Wohl known as ‘Hollywood’

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Wohl known as ‘Hollywood’

Thu, 05/07/2020 - 14:43
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Some folks know Eli Wohl as “Hollywood.” There are others who simply know him as a talented two-sport athlete at Ponca City High School.

Wohl was a senior member of both the Wildcat football and baseball teams. Of course, the season for the baseball team was halted after only a few games were played.

How did he get the nickname “Hollywood”? he was asked.

“Oh, when the football coaches first came they thought I had a little swagger, wore different hair styles and had a gold chain.” he said. “Coach (head coach Scott) Harmon and the others started calling me Hollywood.”

The name stuck through a couple of football seasons and was passed along to the baseball team.

Wohl was good at football, being among the team leaders in tackles from his safety position for three seasons. On occasion he was called upon to run plays as a running back or as a receiver on offense. He got noticed enough to earn all district and all-star recognition after his senior season.

Before the baseball season got under way this year he and teammate Aaron Hosack signed letters of intent to play baseball at the junior college level. Hosack signed with Connors State in Warner, while Wohl is headed for Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kan.

Like other senior athletes in spring sports, Wohl is disappointed that his final year in baseball wasn’t a full one.

“It didn’t end the way we wanted it to. We were off to a good start,” he said. “We had a new coach (Casey Love) who changed things around. There were changed attitudes and it was a fun atmosphere to play in. That’s what I’m really missing,” he added.

With there being no school, he is spending part of his time working for his father, Rod, at Younger-Holmes Electric. “I mow and do yard work, simple things like that,” he said.

In high school he was the Wildcat center fielder and did some pitching as well. His speed on the base paths was an asset to the team.

To get ready for college, he plans to play some summer baseball, this year probably on an Oklahoma team somewhere. And he foresees a lot of hard work in the weight room. “I plan to work hard and do what I can to earn a spot in center field at Cowley.”

Did he have opportunities to play college football?

“Well, I had a couple of opportunities. They weren’t really opportunities, but a couple of colleges expressed interest. One school seemed interested but then later offered a scholarship to a safety from Bixby. I would love to play college football, but baseball has always been my go-to sport. I will play baseball at Cowley and then see what happens from there . I believe things happen for a reason. I just want to have fun while it lasts.”