The Waynesville High School varsity boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams took first place in their respective races Oct. 6 at the Cuba Invitational in Cuba, Missouri.
Bryan O’Barr led the Tiger boys’ team with a first-place individual finish, followed by Alejandro Malave, who took third; Luther Spancic in fifth place, Vadrick Donsbash in sixth place, Ryan Rolshouse in eighth place, Zach Hudson in ninth place and Eyon Shafer finishing 25th. Together, their average team time was 18 minutes, 45 seconds.
Meanwhile, the WHS varsity girls’ team was led by Mackenzie McCurdy and Jordan Nitchman, who finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Sky Scott finished in 10th place, followed by Elonie Ward (18th), Astacia Garcia (21st), and Cassidy Bowling (22nd).
The junior-varsity boys’ team of Carl Gervaico, Nick Webb, Dylan Selfridge, Seth Davis and Adam Claudio also took first place.
“This was a hilly course, and we raced it hard today,” WHS coach Nicole Jarman said, adding that running the hilly course was, “a great confidence boost” for her runners as they prepare for their upcoming conference and district meets.
Up next: The Tigers are scheduled to travel Saturday to Lake Springfield in Springfield, Missouri, for the annual Ozark Conference Meet.
In other WHS Sports:
Softball
The WHS varsity softball team won their final home game of the season Oct. 5, beating the visiting Rolla Bulldogs 6-5.
The Lady Tigers pulled ahead in the bottom of the fifth inning, when WHS batter Jo Jones hit a grand slam to take a three-run lead, 6-3. Led by outfielder Callie Zacone and pitcher Bella Pondrom on the mound, the Tiger defense held the Bulldogs to two more runs over the next two innings to seal the win.
“Callie Zarone was the commander of the outfield,” WHS coach Rochelle Maubach said. “Bella (Pondrom) controlled seven innings on the mound, throwing 100 pitches — her last batter on her home field was a strikeout.”
Waynesville’s junior-varsity team also won, defeating the Rolla JV 4-2.
Hitting the road the next day, the WHS varsity earned an 11-0 victory over the Lady Bears at Willow Springs, Missouri, and followed that with a 17-0 win over Springfield’s Central High School Oct. 7.
Up next: The Lady Tigers are scheduled to begin play in the Class 5, District 5 tournament today.
Volleyball
While Waynesville’s varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams fell to the visiting Parkview Vikings Oct. 8, the Tigers’ freshman squad pulled out a 2-0 victory over the Viking freshman, winning their match 25-11, 25-17.
The WHS varsity fell 3-2 to Parkview, losing the first game 25-19 before coming back to win the next two games 25-21, 25-20. Parkview bounced back to take a 25-18 victory in the fourth game, then dominated the tie-breaker 15-4.
Waynesville’s JV team matched the Parkview JV point-for-point in the final minutes of their first game, ultimately falling 27-25. Parkview won the second game 25-16 to claim the best-of-three match.
Prior to their loss to Parkview, the WHS varsity team fell 3-0 Oct. 7 to the visiting Kickapoo High School Chiefs from Springfield. Waynesville’s JV team also lost, falling 2-0 to the Kickapoo JV, and the WHS freshman team also lost 2-0 to their Kickapoo counterparts.
Up next: The Tiger varsity (7-12-2), JV and freshman teams are scheduled to play host to their Rolla (3-8-1) counterparts today at WHS. Matches are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Boys’ soccer
The WHS varsity boys’ soccer team picked up a pair of wins on the road.
The Tigers defeated the Central High School Bulldogs 2-0 Saturday at Springfield.
The win followed a 6-3 victory for the WHS team over the Rolla Bulldogs Oct. 5 at Rolla High School.
Up next: Waynesville (5-6) is scheduled to return to Rolla Friday and Saturday for the Thomas Whitefield Rolla Tournament.
Football
The WHS Tigers varsity football team fell to the visiting Rolla Bulldogs 34-20 Friday at Tiger Stadium.
Sophomore running back Evander Bradford scored the Tigers’ opening touchdown in the first quarter, and the Waynesville offense had some success with its ground game, adding touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters.
While the Tiger defense forced a number of turnovers throughout the game, the Bulldogs held a 20-13 lead at halftime and outscored the Tigers 14-7 in the second half to secure the win.
“We adjusted by running the ball inside, and we had success, but then we would (be stalled) by some of the little things, like dropping the ball,” WHS coach Joe Haynes said.
Up next: The Tigers (2-4) are scheduled to travel to West Plains, Missouri, Friday to take on the Zizzers (7-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
(Editor’s note: Some information in this story provided by WHS Sports Information writers Chaun Beltran and Zachary Remedies.)
