West-Oak High School
Encyclopedia
West-Oak High School was created by the consolidation of Oakway and Westminster High School
s. The school serves students from approximately one-half of the land area in Oconee County, South Carolina. Both Oakway and Westminster
schools had been previously consolidated in the 1960s with Fair Play, Long Creek and Cleveland community schools. Construction for the new building was begun in 1982, students entered in the fall of 1983, and the first class graduated in the spring of 1984.
at West Oak is the Warrior.
The West Oak Warriors currently field Varsity and JV athletic teams in the following 14 events:
In sports West Oaks rivals are the Wahalla High School Razorbacks and the Seneca High School Bobcats, both rival teams are located in Oconee County within 10 miles of West Oak.
The Warriors have been to the playoffs 9 times in their history, but have never been able to pull off a playoff win nor have they been selected to host a playoff game. The Warriors' best season ever was in 1988, when they went 9-3.
West Oak's 2009 football season included 10 regular season games with 5 wins and 5 losses.
The Warriors made the SCHSL Playoffs, but made a first-round exit after falling to Greenville High School at Sirrine Stadium.
West Oak's head football coach is Jay Brannon, whose 2010 season is his third at the helm for the Warriors. He is the 7th man to lead West-Oak Football. He is preceded by Lynn Fleming (2004–2007), Wade Cooper (2002–2003), Andy Swords (2000–2001), Barry Harley (1995–1999), Gene Burleson (1994), and Tom Jordan (1982–1993).
His 2010 staff includes:
The Warrior football helmet
features a spear with a flag on it.
West Oak football's new flag logo is symbolic in many ways. The spear itself is a tribute to the legendary Dog Warriors, Native American fighters who would spear themselves to the ground in battle - only to be relieved by victory or death. The two crossing hatchets represent the two schools that joined to create us, Oakway and Westminster, and the three feathers represent the other small towns our students come from; Fair Play, Long Creek
, and Townville.
There is currently one member of the West Oak Football Hall of Fame, the late Bill Waters. Bill Waters' tragic death in 1987 prevented him from being the first WOHS Warrior to play at the Division I Collegiate Level. Prior to his death, he had signed intent to play football at Clemson University
under Danny Ford
.
Andy Lee (WOHS Class of 2000) is a certain future West Oak Football Hall of Fame inductee. Since graduation, he played at the University of Pittsburgh and currently plays professionally where he is an All-Pro for the San Francisco 49ers.http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=COACHBRANNON&t=c&s=football&p=coachprofile&coachID=8474.
Following the season opener, West-Oak hosted their county rivals, Walhalla, in a classic rivalry match. After the third quarter, Walhalla led 23 to 13, and a lightning delay kicked in. After the hour long delay, the teams came back to finish the game. Dustin Wilkes, the RB, led the Warriors with 3 touchdowns, with 2 in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors scored 20 unanswered points to defeat Walhalla 33 - 23, a stunning loss for their rivals.
West-Oak then hosted Pendleton (21 - 0 loss) and Carolina (29 - 6 loss).
Following the home games, the Warriors traveled to defeat Crescent 37 - 0.
The warriors returned home to lose to Belton-Honea Path 55 - 7.
Their next game was at their county rival's stadium in Walhalla. The Warriors passed for 201 yards and ran the ball for 125 yards. The Razorbacks also passed for 201 yards and rushed for 32 more. West-Oak was led in passing by junior QB Evan Small, who threw for all 201 of his team’s yards. Senior Phillip Kern led the team in rushing with 62 yards. When asked what carried his team to victory, winning coach Jay Brannon said, simply, “Heart.” Brannon said his team by no means played perfect football but they stayed in the game thanks to their seniors. Walhalla got on the board first with a 10-yard pass reception to Issac Williamson at 9:10 of the first quarter. West-Oak answered at 6:32 with a 21-yard TD by Small. Walhalla took the lead right before halftime with a safety and a 6-yard reception to Williamson for a score, bringing the score to 15-14, Razorbacks. After a back and forth battle in the third quarter, West-Oak got the lead with a 2-yard run by Dustin Wilkes for a touchdown at 1:44 of the third. West-Oak would extend its lead early in the fourth with a 21-yard pass reception by Devin Justus at 9:12 of the fourth. Walhalla rallied in the fourth and cut the deficit to 28-27. With time expiring, and Walhalla with the ball, they kicked a field goal for the win, but came up short. The Warriors went on to win it in a thrilling match.
After the thrilling game in Walhalla, the Warriors would go on to lose the last 3 games, Pickens (35 - 21), Daniel (42 - 0), Seneca (40 - 13)
The Warriors would go on to finish 3 - 7 (2 - 4) at the end of the season.
West-Oak hosted Easley, and were defeated with a massive 70 - 0 loss.
West-Oak then traveled to their rival's stadium, in Walhalla. However, they were cut short in a 21 - 9 loss after some late game fumbles.
Following two losses, the Warriors traveled to Pendleton for an expected loss, as Pendleton was 2 - 0. The game started out with the Pendleton getting into the lead. At halftime, it was 14 - 3, Pendleton. At the end of the third quarter, Pendleton still lead 28 - 7. However in the fourth quarter, the Warriors cut their lead short to 28 - 25, with help from Senior Chris Welborn. However Pendleton were able to get a first down and let time run out, final score, 28 - 25.
The 2011 - 2012 Spirit Spikers are, Samuel Ogg, Austin Scogins, Chaise Kern, and Trey Yoder as Cheerleader.
Trailing by one point going into the final match, Bill Sexton, wrestling in the 130-pound class, won by technical fall (being ahead by more than 15 points) and sealed the deal for the Warriors.
It allowed West-Oak to post its first team state title in any sport since 1994.
A busload of Warrior fans were on hand for the event, and erupted in thunderous cheers as their school claimed the championship.
Ranked as the top program in the classification for most of the season, the Warriors, which finished the season 35-0, were coming off a 31-24 victory over powerhouse Eastside. Eastside had won seven of the last nine state championships.
West-Oak’s road to the state championship consisted of wins over Greer, Fort Mill, Eastside and Chapin.
In Chapin (25-3), West-Oak faced a less accomplished squad at the Class AAA level. It had won four Class 2A state championships in the 1990s with the last coming in 1998.
Its lone appearance in the Class AAA finals came in 2005 where it lost to Eastside.
The Eagles, however, presented quite a challenged as the won seven matches by pin in a 60-13 win over St. James in the Lower State finals.
Members of the Warriors championship team include Jeffery Adams, Andrew Addis, Nick Bowers, James Bryson, Will Cater, Brandon Croney, Alex Dickert, Cody Eller, Patrick James, Caleb Jones, Chaise Kern, Phillip Kern, Trevor Kirk, Trent Langston, Josh Moore, Timothy Rogers, Aaron Severance, Tony Severance, Bill Sexton, Ethan Smith, Bret Walker, Randy Warren, Chris Welborn and Matt Westbury.
Westminster High School
Westminster High School may refer to:*Westminster High School *Westminster High School *Westminster High School *Westminster High School...
s. The school serves students from approximately one-half of the land area in Oconee County, South Carolina. Both Oakway and Westminster
Westminster, South Carolina
Westminster is a city in Oconee County, South Carolina, United States. It was started mostly as a station on the Southern Railway. Then as stores, shops and factories started to set up around the train stop, it bloomed into a decent-sized town. Its peak of expansion came in the 1920s. The...
schools had been previously consolidated in the 1960s with Fair Play, Long Creek and Cleveland community schools. Construction for the new building was begun in 1982, students entered in the fall of 1983, and the first class graduated in the spring of 1984.
Principal
The current West-Oak principal is Kurt Kruezberger, who succeeded Dr. Scott Smith. After graduating from San Diego State University with a BA in Social Sciences, Kurt Kruezberger moved to South Carolina and received his teaching credential from Clemson University. He began his career at Walhalla High School in 1986 as a social studies teacher and coach. After completing his master's degree in administration from Clemson University, he accepted a position as Assistant Principal in 1997.Athletics
West Oak High School is a very sports involved school. The mascotMascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
at West Oak is the Warrior.
The West Oak Warriors currently field Varsity and JV athletic teams in the following 14 events:
- Football
- Volleyball
- Girls' Tennis
- Boys' Tennis
- Cross Country
- Girls' Basketball
- Boys' Basketball
- Wrestling
- Girls' Soccer
- Boys' Soccer
- Track and Field
- Boys' Golf
- Girls' Golf
- Softball
- Baseball
In sports West Oaks rivals are the Wahalla High School Razorbacks and the Seneca High School Bobcats, both rival teams are located in Oconee County within 10 miles of West Oak.
Football
As of the end of the 2009 season, the Warriors are 98-193 all time. They are 56-80 at their home stadium, Warrior Field. They are 42-100 on the road.The Warriors have been to the playoffs 9 times in their history, but have never been able to pull off a playoff win nor have they been selected to host a playoff game. The Warriors' best season ever was in 1988, when they went 9-3.
West Oak's 2009 football season included 10 regular season games with 5 wins and 5 losses.
The Warriors made the SCHSL Playoffs, but made a first-round exit after falling to Greenville High School at Sirrine Stadium.
West Oak's head football coach is Jay Brannon, whose 2010 season is his third at the helm for the Warriors. He is the 7th man to lead West-Oak Football. He is preceded by Lynn Fleming (2004–2007), Wade Cooper (2002–2003), Andy Swords (2000–2001), Barry Harley (1995–1999), Gene Burleson (1994), and Tom Jordan (1982–1993).
His 2010 staff includes:
- Mike Kendrick- Director of Football Operations
- Eric Shulick- Director of Player Development
- Jeremy Durham- Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line/Strength and Conditioning
- Jeff Jordan- Defensive Coordinator/ Assistant Head Coach/ Linebackers
- Cody Smith- Special Teams Coordinator/ Offensive Assistant
- David Dennis- Defensive Tackles/ Video Coordinator
- Arian Calhoun- Defensive Ends
- Bobby Ravenscraft- Defensive Backs/ Associate Head Coach/ Safeties
- Gerald Irvin- Cornerbacks/ JV Defensive Coordinator
- Jeff Leard- Quarterbacks/ JV Head Coach
- Kyle Brown- Wide Receivers
- Austin Doyle- Running Backs
- Chad Carrol- Team Chaplain/ Trainer
The Warrior football helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
features a spear with a flag on it.
West Oak football's new flag logo is symbolic in many ways. The spear itself is a tribute to the legendary Dog Warriors, Native American fighters who would spear themselves to the ground in battle - only to be relieved by victory or death. The two crossing hatchets represent the two schools that joined to create us, Oakway and Westminster, and the three feathers represent the other small towns our students come from; Fair Play, Long Creek
Long Creek, South Carolina
Long Creek is an unincorporated community in western Oconee County, South Carolina, USA. It is located within the Sumter National Forest. It is the location of the Long Creek Academy, which is on the National Register of Historic Places....
, and Townville.
There is currently one member of the West Oak Football Hall of Fame, the late Bill Waters. Bill Waters' tragic death in 1987 prevented him from being the first WOHS Warrior to play at the Division I Collegiate Level. Prior to his death, he had signed intent to play football at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
under Danny Ford
Danny Ford
Danny Lee Ford is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Alabama from 1967 to 1969. He served as the head football coach at Clemson University in South Carolina from 1978 to 1989 and at the University of Arkansas from 1993 to 1997, compiling...
.
Andy Lee (WOHS Class of 2000) is a certain future West Oak Football Hall of Fame inductee. Since graduation, he played at the University of Pittsburgh and currently plays professionally where he is an All-Pro for the San Francisco 49ers.http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=COACHBRANNON&t=c&s=football&p=coachprofile&coachID=8474.
2010 - 2011 Season
The warriors started the 2010 - 2011 season opener against Easley High School with a 31 - 13 loss. Easley used a ground and pound gaining only rushing yards to defeat the warriors.Following the season opener, West-Oak hosted their county rivals, Walhalla, in a classic rivalry match. After the third quarter, Walhalla led 23 to 13, and a lightning delay kicked in. After the hour long delay, the teams came back to finish the game. Dustin Wilkes, the RB, led the Warriors with 3 touchdowns, with 2 in the fourth quarter, and the Warriors scored 20 unanswered points to defeat Walhalla 33 - 23, a stunning loss for their rivals.
West-Oak then hosted Pendleton (21 - 0 loss) and Carolina (29 - 6 loss).
Following the home games, the Warriors traveled to defeat Crescent 37 - 0.
The warriors returned home to lose to Belton-Honea Path 55 - 7.
Their next game was at their county rival's stadium in Walhalla. The Warriors passed for 201 yards and ran the ball for 125 yards. The Razorbacks also passed for 201 yards and rushed for 32 more. West-Oak was led in passing by junior QB Evan Small, who threw for all 201 of his team’s yards. Senior Phillip Kern led the team in rushing with 62 yards. When asked what carried his team to victory, winning coach Jay Brannon said, simply, “Heart.” Brannon said his team by no means played perfect football but they stayed in the game thanks to their seniors. Walhalla got on the board first with a 10-yard pass reception to Issac Williamson at 9:10 of the first quarter. West-Oak answered at 6:32 with a 21-yard TD by Small. Walhalla took the lead right before halftime with a safety and a 6-yard reception to Williamson for a score, bringing the score to 15-14, Razorbacks. After a back and forth battle in the third quarter, West-Oak got the lead with a 2-yard run by Dustin Wilkes for a touchdown at 1:44 of the third. West-Oak would extend its lead early in the fourth with a 21-yard pass reception by Devin Justus at 9:12 of the fourth. Walhalla rallied in the fourth and cut the deficit to 28-27. With time expiring, and Walhalla with the ball, they kicked a field goal for the win, but came up short. The Warriors went on to win it in a thrilling match.
After the thrilling game in Walhalla, the Warriors would go on to lose the last 3 games, Pickens (35 - 21), Daniel (42 - 0), Seneca (40 - 13)
The Warriors would go on to finish 3 - 7 (2 - 4) at the end of the season.
2011 - 2012 Season
The Warriors were predicted to be not as good as the previous season, losing senior WR's, Jacob Kesler and Devin Justus, and senior LB Phillip Kern.West-Oak hosted Easley, and were defeated with a massive 70 - 0 loss.
West-Oak then traveled to their rival's stadium, in Walhalla. However, they were cut short in a 21 - 9 loss after some late game fumbles.
Following two losses, the Warriors traveled to Pendleton for an expected loss, as Pendleton was 2 - 0. The game started out with the Pendleton getting into the lead. At halftime, it was 14 - 3, Pendleton. At the end of the third quarter, Pendleton still lead 28 - 7. However in the fourth quarter, the Warriors cut their lead short to 28 - 25, with help from Senior Chris Welborn. However Pendleton were able to get a first down and let time run out, final score, 28 - 25.
Spirit Spikers
The Spirit Spikers of West-Oak High School are usually known for their spirited attitude, dancing, screaming, and the getting the crowd pumped up. They are usually seen covered in navy, red, and white paint with gym shorts on.The 2011 - 2012 Spirit Spikers are, Samuel Ogg, Austin Scogins, Chaise Kern, and Trey Yoder as Cheerleader.
Wrestling
The Warrior Wrestlers are the State Champions for the 2010-2011 School year. Jeff Jordan’s Warriors posted their deciding win in the final match to edge Chapin 31-27 in the Class AAA state finals on Saturday a Dreher High School in Columbia, erasing a drought that dated back to 1994.Trailing by one point going into the final match, Bill Sexton, wrestling in the 130-pound class, won by technical fall (being ahead by more than 15 points) and sealed the deal for the Warriors.
It allowed West-Oak to post its first team state title in any sport since 1994.
A busload of Warrior fans were on hand for the event, and erupted in thunderous cheers as their school claimed the championship.
Ranked as the top program in the classification for most of the season, the Warriors, which finished the season 35-0, were coming off a 31-24 victory over powerhouse Eastside. Eastside had won seven of the last nine state championships.
West-Oak’s road to the state championship consisted of wins over Greer, Fort Mill, Eastside and Chapin.
In Chapin (25-3), West-Oak faced a less accomplished squad at the Class AAA level. It had won four Class 2A state championships in the 1990s with the last coming in 1998.
Its lone appearance in the Class AAA finals came in 2005 where it lost to Eastside.
The Eagles, however, presented quite a challenged as the won seven matches by pin in a 60-13 win over St. James in the Lower State finals.
Members of the Warriors championship team include Jeffery Adams, Andrew Addis, Nick Bowers, James Bryson, Will Cater, Brandon Croney, Alex Dickert, Cody Eller, Patrick James, Caleb Jones, Chaise Kern, Phillip Kern, Trevor Kirk, Trent Langston, Josh Moore, Timothy Rogers, Aaron Severance, Tony Severance, Bill Sexton, Ethan Smith, Bret Walker, Randy Warren, Chris Welborn and Matt Westbury.