25-21, 8-15.

Next up for Volleyball: Monday, September 11 – Freshmen/JV/Varsity vs. Ponchatoula; Wednesday, September 13 – JV/Varsity vs. Madison Prep; Thursday, September 14 – Saturday, September 16 – at the Brusly Tournament

Winter Sports Practice Underway

Boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls soccer, powerlifting, and tennis are all practicing this upcoming week.

Running Towards Success: The Panther Cross Country Team

Running Towards Success: The Panther Cross Country Team

Sep 13, 2023

The sun was beating down on campus, but that did not damper the sense of excitement that hung in the air. It was the dawn of a new era for the Woodlawn High School cross country team. With a new coach and a group of enthusiastic young athletes, this season promised to be unlike any other.

Coach Erik Wagner, a former cross country athlete with a passion for running and coaching, had taken the reins of the Woodlawn High School cross country team. His vision is clear: to instill a love for running and cultivate a culture of dedication and perseverance among his young athletes.

Coach Wagner’s approach was a blend of experience and innovation. He understood the importance of a structured training regimen but also recognized the need to adapt it to the capabilities and needs of her young team members. His goal was to build not just competitive athletes but well-rounded individuals.

The team is entirely composed of underclassmen, many of whom have never participated in competitive running. Liam Dowdy, a sophomore, is the lone returning athlete from last year’s program. Liam will be joined this year by Tyreion Davis and Kailyn Lebrun, who are both looking to make an impact in their first year with the program.

“We have a very young team, lots of freshman and sophomores, so the main expectation is continuous hard work and improvement throughout the season,” said Coach Wagner. “We have some runners with great potential and we want to continue to build a team around them. But our team is also small, so we also want to continue to build the program.”

Building the program is the long-term goal, so Coach Wagner has invited any new students interested in running to stop by room 207 to ask questions about joining the team.

The Panther Play by Play – September 3 – September 9

The Panther Play by Play – September 3 – September 9

Sep 11, 2023

Each week the Panther Play by Play will review the athletic contests from the previous week and look forward to the coming week’s action.

Want to come out and cheer on the Panthers? Tickets for all home events can be purchased online.

Cross Country

First year Head Coach Erik Wagner and his Panther runners have continued to work hard around school. With the hot August temperatures behind us, our Cross Country team have been able to spend more time outside for afternoon practices. Our Panthers have been paced in practice by returning sophomore Liam Dowdy and newcomer Ty Davis. Freshman Kailyn Lebrun has been the leader of the girls’ team. Woodlawn’s Cross Country team will see their first action next weekend at Brusly High School.

Next up for Cross Country: Saturday, September 16 at the Brusly Invitational

Football

Week Two of the LHSAA high school football season saw our sub-varsity programs on a bye week. The freshman and JV teams will both be back in action next week as they host Dutchtown in a doubleheader. The contest was originally scheduled on Wednesday, but has been moved to Tuesday evening.

Our varsity Panthers faced the #2 ranked Division II team in the state of Louisiana Friday night. The Panthers fell to the Knights by the score of 49-14. Senior quarterback Myron Nelson found Jay’cob Jolla for a 35 yard touchdown strike to pull within 7 points at 14-7, but the Panthers found the going tough after that.

Woodlawn will host G.W. Carver next Friday night for Homecoming.

Next up for Football: Tuesday, September 12 – Freshmen and JV vs. Dutchtown; Friday, September 15 – Varsity vs. Carver

Swim

The Panther Swim team had their hopes of beginning their season drowned this week when the CCSL Season Opener at Crawfish Aquatics was cancelled due to water line issues in the surrounding areas. Our Panthers still took advantage of the week, practicing Tuesday through Thursday during their normal evening sessions. Our Panthers are hoping to get their season officially started this Saturday at Crawfish Aquatics in their regularly scheduled league meet.

Next up for Swim: Saturday, September 16 – Capital City Swim League at Crawfish Aquatics

Volleyball

Our Lady Panther Volleyball team had a slow week, with only one JV/Varsity match on Tuesday versus Belaire. The Junior Varsity got the contest started off with a strong statement, winning both sets by the score of 25-8. The Varsity team continued the strong performance with a straight set win of their own. Woodlawn defeated Belaire 25-10, 25-3, and 25-12. The win moved our Lady Panthers to 2-1 on the season before a busy week next week.

Next up for Volleyball: Monday, September 11 – Freshmen/JV/Varsity vs. Ponchatoula; Wednesday, September 13 – JV/Varsity vs. Madison Prep; Thursday, September 14 – Saturday, September 16 – at the Brusly Tournament

Winter Sports Practice Underway

Boys’ and girls’ soccer have begun preparing for fall practices. Those interested should see Coach K. Douglas and Coach Holton, respectively. Our Panther tennis program will begin practice next week. If you are interested in tennis, please see Coach Broussard.

The Panther Play by Play – August 27 – September 2

The Panther Play by Play – August 27 – September 2

Sep 5, 2023

Each week the Panther Play by Play will review the athletic contests from the previous week and look forward to the coming week’s action.

The beginning of the school year brings with it the beginning of Fall Sports. Woodlawn High is home to four fall sports: Cross Country, Football, Swim, and Volleyball. All four sports have begun practice and are working hard daily to prepare for upcoming contests.

Want to come out and cheer on the Panthers? Tickets for all home events can be purchased online.

Cross Country

The dedicated Panther Cross Country runners have been relentlessly training and pushing their limits in preparation for their upcoming first race. No matter the temperature, they’ve been putting in countless hours on the trails and even inside the school building, building their endurance, and fine-tuning their techniques. The camaraderie and determination within the team are noticeable, as each athlete strives to achieve their personal best and contribute to the collective success. The Panthers are led this season by first year Head Coach Erik Wagner, who is looking forward to the team’s first race next weekend.

Next up for Cross Country: Saturday, September 16 at the Brusly Invitational

Football

Our Panther football team officially began their season this week, with Freshman, JV, and Varsity action all occurring throughout the week.

Both sub-varsity contests were marred by inclement weather. Neither game was completed due to lightning in the area, which forced both teams to clear the field two nights in a row.

The JV Panthers took to the field first, hosting the University Lab Cubs. The Cubs took an early 13-0 lead over the Panthers, who were unable to mount a comeback before mother nature won the night.

Tuesday night saw our Freshman Football team host the Live Oak Eagles. While rain and lightning eventually ended the game a few minutes early, our ninth graders were able to come away with a hard fought 12-6 win over the Eagles. Quarterback Brice Preston linked up with his favorite target, Alonzo Luckett, for a touchdown in the second contest in a row after the two connected in jamboree action versus Jesuit.

After a long off-season and preseason that saw practice times changed due to high temperatures, the Panther football team finally took the field in a game that counted. However, the Panthers’ ran into a U High team that was running on all cylinders. The Cubs defense dominated the game, allowing only 28 total yards in the first half on the way to a 33-0 halftime lead. Running back William Jackson scored on a 4-yard run with 29 seconds remaining in the contest to avert the shutout. When the buzzer sounded, the Panthers were on the wrong side of a 40-6 score.

Both sub-varsity teams will be off this week after St. Michael made the decision to cancel Tuesday’s JV contest.

Next up for Football: Friday, September 8 – Varsity vs. Lafayette Christian

Swim

The Panther Swim team completed their third week of practice under new Head Coach Jess Stidham. The team has been tirelessly honing their skills, dedicating themselves to grueling training sessions in the water. Late evenings have been the norm as they’ve pushed themselves to improve their strokes, endurance, and teamwork. The anticipation is palpable as they prepare for their first meet this Saturday, a culmination of their relentless efforts. With each practice, they’ve grown stronger and more synchronized, and now, they are eager to showcase their determination and unity in the pool. The Panther swim team is poised to make a splash at the upcoming meet, and their hard work and commitment are sure to shine through in every stroke they take.

Next up for Swim: Saturday, September 9 – Capital City Swim League Season Opener at Crawfish Aquatics

Volleyball

Our Lady Panther volleyball team had two contests this week, with a season opening contest at Parkview Baptist followed by their home opener versus Baker.

The Lady Panther volleyball team displayed remarkable resilience and determination in their matches this past week. Although they faced a disappointing loss in their first match at Parkview Baptist in three straight sets (7-25, 7-25, 23-25), their spirits remained unbroken. The defeat served as a source of motivation rather than discouragement and the team bounced back triumphantly in their second match, showcasing their true potential.

In their second match, the Lady Panthers defeated an outmatched Baker team in three sets (25-7, 25-9, 25-12). Woodlawn High exhibited outstanding teamwork, communication, and a renewed sense of purpose on the court. Their synchronized efforts and strategic play resulted in a resounding victory. This remarkable turnaround not only highlighted their skill and dedication but also exemplified the team’s ability to learn and adapt, proving that setbacks can often be the stepping stones to success. The Lady Panthers have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with in the world of volleyball.

Next up for Volleyball: Tuesday, September 5 – JV/Varsity vs. Belaire

Winter Sports Practice Underway

Our boys and girls basketball teams have both begun practice in preparation for the upcoming seasons. Joining basketball are the Panther powerlifting programs, who have begun weight training after school. Both the boys and girls soccer teams will begin practice in the near future as well.

Panthers Embrace the Challenge of Replacing Fifteen Starters

Panthers Embrace the Challenge of Replacing Fifteen Starters

Aug 26, 2023

As the excitement of a new high school football season grows, the Woodlawn High School Panthers are facing a unique set of challenges that could potentially reshape their strategy and team dynamics. The Panthers, known for their incredible talent and playoff appearances the last three seasons, is now heading into uncharted territory as they grapple with the loss of several key players. With these voids in the roster, Coach Randall, his staff, and fans are all eager to see how the team will adapt and rebuild in the upcoming season.

Gone are the days when Rickie Collins dominated the field with his precision passes and the rock-solid defense kept Woodlawn in every game with its senior leadership. The team bid farewell to a group of exceptional seniors who have been the backbone of the squad’s success. Among the notable departures are Collins, the record-breaking quarterback who led the team to the 2021 District 5-5A championship before bringing his talents to LSU, and Jordan Matthews, the lock-down cornerback who enrolled at the University of Tennessee last January. The departure of these key players has left not only skill gaps but also significant leadership voids that will need to be filled.

The departure of such integral players presents an uphill battle for the Panthers, but the challenge is one embraced by the 2023 roster and coaching staff. The new season will require Coach Randall to reassess the playbooks, integrate new talent, and nurture leadership from unexpected sources. With a mix of experienced and younger players, the team must find a way to rebuild their chemistry and cohesion in order to stay competitive against a fierce district and extremely difficult schedule.

While the loss of key players is undeniably a setback, it also paves the way for rising stars to shine. Players who were once in the shadows now have the chance to step into the spotlight and prove their mettle. The coaching staff has been working tirelessly to identify the strengths of these emerging talents and mold them into a cohesive unit. Coach Randall is leaning on several returning starters, including offensive linemen Cedric May and Dwayne Beverly, defensive lineman Joe London, and linebackers Chris Cooper and Alex Collins.

Randall also expects contributions from some upcoming players with little to no varsity experience. That group includes Cayden Randall, Ahmad Price, and Cornelius Selmon. Randall and Price are both expected to help the Panthers in multiple positions on both sides of the ball this season, while Selmon looks to win one of the five offensive line positions.

May, Beverly, and the rest of the offensive line will look to protect senior Myron Nelson, who expects to take over under center. Nelson, who begins his fourth year in the program, has little varsity experience in football. However, the lack of varsity experience is offset by the wealth of experience in basketball and baseball. Nelson, a multi-year starter in both of these sports, is also a repeat all-district performer in both sports. He looks to take lessons learned from his experiences on the court and diamond and turn them into a successful stint on the gridiron.

As the countdown to kickoff winds down, the Woodlawn High football team finds itself at a crossroads, transitioning from a chapter of steadiness and star-power, to a season of rebuilding. The loss of fifteen starters presents a formidable challenge, but also an opportunity for growth, adaptation, and the emergence of new heroes, and the Panthers are ready for the challenge. The team’s journey in the 2023 season will undoubtedly be one of transformation, showcasing the resilience and determination that characterize high school sports. Fans will be watching closely, eager to witness the evolution of a team that is ready to face adversity head-on and redefine their legacy on the field.