Woodruff High School Athletic Alumni Association

Posted on the Spartanburg District 4 page recently:

The Woodruff High School Athletic Department recognized the 2001 AA State Wrestling Championship Team on the 20th anniversary of its championship! The 2001 Wrestling Team finished the regular season with a 23-3 record. They defeated Chapman, Chapin, Walhalla, and Swansea in the playoffs. The Wolverines had 7 state qualifiers and 1 North/South wrestler that year, and Coach Singleton was also named the South Carolina Coaches Association Wrestling Coach of the Year.

Today our spotlight is on Dee Dee Phillips, our 7th scholarship recipient (1990).

Dee Dee comes from a long line of Woodruff Wolverines and she says that the support of her dad and mom, Charlie Phillips and Sue Casey Phillips, led her to being a 3 sport letterman at Woodruff High School and a Volleyball Scholarship Athlete at Spartanburg Methodist College. Dee Dee says, “WHS instilled in me a competitive spirit that led to a long successful career in Sales and Management.

“I currently live in Boiling Springs, SC and am married to the love of my life, Darrell Frost, and have two amazing sons, Mason Sanders and Casey Frost. I feel so honored to be chosen for the Spirit of Champions Scholarship. I look forward every year to see who the next recipient is. This past year I was filled with pride as my niece, Brooke Bailey, received this honor and is now playing softball at my alma mater, SMC. I will forever bleed Maroon and Gold no matter where life leads me.”

Dee Dee Phillips Frost is currently enjoying her career in Sales at Asheville Highway Rental in Spartanburg.

Thank you, Athletic Director, Coach Mike Morris, for giving this opportunity for basketball alumni to come together for this time of reunion and recognition on December 17th!

Calling all former WHS athletes to join WHSAAA!

We love our reunions at the first home game of the season where we get to see one another, award our scholarship, and have our Night of Champions.

Next August our Athletic Director, Coach Mike Morris, will be honoring the players from the ‘62, ‘72, ‘82, ‘92, ‘02, and ‘12 teams. So put that first home game on your 2022 calendars and plan now to attend.

In support of our scholarship
program, you can join WHSAAA by mailing a check for $15 payable to WHSAAA to 2040 SJ Workman Hwy, Woodruff, SC 29388
or
through Venmo @

WoodruffHighSchool-AthleticAlu

Remember…Once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine!

Beth Grant, Secretary-Treasurer

Thanks to Ben Teague for sharing this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D0OxIti7xSM&fbclid=IwAR2SWdDuAec6sWEKOw97YY8654aJi7l_ovVsNKG5XEEL-8M2tJZJGQAzF2M

Woodruff High School 1954 - 1955, Woodruff, SC Music:"Dan's Song" by All About Max"Iggepra" by A New Damage"Edgar" by Action Dead MouseMusic courtesy of Archive.org and respective artists

Ben Teague posted these four photos of past Woodruff football teams. It’s so fun to recall those days and see how you looked back then. These fellows went on to produce great teams and numerous championships, many of them state championships!

Can you identify any of the players in the first photo? What year in the 1950’s was this taken?

From what years were the middle two pictures?

This month we spotlight Jamie Greene, our 6th “Spirit of Champions” Scholarship recipient in the Class of ‘89.

Upon graduation, as a top art student of Mrs. Diana Olencki, Jamie had dreams of a career in the world of art. He graduated from Limestone College with a degree in Studio Art and a minor in Business Administration. At Limestone Jamie met his future wife, Hope Brown. They married and after several
years working at various jobs, Jamie decided that he would like to pursue a career as a Highway Patrolman. In July of 1996 Jamie entered the SC Criminal Justice Academy and graduated the following November. He has excelled in his second career choice and has advanced to the rank of Sergeant this past year.

Words of wisdom from Jamie to our young people trying to decide on a career path, Jamie says, “When one career choice doesn’t go your way, another one is waiting!”

Jamie and Hope have three children, twin boys who are 19 and a daughter who is 11.

Lee Capps and Coach David Pratt from the 1981 football team at the Night of Champions Friday night

If anyone has pictures from this event that you would like to post on this page, please send them in Messenger to us.

Year 31 for Dr. Randy Grant on the Wolverine sideline as statistician…a WHS alumnus, Wofford graduate, retired teacher, coach and administrator in Woodruff schools. After retiring in 2000, he completed a doctorate in history at USC and taught as an adjunct college professor for 18 years at upstate colleges.

Honorary Captain at our first home game of the season tonight was Claudell Taylor who played on the State Championship teams of the 1950’s. Claudell is pictured here with Coach Mike Morris (Athletic Director) and wife, Betty Jo.

“Night of Champions” was celebrated tonight at WL Varner Stadium. Football players from the teams from ‘61, ‘71, ‘81, ‘91, ‘01, and ‘11 were honored.

It was a great night honoring Brooke Bailey as the 38th recipient of the “Spirit of Champions” Scholarship.

Accompanying and welcoming Brooke and her parents, Brian and Heather Phillips Bailey, and brothers B. J. and Bryson, were the following former scholarship recipients:

Tony Davis ‘85
Dee Dee Phillips Frost ‘90 (Brooke’s aunt)
Troy Patterson ‘92
Travis Casey ‘94
Jennifer Perry Smith ‘96
Whitney Cox Horn ‘98
Jared Stokes ‘02
Nick Sugalski ‘04
Josh Strickland ‘05
Cody Halloran ‘17
Faith Williams ‘18

Brooke was a star player in volleyball, basketball and softball winning numerous accolades in each sport. Her three most coveted honors are:
1. Upstate Female Athlete of the Year
2. Selection as a player in the North - South Games in Basketball and Softball
3. Female Athlete of the Year at Woodruff High School.

Rev. Dr. Joey Johnson, President of the WHSAAA, presented Brooke with her letter of congratulations. The $2000 scholarship has already been sent to Spartanburg Methodist College where Brooke is majoring in physical education to prepare her for a career in coaching.