Most Local WP Teams Encountering a Tough Start
Trevor Phipps
Now that fall has officially arrived, the high school sports season has headed into prime time.
While it is still warm, late September and early October is always a good time to enjoy the outdoors before the snow starts flying. Moreover, it is a great time to take in a high school football, softball or boys’ soccer game.
And once the colder weather arrives, catching a volleyball game inside is another popular activity. In fact, the girls’ volleyball team has been one of the best in recent years, as last year the team won their league and played in the state championship.
For the most part, local WP teams have gotten off to rough start this year. However, the season is still young and there is ample time for improvement.
The following is a breakdown of the status of all of the high school sports teams that are currently participating.
Boys’ Soccer
On the record so far, the boys’ soccer team looks to be the most successful of the local fall athletic squads. The team has had a great start and they currently (as of TMJ press time) boasted a 4-1-1 overall record.
However, at our press time, the team has not yet played a league match. If the Panthers want to see postseason action this year they need to keep winning once they start playing league games.
Before their 1-1 tie against Harrison on Sept. 16, the team was on a three-game winning streak. In fact, their only loss this year was in the second week against Falcon on Aug. 31 where they fell 1-0.
Ryder James leads the team on offense, averaging 1.8 goals and 0.8 assists per game. On defense, goalie Noah Magistrelli has only a one goal against per game average and 6.2 saves per match.
The team is back at home on Tuesday against the 8-0-1 James Irwin Jaguars. They then hit the road on Thursday to take on the 3-1-1 Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans.
Volleyball
Last year, the girls’ netters had one of the most successful seasons in recent years as they earned a spot in the state championships. But this year, the team has encountered a rocky start with a current record of 2-7.
However last year, the coach said that she purposefully matched the team against tough opponents to better prepare them for the postseason. The girls currently have a 1-1 record when playing in their league.
Currently, Kara Wiley leads the team with 107 digs and 154 receptions. Michaela Boring is on top with averaging 1.6 kills per set with a total of 49 kills.
This Tuesday, they play on the road against the 4-4 Florence Huskies. Next Tuesday they play away against the 5-2 Salida Spartans. They then return home next Thursday to challenge the 6-2 Vanguard School Coursers.
Football
The Panther football team thrilled fans last year when they made it to the postseason for the first time in more than two decades. However, during the offseason, the Panthers lost some key players to graduations and relocations.
This year the team only has a handful of seniors. Consequently, their size is noticeably smaller than most of their opponents. So far, the team has played three games and have struggled to come out on top.
The Panthers started their season with a big 21-0 nothing loss at home against Summit. Then during week two, the team traveled south to Salida where they were shutout again 16-0.
The Panthers had an early bye week during Week Three. The team then came back home to battle Florence on Sept. 15 where they lost 26-2. Regardless, the team was showcased on the KRDO Friday football special, and the team was touted as having good potential in the future.
During the games, the team’s defense has been on point by making big plays and keeping their opponents from putting big numbers up on the scoreboard. However, the Panther offense has definitely struggled to respond to their opponents scoring.
Panther Griffin King has looked impressive on both sides of the ball with 25.5 receiving yards per game and two interceptions. On offense, Quarterback Marqus Schoenberger has averaged 28 rushing yards. On defense, Parker Shreeve has picked up 12 tackles per game on average.
The next big challenge for the Panthers comes this week as the Woodland Park High School celebrates homecoming. On Friday night, the Panthers take on their rival team the 2-1 Manitou Springs Mustangs. Next week, the team hits the road again to challenge the 4-0 La Junta Tigers.
Softball
The Lady Panthers softball team started their season in early August and improvements from last year can already be seen. The team has quite a few more matches but they are past their halfway point as the season ends in the beginning of October.
Currently, the team has a 3-9 overall record and they are 0-2 when playing in their league. Two of their wins have come recently as they beat Sand Creek 18-4 and Palmer 19-3 during a tournament on Sept. 9.
Kendra Fish currently leads the team on offense with a batting average of 0.438, seven hits and six stolen bases. Kaitlyn Roy sits in second place with a 0.438 batting average, a 0.667 on base percentage, 12 runs and seven hits.
The team is back on the field this week with a total of four matches. On Tuesday, they play a double header at home against the 0-12 Florence Huskies at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
The Panthers play at home again on Wednesday against the 3-6 Classical Academy Titans. They stay at home on Saturday to battle the 6-9 Widefield Gladiators.
