By: Gerald Doolittle Johnston, S.C. – The Wardlaw Academy Lady Patriots coached by Kristina Spurlock mounted one of the greatest come backs in school history to defeat the Richard Winn Academy Lady Eagles 43-39 for the SCISA Class A 2025-26 Championship . The Lady Eagles led by Senior Abby Lewis owned the first quarter to build a 16-4 lead fueled by 12 turnovers by Wardlaw. The Lady Eagles continued the brutal attack into the second quarter building the lead to 22-7 at the 4:12 mark of the quarter when Coach Spurlock called a timeout. “They were frustrated and I called a timeout to calm them,” said Spurlock. “ I told them the game of basketball is a game of runs. Now was the time to make our run.” Make their run they did. Behind Taylor Hill (sr) and Katherine Trotter (sr) the Lady Patriots finished the second quarter on a 10-2 run to close the first half trailing 17-24. The Lady Patriots continued the 23-3 run through the third quarter behind the fierce play of Hill and Trotter to carry a 30-27 Wardlaw lead into the fourth quarter where the two teams kept trading scores. The Lady Patriots won the quarter 13-12 to make the final score read 43-39 in favor of Wardlaw. The Lady Patriots brought home the first Title since 2009. For Coach Spurlock it was her third time being a part of a Wardlaw Championship. She was a part of two Titles during her playing days at Wardlaw. Trotter led the Lady Patriots with 17 points followed by Hill with 15. Hill got 11 of her points from the charity line while Trotter connected on 7 of 8. Brianna McNeil (sr) had 7 points followed by Lillie Stocum (so) and Mary Blanche Stark (8 th ) with two points each.  Hill, Trotter and McNeil were named to the All-Tournament team. I am sure Coach Spurlock is the SCISA Class A Coach-of-the Year as she led her army of eight to a 14-7 season record.

Friday games were exciting games at the Sumter Civic Center with Wardlaw fighting back to win the Girls 1A state title, then First Baptist and Pinewood Prep toughing it out to claim the 4A Girls and Boys state titles. 

Wardlaw Academy senior Taylor Hill during the 2025 championship game.

By: Gerald Doolittle HSSR Contributing Writer Johnston, S.C. – Wardlaw Academy Athletic Director Kathy James has announced the Patriot coaching slots for the 2025-26 school year. Mark Rodgers will return for his 14 th year to head the Varsity Football team. His coaching record at Wardlaw stands at 103-45. His Patriot teams brought home the Championship trophy in 2012, 2016 and 2017. Rodgers will be assisted by Will Padgett, Lang Rodgers and Mason Burgess. Lauren Williams Givens and Lexi Quarles will coach the Varsity Volleyball teams. The Cheer team will be coached by Ashleigh Forrest and the Cross Country by Amber Weaghington . The Girls Basketball teams will be coached by Kristina Graves and assisted by LeAnne Hillk . The Lady Patriots were SCISA Class A runners-up last season. The Boys Basketball teams will be coached by Austin Spurlock . The Softball program will be coached by Katie Yonce . Her assisted coaches will be David Hill, Taylor Rodgers and Gracie Kervin. Morgan Burgess will coach Baseball.

By: Gerald Doolittle Contributing Writer Johnston, S.C. - Wardlaw Academy closed the 2024-25 athletic year with an all- sports banquet to honor all the athletes that played in their sport. Coach Amber Weaghington presented the Cross-Country awards. The Perseverance Award was presented to Collin Holsonback . The Patriot Award was presented to Camden Bracco . The Varsity Cheer Coaches Award was presented to Hailey Holmes and Liz Parks . The Middle School Cheer Coaches Award was presented to Sarah Kate Covar . Nathalie Dorn received the Most Improved Award and Cate Rodgers received the Patriot Award. Coach Ben Bussey and Benji Brown presented the Middle School Football awards. The Most Improved Award was presented to Cole Faircloth . The MVP Award was presented to Jacob Bussey and the Patriot Award was presented to Chandler Bartley . Coaches Mark Rodgers presented the Varsity Football awards. Brody Johnson received the Comeback Player of the Year award. He also made All-Region. Colt Bailey received the Offensive Player of the Year Award. He also made All-Region was also a SCISA ALL-STAR. Aiden Rodgers received the Defensive Player of the Year Award. He also made All-Region and was a SCISA All-Star. Jackson Smoak received the Patriot Award. He also made All-Region and SCISA All-Star. Coaches Lexi Quarles and Katie Yonce presented the Middle School Volleyball awards. Mary Blanche Stark received the Foundation Award. Natalie Fields received the Most Improved Award and Dorothy Kate Kemp received the Coaches Award. Charlotte Grace Culver made All-Tournament. Coach Lauren Givens presented the Varsity Volleyball awards. Layne Kelley received the Most Improved award. Taylor Hill received the Defensive Player of the Year award. McKenna Quarles received the Offensive Player of the Year award. Rese Pruett received the Player of the Year award. Coach Kristina Graves presented the Girls Middle School and Varsity Basketball awards. The Middle School Coaches Award was presented to Savannah McNeill . The Middle School Offensive Player of the Year award was presented to Mary Blanche Stark . The Middle School Patriot Award was presented to Brooklyn Proctor . Katherine Trotter received the varsity Most Outstanding Rebounder Award. Maddie Deloach received the Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Most Outstanding Player of the Year Award was presented to Taylor Hill . Hailey Holmes received the Patriot Award. Katherine Trotter, Maddie Deloach and Taylor Hill made All-Region and All-Tournament and SCISA All-Star. Hill was All-Region and All-Tournament Most Valuable Player. Coach Austin Spurlock presented both Middle School and Varsity Boys Basketball awards. Wyatt Jackson received the Middle School Most Improved Award. Camden Bracco received the Middle School MVP and Landon Henerson received the Middle School Patriot Award. Cooper Davis received the Varsity Patriot Comeback Award. Josh Bussey received the Varsity Defensive Player of the Year Award. Noah Harper received the Offensive Player of the Year Award. Colt Bailey received the Varsity MVP Award. Coach Morgan Burgess presented both Middle School and Varsity Baseball awards. Braelyn Lewis received the Middle School Most Improved Award. Chandler Bartley received the Middle School Defensive MVP Award. Wyatt Jackson received the Offensive MVP Award. Avon Webb received the Varsity Most Improved Award. Sam Coughenour received the Varsity Patriot Award. Brody Johnson received the Varsity Offensive MVP Award. Jackson Smoak r eceived the Varsity Defensive MVP Award. Jackson Smoak, Brody Johnson and Jake Winn were named All-Region. Coach Burgess was named Region Coach of the Year.

By: Gerald Doolittle Contributing Writer Johnston, S.C.- Going into spring break the Wardlaw Academy Lady Patriots coached by Mark Rodgers are still in the running for SCISA Region 3 -A regular season softball title. After the break the Lady Patriots still have two games against the undefeated W.W. King Academy Lady Knights . A sweep of these two games would give the Lady Patriots a 3-1 record in region games. That would give Wardlaw the regular season region title. The Lady Patriots overall record is 4-7. Brianna McNeill (jr) and Taylor Hill (jr) are the top two offensive players. McNeill is batting .500 with 14 RBIs, 20 hits, 17 runs scored, 1 home run and 4 stolen bases. Hill is batting .425 with 12 RBIs, 21 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Kya McCormick (sr), Bailey Sturkie (jr) and Gracie Kelley (jr) is the next tier of offensive leaders. McCormick is batting .353 with 12 RBIs, 12 hits and 12 runs scored. Sturkie is batting .351 with 8 RBIs, 13 hits and 5 runs scored. Kelley is batting .320 with 10 RBIs, 8 hits and 4 runs scored. Rounding out the remaining Lady Patriots roster are Hailey Holmes (sr), Rese Pruett (sr), Olyvia Wall (so), Katherine Trotter (jr), Brilee Brazell, Trinity Santiago (fr), Hannah Kelley (fr), Ellie Yonce (7 th ) and Liz Parks (sr). This group has a combined 40 hits, 43 runs scored, 21 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.  Coach Rodgers is working hard in getting the Lady Patriots ready for a good seed in the playoffs.

Sumter's own Ragin Prep outlasts Curtis Baptist in the Boys Class A title game.

Crusaders win state championship after progressing up the playoff ladder

Photos from the SCISA Class A Girls State Championship Game between Wardlaw and Curtis Baptist. Curtis Baptist won 56 to 36.