This Week in Sports: Aug 24-29
Brent Carden photos
Some teams are just getting started. Others already look like they're in midseason form. And for one Warren County program, the postseason is already beginning to creep into view.
There will be a little bit of everything on the local sports calendar this week. The Pioneers will finally come home Friday night, welcoming Livingston Academy to Nunley Stadium for their first home game of the football season. WCHS volleyball will take its unbeaten start on the road for three straight matches, while the Lady Pioneer soccer team enters its second week looking to build off a 1-1 start.
At the middle school, there hasn't been much of a feeling-out period. WCMS football is already 3-0 and will try to stay perfect Tuesday against Tullahoma, while the Lady Pioneer soccer team has raced out to a 5-0 start. Meanwhile, WCHS golf has been playing for nearly a month and is quickly approaching the point where shaving strokes becomes critical with the postseason drawing closer.
Every Sunday, Security Federal Savings Bank presents This Week in Sports, a look at things to watch and the complete local sports schedule for the upcoming week.
Locked in for Tullahoma
Three weeks into the season, the WCMS football team has already shown it can win in just about every way imaginable.
The Pioneers dominated from the opening whistle in a 44-14 victory at DeKalb County, battled through four first-half turnovers before taking over in a 30-14 road win at Marion County and then returned home last Tuesday and completely overwhelmed Bridgeforth 38-0.
Now Warren County is 3-0, has outscored its opponents 84 points and will try to keep its perfect start intact Tuesday when Tullahoma visits Nunley Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.
Coach Ben Matheney isn't interested in letting his team get comfortable with what it has already accomplished. His message entering the week has been simple: Get locked in.
"I told them the team needed them locked in for everything they do this week, and not just on the field - Locked in at home, in school, in tying their shoes. Take care of every small thing this week and instill that mindset," said Matheney. "We said our boys are better than them when they step on the field, but they have to go out and execute to take care of what they've got to do."
There has been plenty to like about what the Pioneers have done when they execute.
Dallas Gater has continued to provide a dangerous dual-threat presence at quarterback. He ran for two touchdowns in the opener at DeKalb County, including a 56-yard score, and has also shown he can make defenses pay through the air.
Mikhail Wilcher has provided plenty of muscle out of the backfield and on defense, while the Pioneers have been able to turn to a long list of playmakers around them. Brody Chisam, Gabe Rowland, Bryson Anderson and others have all found ways to make an impact during the opening three weeks.
The defense has been every bit as impressive. Warren County forced DeKalb County into an early hole, buckled down after halftime at Marion County and then put together its first shutout of the season against Bridgeforth.
Tuesday could present another challenge, particularly if the Pioneers aren't at full strength. Warren County had several players banged up during last week's victory - including Bouldin - leaving Matheney and his staff with the possibility of having to shuffle personnel against Tullahoma.
That's where the depth the Pioneers have displayed through three weeks could become even more important. Matheney believes his team has the talent. This week, he wants to see the focus to match it.
Aubrey Oleksik has had a great start for the Lady Pioneers.
Lady Pioneers take perfect start on the road
Winning was fun during the opening week. Now, coach Erin Blalock wants to see how the Lady Pioneers respond when things get tougher.
Warren County couldn't have asked for a much better start to the volleyball season, opening 3-0. This week brings a much different challenge as the Lady Pioneers leave home for three straight matches against Coffee County, Cookeville and Smyrna.
"We've certainly enjoyed the wins this week, but we know we've got three big tests coming up," said Blalock. "I think the girls have some confidence coming out of this first week but we know we've got to execute consistently to be successful against opponents this upcoming week. On the road is always a tough obstacle, and these three teams will not make it easy on us, no doubt."
Each stop brings something different.
Coffee County may no longer share a district with Warren County, but Blalock doesn't believe that has diminished the rivalry. The two programs know each other well and their meetings have traditionally produced competitive volleyball.
Then comes Cookeville, a program Blalock called “a powerhouse in the district for years.” Warren County follows that Tuesday trip with another important District 7-AAA match Thursday at Smyrna.
It's a three-match stretch that should tell the Lady Pioneers plenty about where they stand after an impressive opening week.
Blalock doesn't want Warren County changing what has worked, though. She wants the Lady Pioneers to carry their confidence and energy with them.
"We want to take the momentum from these first three into this week's matches and play even more solid," said Blalock. "The girls really had fun last week and they play better when they are having fun.'
“We want to keep building on the chemistry we have going and find a rhythm early in each of the matches. Setting the tone and playing our game will be key this week.”
Willmores have soccer teams rolling
Soccer has been a family affair in Warren County the last two seasons, and Todd and Sally Willmore have plenty to keep up with this week.
Todd's WCHS Lady Pioneers enter their second week at 1-1 after opening with a pair of matches last week, beating Ooltewah 3-2 before falling to Riverdale on the road 4-1. Warren County came into the regular season with considerable momentum after going 3-0-1 during the preseason, scoring nine goals with six different players finding the net.
That balanced attack - spearheaded now by Emory MacDonald’s two goals and an assist in the season opener - was one of the biggest developments of the preseason after the Lady Pioneers entered the year wondering how they would replace the scoring lost when Chloe Wanamaker was ruled out for the season.
Now Warren County gets two more opportunities to continue finding its regular-season identity. The Lady Pioneers host Smyrna Tuesday at 6 p.m. before traveling to Lincoln County Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. matchup.
While Todd's team is settling into its season, his daughter Sally has WCMS flying.
The middle school Lady Pioneers have raced out to a 5-0 start in Sally Willmore's second season at the helm, continuing an impressive opening stretch that has featured both offensive firepower and stingy defense.
WCMS will put its perfect record on the line twice this week, hosting Coffee County Monday before traveling to White County Thursday.
Time to start trimming strokes
The calendar says August, but WCHS golfers know the postseason isn't nearly as far away as it sounds.
Warren County has shown signs of progress recently, sweeping Lincoln County in District 9-AA play before competing in the Golden Classic at WillowBrook Golf Club last Wednesday.
The Pioneer boys shot a 339 against Lincoln County and followed with a 337 at the Golden Classic. Noel Davis has continued to lead the way, shooting 75 in both events after previously firing a season-best 72 at the Cookeville Early Bird Tournament.
The Lady Pioneers have also been trending downward with their scores. Warren County shot 200 against Lincoln County before improving to 191 at the Golden Classic, with Gabbi Molloy continuing to pace the team.
There is still work to do if both squads want to be at their best when postseason play arrives, making every remaining opportunity important.
Warren County gets two this week, hosting White County Tuesday at McMinnville Country Club at 10:30 a.m. before traveling to Tullahoma Thursday.
Different goals for Lady Broncos
The Boyd volleyball teams enter the week chasing different milestones.
The middle school Lady Broncos finally broke through Thursday, beating Franklin Classical 25-11, 18-25, 15-10 for their first victory and improving to 1-3. Now Boyd gets a chance to build on the breakthrough.
For the high school Lady Broncos, the search continues. Boyd dropped both of its matches last week and enters at 0-5, but a young team that has already pushed one opponent to five sets will get two more opportunities to earn its first win.
Both Boyd squads host Cannon County Monday before traveling to Legacy Tuesday.
This Week in Sports schedule
Monday, Aug. 24
Boyd MS volleyball vs. Cannon County, 4:30 p.m.
WCMS soccer vs. Coffee County, 5:30 p.m.
WCMS volleyball at Algood, 5:30 p.m.
WCHS volleyball at Coffee County, 6 p.m.
Boyd HS volleyball vs. Cannon County, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 25
WCHS golf vs. White County, 10:30 a.m.
Boyd MS volleyball at Legacy, 5 p.m.
WCMS volleyball at Prescott, 5:30 p.m.
WCHS volleyball at Cookeville, 6 p.m.
WCHS soccer vs. Smyrna, 6 p.m.
Boyd HS volleyball at Legacy, 6 p.m.
WCMS football vs. Tullahoma, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 27
WCHS golf at Tullahoma, 1 p.m.
WCMS soccer at White County, 6 p.m.
WCHS volleyball at Smyrna, 6 p.m.
WCHS soccer at Lincoln County, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 28
WCMS volleyball at Cannon County, 5 p.m.
WCHS football vs. Livingston Academy, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 29
WCHS volleyball in JV Slam Tourney at Coffee County
