Pioneer of the week: Aug 16-22
Each Sunday, The Warren County Way will be selecting a Pioneer of the Week. That honor is sponsored by R3 Logistics. Be on the lookout for the Pioneers of the Week throughout the 2026-27 school year.
Layla-Barrie Guthrie, WCMS Soccer
LB Guthrie had already established herself as one of the most dangerous scoring threats in the area through the opening weeks of the season. On Friday night, the WCMS standout somehow found another level.
Guthrie scored four goals in a back-and-forth battle with Algood, helping the Lady Pioneers pull away late for a 5-3 victory and improve to 5-0. It capped a six-goal week for Guthrie and made her an easy choice as the R3 Logistics Pioneer of the Week.
Guthrie started the week by providing all the offense WCMS needed in a 2-0 victory over Tullahoma. She scored twice in the first half as the Lady Pioneers picked up their fourth straight victory in a rain-soaked home opener for WCMS.
Friday's matchup proved to be a much different challenge.
Algood continued to answer WCMS throughout the night as the two teams traded goals, but Guthrie was constantly in the middle of the action. She accounted for four of Warren County's five goals before the Lady Pioneers finally created some breathing room with two late scores to secure the victory. Abigail Laxson also scored for WCMS in the win.
Guthrie's huge week was just the latest chapter in a dominant start to the season. She had already recorded a hat trick earlier this year and added two goals in a 7-0 victory over Upperman, making her a constant problem for opposing defenses during Warren County's unbeaten start.
WCMS coach Sally Willmore believes Guthrie's success has been aided by the chemistry she has developed with teammates through playing together throughout the year.
"Having her, Finn (Finley MacDonald) and Amelia (Partin) play together all year long because of travel helps us out a ton! Having a strong midfielder playing her solid passes allows her to show her shooting abilities consistently," said Willmore. "I love her and have loved watching her develop over the past three years."
That development has been on full display this season, and never more than Friday night when Guthrie's four-goal performance helped the Lady Pioneers remain perfect.
