This Week in Sports: Aug. 17-22
Brent Carden photo - Everybody will be all smiles this week as all fall teams will be in action in Warren County.
The waiting is over for the Warren County High School teams.
After weeks of practices, scrimmages and preseason tournaments, the games start counting this week for the fall WCHS squads. The cross country, girls soccer and volleyball teams will all get their seasons started with hopes of district titles and state bids coming together.
There will be plenty more happening around the county as well. The Boyd Christian volleyball teams will continue searching for breakthrough victories, WCMS volleyball faces another four-match grind and the Lady Pioneer middle school soccer team will finally get to play in front of its home fans.
And, of course, Friday night brings the return of Pioneer football. Warren County will travel to Smithville to face DeKalb County at 7 p.m. in the season opener. The Warren County Way will have much more on that matchup throughout the week and the WC Sports Authority will be on site to bring fans the full broadcast this Friday.
Every Sunday throughout the 2026-27 school year, Security Federal Savings Bank presents This Week in Sports, a look at five things to watch and the complete local sports schedule for the upcoming week.
Lady Pioneers ready to serve
There aren't many mysteries surrounding coach Erin Blalock's volleyball team entering 2026. Warren County knows who it can lean on, knows what it wants to accomplish and spent the preseason showing why a trip back to the region tournament is a realistic goal.
The Lady Pioneers went 16-10 and finished third in District 7-AAA last season, then returned many of the major contributors from that squad. Seniors Aubrey Oleksik and Ali Young are returning all-district performers, while Brynlee Chisam, Natalie Payne and Caroline Boyd add more varsity experience around them on the front net.
The youth that was forced to grow up quickly last season isn't so young anymore either. Maelee Turner returns after taking over setting duties as a freshman, Reese Reinitz is healthy again after a knee injury interrupted her freshman season and Sloan Youngblood has continued emerging as an all-around contributor. Transfer Elliana Heintz has also added another attacking option to an already deep rotation.
Even without injured junior Presley Winfree, who is sidelined with a torn ACL, Blalock has options everywhere.
That depth was on display at the Tree City Invitational. Warren County finished 2-1-1, sweeping Franklin County and Tullahoma, splitting with Coffee County and dropping its only match to Cascade. It followed up by being tested by some of the best of the best in the area during Attack at the Rock in Gatlinburg, showing the Lady Pioneers can hang with elite talent.
Blalock has stressed chemistry and a "we, not me" mentality with a group that has its sights set on improving upon last year's finish and reaching the region tournament.
The chase starts Monday at Cannon County. Warren County then makes its home debut Tuesday against Wilson Central before welcoming LaVergne Thursday.
Noelle Bratcher is one of many talented Lady Pioneers ready to roll this week.
Soccer season starts
The biggest question facing the WCHS soccer team entering the preseason was where the goals would come from without Chloe Wanamaker. Four matches later, the Lady Pioneers may have found their answer: everywhere.
Warren County will officially kick off the 2026 season Tuesday when Ooltewah visits for a 6 p.m. matchup, and coach Todd Willmore's squad enters the opener with plenty of momentum after going 3-0-1 in the preseason.
The Lady Pioneers scored nine goals in their four completed tuneups and allowed just two. Even more encouraging, six different players found the back of the net.
Junior Emory MacDonald led the way with three goals, while Noelle Bratcher scored twice and added an assist. Izzy Rodriguez, Addison Steakley, Ashlyn Bailey and Gisell Escamilla also scored as Warren County showed it may be able to replace Wanamaker's production by committee.
The results were impressive, too.
Warren County opened with a 2-1 victory at Cookeville, getting goals from Bratcher and MacDonald after severe weather forced the scrimmage onto Cookeville's turf football field. The Lady Pioneers followed with a 2-0 win over John Lawson and a 1-1 draw against Rossview at the Fairview playday before closing the preseason with a 4-0 victory over Cumberland County.
While the balanced scoring answered one preseason question, Warren County's defense may have been even more impressive. The Lady Pioneers repeatedly frustrated teams in transition and surrendered only two goals in four matches, giving Willmore reason to like the direction of his team entering the games that count.
Warren County won't get much time to ease into the season. After Tuesday's home opener against Ooltewah, the Lady Pioneers travel to Riverdale Thursday for a 7 p.m. matchup.
After an unbeaten preseason, it's time to find out if the Lady Pioneers can keep rolling when the results start counting.
Brent Carden photo - The Pioneers can start 3-0 with a win at home Tuesday.
Pioneers bring unbeaten start home
After two road trips and two wins, the WCMS football team gets to come home.
The Pioneers will make their Nunley Stadium debut Tuesday when Bridgeforth comes to town at 6:30 p.m. Warren County will be trying to improve to 3-0 after opening with a 44-14 demolition of DeKalb County and following it with a 30-14 victory at Marion County.
The wins came in very different ways.
Warren County dominated from the opening whistle against DeKalb County, scoring on six of its first seven possessions and leading 36-6 at halftime. Last Thursday in Jasper, the Pioneers had to fight through four first-half turnovers and held only an 8-6 advantage at the break.
Coach Ben Matheney challenged his team at halftime and the response was emphatic. Warren County controlled the second half on both sides of the ball, recovered two onside kicks and turned both into touchdowns.
Dallas Gater has provided a dual-threat presence at quarterback, Mikhail Wilcher has added a bruising element to a deep running game and the Pioneers have already shown they can win with both dominance and resilience.
Tuesday, the home crowd finally gets its first look at the unbeaten Pioneers.
Boyd keeps searching for wins
The Boyd volleyball teams will get two more opportunities to break through this week when the Lady Broncos travel to Highland Rim Tuesday and Franklin Classical Thursday.
For the high school squad, the first week showed steady progress. Boyd went from being swept by Franklin Road to taking a set from Lancaster Christian before pushing Riverside Christian all the way to five sets Thursday. First-year coach Emily Davis' young squad hasn't found its first victory yet, but the Lady Broncos keep getting closer.
The middle school Lady Broncos will also be looking to add their first regular-season victory during the two road trips.
Brent Carden photo - Coach Bethany Mesaros and the WCMS Lady Pioneers were pumped after rallying to win last week at home.
More games for WCMS
While everybody is getting rolling this week, nobody will be busier than the WCMS volleyball team.
Coach Bethany Mesaros' Lady Pioneers enter the week 5-2 and will play four matches in five days, facing Cumberland County, White County, Avery Trace and Coffee County. Ellie Dixon has emerged as a force at the net, while Lyvia Wilson and Fallon Youngblood have helped anchor a group that has already shown an ability to battle back in tight matches.
WCMS soccer also finally gets to come home. After starting 3-0 on the road, including 7-0 victories over Avery Trace and Upperman, the Lady Pioneers host Tullahoma Monday and Algood Friday.
Full schedule
Monday, Aug. 17
WCMS soccer vs. Tullahoma, 5:30 p.m.
WCMS volleyball vs. Cumberland County, 5:30 p.m.
WCHS volleyball at Cannon County, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Boyd MS volleyball at Highland Rim, 5 p.m.
WCMS volleyball at White County, 5:30 p.m.
WCHS soccer vs. Ooltewah, 6 p.m.
Boyd HS volleyball at Highland Rim, 6 p.m.
WCHS volleyball vs. Wilson Central, 6 p.m.
WCMS football vs. Bridgeforth, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 19
WCHS golf in Golden Classic, 9 a.m.
WCHS cross country at Community, 5 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 20
Boyd MS volleyball at Franklin Classical, 5 p.m.
WCMS volleyball vs. Avery Trace, 5:30 p.m.
WCHS volleyball vs. LaVergne, 6 p.m.
Boyd HS volleyball at Franklin Classical, 6 p.m.
WCHS soccer at Riverdale, 7 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 21
WCMS volleyball vs. Coffee County, 5:30 p.m.
WCMS soccer vs. Algood, 6 p.m.
WCHS football at DeKalb County, 7 p.m.
