A Strong School Administration Helps Fuel Success In Both Athletics, Academics At Woodland High
The athletic director at Woodland High is Ty Sibert, who grew up in McCormick, SC. and is a role model for all students not just the student athletes.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Dorchester—Just 8 days on the job as the new Principal of Woodland High, Robert Benvin, is all smiles as this reporter walks into his office to interview him about the athletic program at his high school.
Benvin is no stranger to Woodland High. He taught English at the school between 2017 and 2022 before he left to become an assistant Principal at Stratford High for four years. Benvin succeeded Michael White who was promoted to Chief Academic Officer of DD4 for the 2026-27 school year.
Principal Bevin stresses his three “Wolver E’s” to all students at Woodland High. “Our long-term goal for every student at our school is that when they graduate, they are either enlisted, enrolled, or employed,” said Bevin. “We hope that you either enlist in the military, enroll at a college, or become employed when you graduate, and if this happens, we feel like we have done our job as educators.”
Bevin said it is extremely important to have all students at Woodland High participate in extra-curricular activities, whether it be on the football team, the band, or even robotics. “Being exposed to more opportunities leads to better growth, not just in the career path, but in the college path as well,” said Bevin.
The athletic director at Woodland High is Ty Sibert, who grew up in McCormick, SC. Mr. Bevin has known Coach Sibert since he was a former teacher at the school, “Coach Sibert has been a great role model for all the students at Woodland High, not just our student athletes,” said Bevin. “When you have a person like Coach Sibert in your corner you let them take their expertise and push it to the next level. We have a massive advantage with him here as our athletic director.”
Woodland’s head football coach Eddie Ford will begin his 8th season at Woodland this year and in his career, he has a record of 109-43. Last year the Wolverines were 5-6 competing in the 6-AA region. Coach Ford will serve as a Shrine Bowl assistant coach at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
“Coach Ford is all about raising expectations for students on his football team,” said Bevin. “He is very forward with his players, and he has great relationships with all the students he works with daily. He has a vision for his program, and he holds his players accountable.”
Principal Bevin noted that both the Valedictorian and the Salutorian of the Class of 2026 at Woodland High this past school year were athletes, as well as excellent academic students.
Woodland High will have a new volleyball head coach this year in Sarah McCellan. Coach McCellan also serves as the school’s wrestling girl’s coach. Collen Martin, recently married, returns as the boy’s and girl’s cross-country coach.
In winter sports, Austin Jeffries returns as the head girls’ basketball coach while Bill Barry is the head boys’ basketball coach. Keith Sharf returns as the boy’s wrestling head coach.
In the Spring, Seth Patrick will be the new head baseball coach after serving as an assistant coach to Keith Lowman last season.
Veteran head softball coach Kim Reeves, a Health Science teacher, returns after completing nearly a decade in the program after last season.
The new boy’s golf head coach is Brian Marvel who just completed his first year in the new program. School is starting a girl’s golf team this fall, and Coach Marvel will also coach this first year team.
The boys’ soccer team is fundamentally sound under the coaching leadership of DD4 Superintendent Jeff Beckwith who played the sport in college. Mr. Beckwith will begin his third season as the head soccer coach this year and his team has made improvement each of the past two seasons.
The girls’ soccer program will once again be under the tutelage of Isabella Wilmer as well. Vic Simon returns as the boy’s tennis coach while Gladys Summers is once again coaching the girl’s tennis team at Woodland High.
Perhaps the school’s most accomplished college athlete is head track coach Summer Knight Troutman who was an all-state pole vaulter at Woodland before moving on to a track scholarship at East Carolina. At ECU she was a two-time all-American where she also set several school records in the pole vault in college.
“First, Summer is a great person as well as being a great track coach,” said Coach Sibert. “She loves coaching track and she is very enthusiastic about her job.”
Coach Sibert, beginning his 15th year at the school, expressed why he feels blessed to be the athletic director at Woodland High. “The thing I enjoy the most about Woodland High is the strong sense of community, the people I work with on a daily basis, and while we might not always have the best in terms of material things, we definitely have the best-of-the best in terms of our people. We care about each other and that matters.
“From our great administration down to our cafeteria workers and even our custodians, we are all pulling the wagon in the same direction at Woodland High,” said Coach Sibert. “This is what brings joy to me. Most of all we have great kids who are willing to put in the work to get better.”
Coach Sibert also wanted to thank the many volunteers who donated their time to help make the athletic program successful. He cited 20-year volunteer Sam Gadsen as such a volunteer. Over the year Mr. Gadsen has helped out coaching football and has even run the play clock at games.
With DD4 consisting of leadership from Jeff Beckwith as Superintendent, Robert Bevin as Principal, and Ty Sibert as athletic director, this school district, and high school, will continue to grow and serve as a great example to all other school districts, and high schools, in South Carolina.
