Nationals’ James Wood returns to Rockville elementary school to inspire students
ROCKVILLE, Md. - Nationals outfielder James Wood returned to his roots Monday, visiting Cashell Elementary School in Rockville, Maryland, where he once walked the halls as a young student.
During a lively school assembly, Wood answered students' questions about his journey to professional baseball and how he prepares for games.
Joining Wood was Luis Almeida, a fellow Cashell Elementary alumnus and current professional soccer player with Maryland Bobcats FC.
Together, the two athletes shared stories from their careers, inspiring students to dream big and work hard.
One student asked Wood who puts more pressure on him, the coach or the crowd.
"I think sometimes it might be the crowd," Wood replied. "But a lot of times, I put pressure on myself. Sometimes you expect a lot from yourself, but I feel like if you just go through it every day and give it the best you can, it's easier to alleviate some of those pressures."
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Lori Leber, Wood’s former P.E. teacher, praised his growth and success. "
James was a pretty quiet kid when I was his P.E. teacher. He was very good at anything I threw at him. He was pretty quiet and witty, a great kid who did what he was supposed to do," Leber said. "It just goes to show that with hard work, dedication, and believing in yourself, dreams can come true—whether it’s soccer, baseball, or wrestling. Work hard and believe in yourself no matter what."
The assembly featured a mix of student-prepared questions, a raffle, and photo opportunities with some of the former teachers.