Falls Sports Action Kicks Off with High Optimism; Football Starts Saturday
Trevor Phipps
Now that school is officially back in session, sports action has once again struck the high mountain country.
During the summer, local sports enthusiasts often found themselves in a lull with little options for live action matches.
But those days of being forcing to trek down the pass to a Vibes or Switchbacks game just to get that live sports fix have now ended. The Woodland Park High School Fall Sports teams are now back out on their fields and trails for another action-packed season.
During the fall season, football often commands the lion’s share of the attention. But athletes from other local winning teams have made solid progress in the last few years. Even though pigskin may draw the biggest crowds during the fall, the truth is that the local boys’ soccer, softball and girls’ volleyball teams also have a strong fan base.
In addition, the Lady Panthers Volleyball team and the boys’ soccer team have both made the playoffs in recent years. Moreover, the cross country and golf teams who also have a good local following, and they already started competing in tournaments.
The following is a review of how the fall sports teams fared last season and a brief look to what may be in store for the 2024 season for a few of the favorite sports’ teams.
Panthers Football
The long wait is over for probably the biggest fall sports local attraction, as Woodland Park kicks off their pigskin season on Saturday at 1 p.m. Don’t miss the afternoon home opener.
The Panthers have had their ups and downs the last few years, but it is safe to say that Panthers’ head Coach Chad Drummond has given them a newfound energy, with a philosophy that has roots in the mean and tough heyday of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s hard to argue with the Terrible Towel menacing touch of the old Steelers.
Now in his fourth season with the team, the coach is ready to keep improving his crew and hopefully make it back to the postseason like they did during the 2022 season.
Last year, the Panthers had a slow start by losing their first three games in a row. But then, the team gave their fans a new sense of hope when they got things together, and beat Colorado Springs Christian School 24-7 and then squeaked past their rival Manitou Springs Mustangs 25-24 in the next game. That latter victor was a biggie in a rivalry that has increased in the last few years. But this winning stride didn’t last, unfortunately.
The next excitement for Panther fans was when they tallied their final victory by stomping Lamar 49-13. In the end, Woodland Park finished with a 3-6 overall record and a 2-3 league record. Snagging fourth place in their 2A Southwest League proved not be quite good enough for a playoff spot.
But this year it seems like things are already looking like they will be different. According to the new athletic director for Woodland Park High School and Middle School, Melissa Yeryar, the football team has already moved up in the rankings before they have even taken the field for an actual game.
Without even playing a game, the Panthers already have quite a high ranking. While all of the teams were still 0-0 at the time this article was written, the Panthers were ranked 24th in 2A across the state. Not bad.
Luckily, the team this year has several returning stars that will be back on the gridiron for their senior year. Quarterback Marqus Schoenberger will be returning on offense and star Parker Shreeve will be back playing defensive end and tight end.
The Panther football season this year also comes with more good news as they play their first three matches at home, giving fans some warmer weather while they watch their favorite team. But instead of kicking off the season under Friday Night Lights, the team starts their season this Saturday afternoon when they challenge the Lincoln Lancers.
The next two home games are on Friday nights starting at 7 p.m. On Sept. 6 the Panthers host the Salida Spartans, and on Sept. 13 they battle the Colorado Springs Christian Lions on their home field.
Lady Panthers Softball
The Lady Panthers kicked off their season last week with high hopes.
Last year the Lady Panthers made strides in their improvements on the diamond. The season had a rocky start, but they finished on a good note by winning four of their last seven games including their two final matches by substantial margins.
The girls finished their season with a 7-16 overall record and a 3-5 league record. But unfortunately, their sixth place finish in their 3A Tri-Peaks League wasn’t good enough for postseason action.
This year, the team’s head coach Cliff Richardson joins softball assistant coach and baseball head coach Chris Becker for the second year to try to rebuild the program. The two hope they can turn things around even more this year compared to the last several previous seasons.
The Lady Panthers played four matches to start their 2024 season last week, but the results were not available as of TMJ’s press time. This Tuesday, the softballers play on the road against the Sand Creek Scorpions.
They then return home for two matches in a row. On Thursday, they face off against the Pueblo East Eagles. Next Tuesday they stay home to play the Sierra Stallions, then next Friday they travel to challenge the James Irwin Jaguars.
Boys Soccer
The team of our infamous local male kicking fanatics kicks off this Thursday
Last year, the Panther boys’ soccer team emerged as one of the most talked-about athletic units of the school. They made the playoffs for the first time in recent team history. Moreover, they gained a reputation as one of the most successful sports teams at the school last year.
The team finished 10-4-2 overall and racked up a 3-2 league record. Their second place finish in their 3A Tri-Peaks League combined with their high ranking in 2A statewide, gave them the right to play their first postseason match in decades at home.
Fans were thrilled at the end of the season when the boys fared well enough to host the first boys’ soccer playoff game in team history at Panther Field. A large crowd gathered enthusiastically to watch the match. The Panthers, though, lost a heartbreaker, only falling short by a 2-1 score
But it is fair to say the team will be back for blood this year. Although they may have lost their two stars from last year, Ryder James and Caden Howard to graduation, key players Noah Magistrelli, Tevin James and Myles Wiley are all juniors this year. So, they will be returning to the team.
The team has played some scrimmages, but their first real match is at home against the Pueblo Centennial Bulldogs Thursday at 6:30 p.m. They continue next Tuesday on the road against the Harrison Panthers before returning home next Thursday to challenge the Pueblo Central Wildcats.
Look for more local high school sports updates in future issues of TMJ and online. Stellar reports are already circulating for the prospects of the local golf and cross-country teams this year. Stay tuned.
