The Woodrow Wildcats boys soccer team wrapped up the District 12-4A title with a 9-1 record. Overall, the team compiled a healthy 13-1-1 record before falling to Skyline in the second round of the playoffs.
First-year coach Damon Miller put together a well-balanced attack that averaged 3.4 goals per game during the season, while allowing just one goal per contest. A talented group of senior defenders, anchored by Jesus Castro, Tony Martinez and Jose DeLaCruz, were instrumental in keeping the opposing team’s offense at bay.
On the offensive end, Woodrow was led by seniors Danny Rivas and Julio Zuniga, who hope to continue their respective soccer careers into the college ranks.
Miller says that he expects the team’s underclassmen to step up and lead the Wildcats back into the playoff hunt next season.
Girls Track Team Prepares for District
With only two returning letter winners back from last year’s squad, girls track coach Steve Wulf didn’t know what to expect from this year’s team.
But Wulf says the determined group has exceeded his expectations as they head for the district meet at Sprague High School.
Wulf calls senior Michele Stackhouse and junior Leslie Barnes his team leaders based on their attitude and work ethic.
Stackhouse is among district leaders in her long-distance specialties, the 1,600 and the 3,200 meters. Barnes, in her first year in track, has long-jumped 31 feet, 5 inches and triple-jumped 31 feet, 5 inches for the Wildcats this season.
Other talented track participants are sophomore middle-distance specialist Erin Murray, who has clocked season bests of 2:36 in the 800 meters and 5:52 in the 1,600 meters going into the district meet.
Another sophomore, Mavis Webb, has the team’s best triple jump of the year, 33 feet, 2 inches, and has thrown the discus 100 feet, 10 inches.
Two other underclassmen have given Wulf ample reason for optimism. Freshman Erin Mallar, who also participates in ballet, has sailed 15 feet, 3 inches in the long jump this year, breaking the freshman school record.
The “silver streak”, Yvette Sterling is the team’s best sprinter. The sophomore has run the 100 in 12.8 and the 200 meters in 27.2, both times among the fastest in the district.
And if it’s hurdling you want, Shelly Ferguson is the Lady Wildcats leader in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.
In the field events, junior shot-putter Tomeka Blakely has the longest throw in District 12-4A this season. She has tossed the mound of metal a season-best of 29 feet, 7 inches and hopes to break the 30-foot mark by season’s end.
Wulf calls this is a rebuilding year after his teams took the district crown in 1991 and finished second last season.
Boys Golf Team Wins District; Looper, Hill Lead Charge
Put another district trophy in the nearly full 1993 trophy case for Woodrow. This time, it’s the sweet-swinging boys golf team that literally drove itself to the District 12-4A title April 12-13.
The team’s two-day total of 701 at the Tenison and L.B. Houston golf courses, was 62 strokes better than runner-up Thomas Jefferson.
Coach Paul Bozarth, now in his fourth year at Woodrow, has three sophomores and two freshmen on his young but talented team who qualified for the April 27-28 regional tournament (results weren’t available at press time).
“We’ve been the youngest team in every tournament,” Bozarth says. “These kids are a lot of fun to coach, and they’ve improved considerably during the course of the season.”
Two-year letterman Ryan Looper posted the Wildcats’ low score in the district tournament with a two-day total of 169, good enough for an overall runner-up spot. Teammate Jason Hill, also a sophomore, shot 173 to finish third.
Other Wildcats golfers included Matt Edelson, 178 (fifth place); Zach Redington, 181 (sixth place) and George Velasco, 201 (11th place).
Woodrow tied for the zone championship with Bryan Adams during the regular season and had a season-best low score (347) at Brookhaven Country Club earlier this spring.
Girls Golf Team Finishes Third at District Tournament
The Lady Wildcats finished third in the District 12-4A golf tournament behind Hillcrest and W.T. White. They also finished third during the season’s round-robin district season.
Alicia Surratt, Amiti Perry, Emily Renda and Jennifer Ostler pitched and putted with proficiency to nail down 10th through 13th places in the district tournament held concurrently with the boys tournament.
Surratt had a two-day total of 268, just two strokes ahead of Perry. Nicole McIntosh also competed for Woodrow in the tournament.
Rebuilding Boys Track Team Led by Campos, Post
Coach John Varnell admits the 1993 season is a rebuilding one for his team, yet several team members have performed admirably.
Junior Mario Campos has turned in a five-minute mile and 10:51 two-mile; Varnell calls Campos the team’s most talented long-distance runner.
Matt Post has been participating in the 400-meter relay, as well as the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter races. Joey Villalpondo also has posted a 54-second quarter-mile in his senior season.
Other top Cats include shot put and discus expert Armando Delgado, with season-best throws of 44 feet and 133 feet. The team’s best hurdler has been Daniel Tesfamichale, who also runs the 800-meter, and the district’s best (and only) pole-vaulters, Rick Castenada and Ivan Ramirez.
Tennis Teams Launch Season; Knox, Birch Star for Women
Coach Gayla Collingsworth, in her 14th year at the head of Woodrow’s tennis program, has once again coached her team to a successful court campaign. Both the boys and girls teams expect to contend for titles in the district tournament to be held at Samuell-Grand Tennis Center.
Beth Knox is undefeated this season going into the district tournament and was also the tournament’s top seed. Kara Birch also plays singles for the team. The Lady Wildcats are led by Tate Henderson and Kelley Theriot in doubles. The team also counts on Molly Brimer and Hillary Raburn for solid double’s play.
The boys are led by single player Travis Ewert and sophomore Andrew George. Steve Fox and George are Woodrow’s top-rated double’s team and are complemented by David Dunsworth and Matt Waddell.
Collingsworth says her team has improved throughout the season, and she is pleased with Woodrow’s 7-3 district record in round-robin matches.
Season Progresses Swimmingly for Boys, Girls
Nicole Duryee is one of the first names that comes to mind when speaking of swimming prowess at Woodrow.
And why not? She is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished divers in school history, as evidenced by her qualifying for the state tournament four consecutive years.
This year, the senior finished first in district, second in regionals and 11th in the state, competing against 4A and 5A schools. She also is active in the school drama department, and is ranked in the Top 10 academically for the senior class.
“Nicole is just good at everything she does,” says swimming coach Sally Moore.
By the way, the girls team mowed down the competition to take its second consecutive district crown. Jennifer Sherman claimed the district title in both the 50- and 100-freestyle, a feat matched by Michele Stackhouse in the 200- and 500-freestyle.
Freshman Melissa Robbins also won a district title in her specialty, and Kelley Theriot helped the Lady Wildcats on their way to the title.
For the first time in school history, the boy’s swimming team came home with the District 12-4A trophy.
“It gives us goose bumps when we talk about it,” Moore says.
The well-balanced team was led by district breast stroke champion Jonathan Binford, a sophomore, who swam the 100 in an impressive 1:03.
Brother-act G.P. And Joe Theriot both placed near the top of their specialties, the 50- and 100-freestyle. Moore also credits the team’s freshmen, who added valuable points in the overall district team victory.
