First Ever WP Girls’ Golf Team Tees Off
Trevor Phipps
Despite some questionable weather conditions at times, the spring sports season in Woodland Park has officially arrived.
This year, the season will be even more exciting for some, as the RE-2 District has added girls’ golf to their sports lineup. For quite some time, the high school has had a boys’ golf team, but 2025 will become that their female peers can also participate. (The game of golf has actually boomed in recent years due to more participation by women, especially teens, according to national golf publications.)
The new girls’ team, headed by Reese Gutierrez (who also coaches the boys golf team), is ready for an exciting year of spring links action. “I just have to say, it has been incredible to watch these young women step up and try something new,” Woodland Park High School’s District Athletic/Activities Director Melissa Yeryar said. “They will go down as being part of the first ever women’s golf team at WP, and that is pretty cool.”
Other Spring Sports
This year, the boys swimming and diving team will also be back in the water competing for trophies. This team is also rather new as the team has been trying to build their participation numbers for the last two years the program has existed.
Sports stars on the track and field team have also started competitions in their events. Last year, the Woodland Park High School produced several trophy winners at the state track and field championship tournament, and many are hoping to do it again soon.
WP Baseball Off to Stellar Start
The baseball team this year has already shocked fans, indicating they mean business, at least in the early part of the season. Despite already missing a few home games due to poor weather, the boys started their season 3-0 while picking up all three “W’s” on the road.
To start their season on March 6, the team came out of the woodworks and pummeled the Sierra Stallions 19-0. Then on March 11, the team took a journey out east and beat the Rocky Ford Meloneers 10-5.
On March 13, the boys picked up another big 12-1 win against the Colorado Springs Christian School Lions. The big victory came as a shock to some as the Panthers barely beat the Lions the last time the pair played.
And according to an article published by MaxPreps.com, sophomore pitcher and shortstop Cody Becker made a huge difference in the game. “Cody Becker made a big impact while hitting and pitching,” the MaxPreps.com article reported. “On the mound, he didn’t allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 13 over six innings pitched. Becker was also big at the plate, scoring a run and stealing a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances.”
Junior Gavin Strouse also did well at the plate after scoring a run and stealing a base after going one-for-three. Strouse has stolen at least one base every time he has taken the field this season.
Junior center fielder Link Bryden also scored a run and stole a base after going one-for-three. Senior outfielder Gabe Marquez was also impressive after he scored two runs during the game after getting on base in three of his four plate appearances.
The boys have already shown significant improvements from last year. Last season, the Panthers ended with a 6-17 overall record and a 3-7 league tally. Their fifth place rank in their 3A Tri-Peaks League proved not to be enough to experience postseason action.
The boys recently took some time off for spring break, but they will be back on their home field at Meadow Wood Sports Complex in Woodland Park for a double header this Friday against the 2-1 Harrison Panthers starting at 1 p.m.
Next week the boys hit the road again on April 1 to challenge the 1-2 Palmer Terrors. The Panthers then return home on April 5 for a double header against the Ellicott Thunderhawks who hadn’t yet played a game this season at press time.
Girls Soccer Struggles With Weather
The girls’ soccer team this season has also struggled with weather negatively affecting some of their matches. The Lady Panthers did play their first match at home, but they haven’t had as much of a chance to compete
The girls lost 3-1 to Conifer at home on March 1 and then they lost again by the same score to The Vanguard School on the road on March 11. At the time of this writing, the girls were 0-2 but they hadn’t played any league matches
Last year, the Lady Panthers missed a playoff spot after finishing in third place in their 3A Tri-Peaks League. They ended their regular season with a 5-9-1 overall record and a 2-2 league record.
The girls’ soccer team plays at home again on April 3 against the 2-0 Florence Huskies at 6 p.m. Then on April 5, they hit the road to take on the 1-1 Thomas MacLaren School Highlanders.
