As the 2026 fall sports season draws to a close, Woodland Park high school athletes are celebrating personal milestones even though none of the teams secured a playoff berth. Residents who follow local school athletics will find the individual successes a source of pride and a sign of promising talent for next year.
According to Mountain Jackpot, the Lady Panthers volleyball squad finished the regular season with an 8‑6 overall record and a 3‑3 league mark, ranking 42nd statewide in Class 3A—just outside the top‑36 cutoff for the postseason. Junior middle blocker Ava Vander Linden stood out, ranking sixth statewide and second in the Tri‑Peaks League with 47 blocks, while also contributing 63 kills and 15 serving aces.
The football team ended the year at 2‑6 overall and 1‑6 in league play, its lone league victory a 29‑2 triumph over the Manitou Springs Mustangs. Junior kicker Barrett Absher drew attention with three long field goals—48, 51 and 53 yards—earning interest from college recruiters. Absher recalled the pressure of a 48‑yard attempt against Palmer, saying, “If you miss this, you’re never kicking one again,” in an interview cited by the outlet.
Softball also fell short of the playoffs, posting an 8‑15 overall record and 0‑6 league record, ranking 34th in Class 3A. Yet senior shortstop Christine Renteria led the Tri‑Peaks League in several categories, including first‑place home runs (six) and a 1.120 slugging percentage, second‑place stolen bases (24) and third‑place runs (30) with a .571 on‑base percentage. Sophomore Tyler DiFabio impressed with a .500 batting average, 27 hits and 25 runs.
The boys’ soccer squad finished 2‑8‑1 overall and 2‑6 in league competition, placing 59th statewide and out of playoff contention. Junior midfielder Payton Porter led the team with seven goals and 16 points, while goalkeeper Liam Rawson posted a 2.842 goals‑against average, 6.6 saves per game, one shutout and 66 total saves.
What’s next? The Lady Panthers volleyball team will travel to face the 9‑7 La Junta Tigers on Tuesday, then host the 8‑8 Florence Huskies Thursday before concluding the season with two road games at St. Mary’s and Colorado Springs Christian High School. The boys’ soccer team’s final home game is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. against the 5‑4‑3 Manitou Springs Mustangs, with a Thursday matchup against an as‑yet‑unannounced league opponent.
Sources: mountainjackpot.com
