In many small towns, public high school athletic programs experience cycles of ups and downs. Schools may dominate their region for a time, perhaps until a standout coach or some exceptional athlete departs. For towns like Watervliet, success often hinges on a remarkable group of athletes passing through the system and that is almost always coupled with exceptional coaching and athletic program leadership.
Recent years provide ample examples of these cycles. Around 2012, after several years of average teams, a new football coach introduced a dynamic game plan coinciding with a surge in physically imposing players. This period saw numerous big linemen, talented quarterbacks, and standout ball carriers and receivers setting all new offensive performance and scoring records. Then, inexplicably, the number of big guys and skill players interested in football dwindled, affecting the team’s competitiveness. Coincidentally, our neighboring communities faced similar challenges in football around the same time, possibly reflecting broader trends in declining football participation across the area and state. Or maybe it was something in the water?
Watervliet’s athletic fortunes began to turn around in 2019. A bigger than normal group of exceptional athletes emerged starting in 2020, leaving an indelible mark on the school’s sports legacy in the trophy case and in the record books. This group was different than the earlier football crew, arriving at WHS with plenty of experience across various sports, landing on Panther teams loaded with experienced coaching and bringing their own exceptional skills. Particularly noteworthy were the girls. They had several freshmen making contributions as starters, and they eventually became dominant in volleyball, basketball, and softball within their division and in their district. A pair of those girls earned multiple all-state honors, 13 across three sports and setting a bunch of new records. Others also earned all-state recognition.
The boys, developing at their own pace, soon fielded very competitive basketball and baseball teams, and while football got better that wasn’t this group’s focus.
Together, the boys and girls asserted their absolute dominance in the conference. They collected about a dozen district titles across seven different sports, appeared in several regional finals, won three regional titles, and notably, the 2024 baseball team captured the school’s first-ever state championship. Their success was not just on the field but also reflected their sportsmanship and academic excellence. They were competitive, they were exciting to watch, and they were all great and smart kids.
With graduations, that group, arriving in 2019, is now in or on their way to nearby colleges and distant universities. A few are continuing their athletic careers at the post-secondary level, but most are focused on their academics and future careers.
It’s possible we’re headed into a different part of that cycle for a couple years, although nobody can predict what’s going to happen until they begin new seasons. The teams and student-athletes are always fun to watch and rewarding to support no matter what, and the good news is there is yet another interesting group of athletes brewing in our middle school. Only time will tell if they can reach the achievement levels of the recently graduated groups, but we are optimistic they will do well.
What a great time to be a Panther fan, and what a time to be on the field, floor, and court capturing a few moments in photos.