Sports
End of the Spring Sports Season
How have the Student Athletes Viewed Their Performance?
By Riley Kosmas April 28, 2023
Needless to say, it has been an exceptional spring season regarding the school’s athletic department. All teams have worked hard and made heart-warming memories together with their accomplishments.
Maddox Benson, 10th grader, said, “My best memory while on the team was when we beat Eastside 2-1 at home because I was able to play a lot!”
Numerous players also achieved their own personal goals throughout the season.
Eden Posner, 9th grader, said, “My favorite memory was getting a PR in javelin. It was only my second meet and [even though] I wasn’t sure how it would go, I just went out there and tried. The first time it was ok, so I tried running with it and it went farther than I’d ever thrown. Everyone was excited for me, and we all celebrated.”
Many players this year have successfully picked up on useful lessons from the upperclassmen on their teams.
Mason Robinson, 10th grader, said, “A few valuable lessons I picked up on [were] just from my seniors, and [they] had to do with personal skills.”
A lot of players have also been able to learn valuable lessons they will need in the long run.
Poser said, “I think a valuable lesson I learn this year was to try new things. It’s a basic lesson you hear growing up, but after doing track and field for the past three years, I’ve been able to try out everything. I would’ve never known what fits me best and I enjoy doing if I had never branched out past just running the basic sprints.”
It’s a known fact that everybody has to start somewhere. All players at Wade Hampton have different stories as to why they began playing their sports and why they continue to play.
Benson says, “I was five when I started playing soccer; my dad played when he was in high school too. I continue to play because I am very passionate about it. and I fell in love with the sport.”
Multiple players have also tried out their sport originally just for the fun of it.
Posner said, “Initially, I was just using the sport as a filler. I needed something off season, and I figured it would keep me in shape. Over the years, though, I met more people and made bonds with my teammates and coaches which made me want to continue. Every year, we get new people, and I get to make more friendships. I also love how inclusive everyone is with events.”
Though it has come to an end, it is clear the student athletes here at Wade Hampton have had a successful season.
2022-2023 Lax Upcoming Season
Players are determined to have a good season
By Daliyah Parks
March 10, 2023
The WHHS boys varsity lacrosse team has officially started their season for the 2023 school year. Their next two home games will be before Spring break on March 13th and 16th weather pending.
The team has mostly new players, . meaning most of the team does not have a lot of experience on the field. There are very few seniors on this year’s team.
David Mewes, junior on the boys varsity team said, “We’re a pretty fresh crop, honestly. The team doesn't have a lot of experience on them. We have a few sophomores that have been playing the game for a while but the rest of the team is mostly first years.”
Since the start of this team is pretty fresh, some of the boys have pretty high hopes that this will be a good season for them.
Nick Brown, junior on the team said, “I think we will have a pretty good season this year because it’s not all about winning, it's the bond that we have together and the more we grow throughout the season that matters the most.”
This year's team is not only about winning. Having fun and being able to grow bonds with everyone is what matters the most. The boys team has many goals that they would like to accomplish during the season.
Mewes said, “My goals is to go above 70%, face off 1%, and have fun while playing as a team. That’s what some teams lack, having unity. If we can just learn how to play for fun then it wouldn’t matter if we win or not.”
Mewes wishes to increase his skills on the team while also having fun with everyone during the season.
Being on a sports team can help build some skills that the boys can use later in life. Nyzaire Marsh, junior on the team said, “being on the team can help you with teamwork, responsibility, and determination and discipline.”
These are all skills that some of the boys can develop throughout the season.
This year’s team is overall special to most of the team for many reasons. Some people think this year is special to them because of it being their first year on varsity or because of the people on the team that have made an impact on them.
Gavin Schmitz, sophomore on the team said, "this year’s team is special to me because my teammates motivate me and inspire me to be a better player.”
The team has a really big impact on each other as a whole, by motivating each other to be better and inspiring one another to try their best no matter what. This year will be a great year for the boys lacrosse team.
Varsity men’s soccer team Chasing greatness
Reaching regionals
By Alejandro Ramirez
March 13, 2023
The Men’s Varsity soccer team has kicked off their regular season, starting off with two strong wins against Carolina High with a score of 3-0 and Mauldin High with a score of 2-1. Here is what some of our players have to say about these specific games.
Seth Baker, a senior here at WHHS said “The game against mauldin went really well, we played amazing, we controlled the whole game. They barely got any time on the ball and barely got any shots. We are looking very strong and our team is really coming together.”
It's great to see our team coming in together, stronger, and mentally prepared for whatever is coming next. I also asked Seth, do you think the team has the potential to reach regionals?
“Yes, I can guarantee that. And we will work our hardest to make it there and make the school proud,” Baker said.
Everyone hopes to see you guys reach greatness and see the team reach their goal. Working united and always keeping your head up will help all of you guys achieve anything.
John Schearer who is also on the Varsity team said “Chemistry has been good throughout the whole season, even during conditioning the team was united at all times. We started to figure each other out and work better together and win games.”
Chemistry is a very important part of soccer and having it on and off the field helps a lot. Staying together is always the answer to winning games and having a fun time on the field. Sometimes it can take time to have that chemistry but at the end of the day it is always possible to find it.
Varsity Girls Soccer Team Kicks off New Season
Players focus on teamwork and technique
By Riley Kosmas
February 28, 2023
After a successful season last year with their region win, the Wade Hampton Varsity Girls Soccer team is back for a new season and already getting attention for their constant dedication and wholehearted effort.
The girls soccer team’s first win was at the Generals Cup against St. Joseph’s.
Peter Mancuso, head girls coach, said, “We were losing at the half 0-1, but managed to come back and tie the game 1-1. We ended up winning in penalty kicks and I was extremely proud of our team’s effort and focus throughout the game.”
The girls have many goals for their 2022-2023 soccer season that they are determined to reach and achieve.
Margaret Wingard, 10th grader on the girl’s soccer team, said, “My personal goals for this season are to build up my endurance and to start a game on varsity. Another goal is to work better on my first touch with the ball and my left footed shots. These goals can easily be maintained as I just need to work outside of practice, and put in the maximum amount of effort that I can put in.”
Compared to last year, many aspects of the team’s experiences and relationships have changed and improved in drastic ways, even regarding the ways they have flexibly adapted to each other’s playing styles.
Wingard said, “When it comes to playing with new people, I adapt to their technique by watching them play and seeing how they handle the ball. With this, I change my mindset to try to match theirs and how they position themselves with the ball. Also I work with them and collaborate and if we see stuff that is out of sorts and we feel as though we don’t connect about, we adapt.”
There are multiple ways a single player can adapt to different techniques in order to collaborate successfully.
“High school soccer often has the challenge of merging several different playing styles. I think that our players are looking to pass which is a great step in building a multidimensional attack. We have to learn when it is ok to keep the ball and shoot and when we need to make a pass to an open teammate. We will keep working on this throughout the season,” Mancuso said.
With their flexibility and diversity in technique, there have been multiple changes the school’s players have faced.
Wingard said, “Compared to last year, I think my communication and being more comfortable with my team overall improved. As last year, I was more shy and timid, but this year I am more outgoing and willing to be a leader. I also think I have improved as a player as a whole and my skill has improved.”
Wade Hampton’s girls varsity soccer team will have their next game at and against Byrnes High School. Make sure to come out and support the team!
Boys baseball team focuses on teamwork and goal setting to start out their season
Players strive to make it to the region championship
By Taylor Robertson
February 28, 2023
The WHHS boys baseball team has started their 2023 season. They have a young team with new and returning players.This season the boys and coaches believe they will make it to the regional championship.
Varsity Coach Jonathan Hudgins and WHHS science teacher said, “I definitely think we have a good chance at making it to regions this year. We have a very young team with new skills.”
The baseball team is not just about playing, it's also about the bonds and life skills you learn.
Peyton Stokes, a sophomore WHHS student said, “Being on a team now can help me later in life by teaching me team skills and how to get along with a lot of different people”
Winning is not all there is to a game.The boys work hard together as a team to make a good game even without a win.
Hudgins said , “Other than a win, a good game is when the boys work together and play well with the crowd and people outside of the game getting into the game.”
This year's team is actually special to a lot of the team and the coaches for many different reasons. Some people find the team special because they have a lot of friends on the team, some because they were there last year playing for the WHHS team and others find the team special just because they love the sport.
Remington Henry, a senior WHHS student said,”This year's team is special to me because it’s my senior year and my last chance to play baseball with the people I love.”
Henry has been on the team for all four years of high school and now gets to be coached and taught by Hudgins in the same year.
Hudgins said,”It is special to me this year because it's my first year teaching this senior class and being with some of them all of their high school years.”
The boys baseball team played their first home game on March 6th against Pickens High School. Come out to support the Generals.
Boys Basketball Finishes Regular Season
By Daliyah Parks
February 10, 2023
The last regular season boys varsity basketball game will be Friday, February 10th at home against Eastside.
As of Thursday, February 9th, the team currently stands 12-7 with a 5 game win streak that just ended on Tuesday, February 7th against Riverside with a close score of 63-65.
In their most recent home win on January 31st, Cj Okadigwe contributed to the game with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Thomas Combs, Jackson Davis, and Will Kirven also assisted with important minutes on the court.
Playoffs start on Valentine’s day and end with the State Championship just a few weeks later.
Some of the players have big goals for the end of their season.
KJ Banks, Junior at Wade Hampton said, “My goal for the end of the season is to win region and make it to state.”
Seniors Cooper Tankersley and Curtis Garnett echoed Banks’ goal of going to state at the end of their season.
Girls Basketball Finishes Regular Season
By Sara Wyatt
February 10, 2023
The varsity girls basketball team is wrapping up their regular season games this week. Their last home game will be Friday, February 10th against Eastside.
As of Thursday, February 9th, the team is 16 - 5 and 1st in the 4A region.
Playoffs start Valentine's week.
Wrestling team sends players to Upperstate
By Sara Wyatt
February 10, 2023
The wrestling team finished their regular season 3rd in the region and made the 4A team playoffs. The team qualified 11 wrestlers to the Individual Uppersate Tournament which will be February 17th and 18th. Going into the Upperstate Tournament will be freshmen Wolf Benjamin and Talon Raushenberger. Each lead the team with 20 wins a piece. Joining them atop the teams leader board is fellow freshman Evan Majarais-Smith and Junior Owen Arledge who are the teams pin Leaders with 11 wins by pin.
Boys Soccer team approaches their first home game
By Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
Boys soccer tryouts occurred January 30th and 31st. They have their first home game on February 14th, and both Varsity and JV boys soccer have their first Scrimmage game on February 7th. Vasilios Diakomihalis the Boys Varsity soccer’s goalkeeper said, “It's my senior year my goal is like every year to take the team to the state championship by working hard with my boys and my coaches pushing through losses and wins.”A mentality like this is what helps you keep going and working hard, and if someone keeps up the same mentality during games that's when leaders are made. Not only will the team be happy with those accomplishments but the school will also cheer them through it and help them get to state. Vasilios also said “The coaching staff always makes us laugh, keeps us together and just pushes us to be better.” A good coaching staff is the most important part of having a good and strong team. If this team wants to make it to state this season they are going need to be united and have that chemistry on the field to the point where they can win every game, and with a good coaching staff and cooperating players this should be possible. I also asked Vasilios what were some of his pre game routines and this is what he had to say “One thing I always do before my games is I like to always have my purple bag of skittles and I usually get a haircut before every game. I always have to be fresh for the games.” Wish you the best of luck boys soccer this season, hope to see you all in state this year.Girls Soccer team focuses on teamwork and leadership for the coming season
By Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
For the girls soccer team I talked to the coach Macy Simpson. She told me some interesting things about what they see on a player in order for them to be able to make the team. She said “A player has to have passed a certain amount of classes, all of the players are accountable for their actions so any referrals carry on with them. They have to also show sportsmanship and be leaders.”These are some pretty interesting things but are really important when it comes to being out there on the field representing a school. Leadership is really important in any sport but in soccer it's crucial. The amount of communication that needs to happen in that field is insane. Chemistry has to be on point in order to win games and that's why leadership is important, it keeps the team together. When it comes down to the disciplinary part, some may think that it's dumb that teams and coaches won't let you play or select you for the team if you have any bad records, but at the end of the day those things can reflect on and off the field. If you are misbehaving off the field it's going to be expected that you are going to misbehave on the field as well, and coaches and schools don't want that. It makes the team look bad. That's where sportsmanship comes in, always be respectful to the other team and remember “Football (soccer) is the beautiful game”. Sometimes not all games go as planned and sometimes there are rough losses during the season, so what about giving up? Is that an option? Simpson said “The thought of giving up never comes to my head, as a coach is more of a 'even if we lose there is something to learn from it.' When it comes to motivation a lot of it comes from the players themselves who cheer each other on and pick each other up and it's only a few words from me that lifts them up, it's mostly themselves that help each other. To have a successful team the key factor is to have communication, hard work, and community.”Never give up, giving up is never an option and whenever you feel like giving up remember you learn new things from failure Good luck to the girls and we hope to see you girls in state this year as well.Track and Field athletes prepare for meets later in Spring
By: Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
Track and field have their first track meet on March 11th. We wish you the best of luck everyone that is on the team.I talked to one of the members of the team. His name is Cooper Renn. He has some personal goals for himself. Renn said, “My goal this season is to run a 4:45 on the mile.”Honestly that is a very impressive goal. Not everyone can run that fast and consistently. Hopefully you reach your goal and make the team proud.I also asked him about the coaching staff and how he felt about it and this is what he told me. Renn said, “The coaching staff is there to help, they are getting old but they are there, it could maybe be time for a new coaching staff.”We are sure the coaching staff will do everything in their power to take the team the furthest possible throughout this whole season. ere are some interesting pre game routines that Renn has.Renn said, “Some pre game routines I have are definitely stretching and praying.”Softball team prepares for new season with a new coach
By: Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
Softball did not have any cuts this season. They are trying to get the most players on the team as possible whether its JV or Varsity. They have their first game of the season March 7th.I personally talked to one of the players of the team, her name is Sydney Placko. She had some personal goals for this season. Placko said “this season I just want to improve on myself by working hard and just keep pushing through.”This is something that every athlete wants to do in their season, be better and help out the team to reach their goals. Placko also gave me some of her pre-game warmups and routines. She said “Something we do before a game is go out on the field and hit around with the team and throw.” Baseball team warms up for the first games of the season
By: Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
Baseball has their first game of this season on February 25th. Some pre game routines they have are going out on the field to practice their throwing, batting, and just any pre game the team has itself. I talked to Jackson Davis who is on the Varsity Baseball team and he said “One goal that we have as a team this season is winning every single game”Everyone can agree to this if they play any sport, every time you are out there on that field you have one thing in common and it is that everyone is playing to win. He also mentioned something about the coaching staff. He said “The coaching staff keeps everything organized and keeps the team together at all times” As a school we love to hear that our sports teams have good coaches that push our players to do well and stay united on and off the field. We wish the baseball team the best of luck this season and we hope to see you guys reach the top.Boys LAX teams prepare for the season with scrimmages
By: Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
The boys and girls season has begun. Tryouts happened this past week and the schedule is ready. The boys team have their first scrimmage game on Monday February 6th against Mauldin here at our school. After that they play another scrimmage against White Knoll away. And for the last Scrimmage game the boys play Hillcrest away.Now for the first official season game they play against Aiken in their home field on Monday February 20th at 3:00 PM. For their first home game they play against Dorman that same week on Thursday February 23rd at 5:30 PM.Boys Golf Team hits the green in preparation for their first tournment later in February
By: Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
Golf season has already started. Practice has begun and they have their first tournament on February 27th.Mason Kelley said “Coaching staff is good, we change coaches a lot. Our last coach quit but now we have a new one and he tries his best to keep everyone in their paths”It is good that our team always stays together, sometimes changing coaches can cause a lot of problems, but if the team stays together no matter what they will always get through everything and win every tournament possible. We wish the best of luck for the boys golf this season and we hope to see you guys at the top.Girls LAX Teams start their season at home
By: Alejandro Ramirez
February 10, 2023
Photo by: WHHS Yearbook
For the girls lacrosse team they also had their tryouts this past week, and have their first scrimmage Wednesday February 8th, at 5:30 PM against Mauldin here at our field. And for their last scrimmage they will play Hillcrest on Thursday February 16th, at 5:30 PM at their field. The girls will then play Hillcrest again for their first official season game here at our field on Thursday February 23rd at 7:30 PM. And for their first away game they will play Mauldin again on Saturday February 25th at 12:00 PM at their field.