Ready to take their swings
WCHS golf season set to begin Monday
Lucy Mulligan, left, and Sara Greer, right, return from last year’s region-qualifying girls golf team. Ella Matheny, center, graduated and signed with Faulkner University to continue her golf career.
When the WCHS golf teams tee off the 2026 season Monday at the Lawrence County Invitational, the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers will be entering the year with two very different missions.
For the boys, it's about rebuilding after saying goodbye to one of the most accomplished senior classes in program history. For the girls, it's about taking the next step from district runner-up to district champion.
Coach JW Holt knows replacing the talent that graduated won't happen overnight. Just last year, Warren County saw an impressive run of golfers continue their careers at the collegiate level. Kylan Jones signed with Bryan College, Ella Matheny moved on to Faulkner University and Ty Childers, Turner Bryant and Zach Seibers all signed to become part of Motlow State's inaugural golf team.
They added to a long list of Warren County golfers to make it to the next level, most notably state champion Lauren Slatton, and now a new generation of golfers are ready to take their swings.
"Our goal for the boys will be to get better each time we hit the course so that we can compete for a team spot to advance to the regions," Holt said.
Leading the way is senior Noel Davis, the only returning Pioneer who competed in every varsity match last season. Joining him are Sawyer Caten, Aden Johnson and Grayson Potter, who all were part of the program last year. They’ll be vying for spots in the top five of the lineup all season with newcomers Aiden van Vuuren and Rylon Morrison, who are already making an impact.
Coach Holt plans to use Davis, Caten, van Vuuren, Johnson and Morrison as his team lineup in Lawrence County Monday to open the season.
While the boys are focused on growth, expectations couldn't be much higher for the girls.
Lucy Mulligan and Sarah Greer return from last year's district runner-up squad, and Gabbi Molloy - a former standout at WCMS - joins the lineup to give Warren County a complete team. All three Lady Pioneers are just sophomores, giving Holt a young core capable of competing now while also building for the future.
"Expectations are high and this girls team should be competing for a district championship," Holt said.
Be on the lookout for more WCHS sports coverage on the Warren County Way.
