Meet the Admissions Team

If you have ever been involved with the admissions process at Woodward Academy, odds are that you interacted with one of these admissions representatives. Under the direction of Admissions Director, Guthrey Fritz, these guys are responsible for balancing the steady flow of students who are both arriving for the first time, and leaving as successful graduates of the program. Last year, this team helped admit 356 students to Woodward Academy.

Because this team works so closely with outside systems, they are often tasked with helping educate and market the school as well as admissions. They arrange tours for individuals who have never been to campus, and talk about the type of care that can be provided to students. The guys in admissions serve a vital role in the daily operations on campus and keep building Knights all day long.

After the break, meet the team:

The End of an Era // Guthrey Fritz

The Woodward Academy athletic program officially began in 2003 when Guthrey Fritz turned an extracurricular strong man competition between dorms into a structured weight lifting club. Two years later (’05), he brought three powerlifters to Texas where they competed in the USAPL High School National Championships for the first time and Corey Noring (SHW) became Woodward Academy’s first powerlifting National Champion.

Ten years later, Guthrey has built a pretty impressive resume with 10 consecutive team
National Championships, 24 individual National Champions, and has travelled across the country (and the world) representing Woodward Academy. More than anyone else, and any other sport, Guthrey showed what athletics could do at Woodward Academy and he gave many students an experience they will never forget.

Guthrey initially planned to step away at the conclusion of the high school season in March. But when the call came to represent the United States, he stayed on for one final competition. The IPF Sub-Juniors World Championships in Prague turned out to be the best bookend to a career that any coach could ask for. Next year, he will be passing the torch to assistant coach, Glen Miller. Although he is stepping away from coaching powerlifting, he will remain active on campus as Admissions Director and a member of the management team.

Ja'Heil Francis Showcased in Local Newspaper

Ja'Heil Francis if from the Virgin Islands and was recently profiled in his local newspaper, the Virgin Islands Daily News. You can read the complete article online by clicking here, or after the break we have scanned a copy for viewing.

The article touches on how Ja'Heil was "one of the many misguided youth we hear about daily" in the Virgin Islands, but his story on how he arrived at Woodward Academy is a little different. Ja'Heil's father was the one who pushed the juvenile court program in the Virgin Islands to send Ja'Heil to Woodward Academy. In fact, when some WA staff went down to interview him and other students, Ja'Heil's father wanted them to take him back to Iowa that day.

Ja'Heil has had a very successful stay at Woodward Academy. He is a top student on his dorm and athletically has excelled. This spring, he traveled to Denver as a part of the National Champion powerlifting team, qualified in the shot put at the State Track & Field Meet, and played baseball this summer for the Knights. After the break, you can see the article that profiles Ja'Heil.