This Week in Sports: Sept. 28 - Oct. 3

Every week, The Warren County Way takes an in-depth look at the upcoming schedule for school sports with the This Week in Sports feature. Thanks to Security Federal Savings Bank for sponsoring our weekly look at everything happening in local sports.

The calendar flips from September to October this week and, for several Warren County teams, there isn't much calendar left.

The WCMS girls soccer team will put its season on the line Monday when the newly crowned district champions host Gladeville in the region semifinals. Tuesday will be an emotional night at Warren County High School with both the Lady Pioneer soccer and volleyball teams celebrating Senior Night, while the WCMS football team gets one more chance to take the field together in a bowl game at Upperman.

Postseason play continues for WCHS golf, cross country gets another opportunity to shine and Week 2 of elementary basketball brings several early showdowns between unbeaten teams.

The WCHS football team will also hit the road Friday, traveling to White County for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Warren County Way will have a full preview of the Pioneers' matchup with the Warriors later this week

Region run comes home

Winning the district championship brought the WCMS Lady Pioneers a trophy Friday night. It also earned them something that could be even more valuable Monday: another match at home.

Warren County will host Gladeville at 6 p.m. Monday in a region semifinal where the stakes couldn't be simpler - Win and the Lady Pioneers move on or lose and their season is over.

WCMS earned the opportunity by putting together two of its best performances when the pressure was highest.

The Lady Pioneers opened postseason play by beating Algood 3-1 in the District 7 semifinals. LB Guthrie scored twice and assisted on the other goal, which was finished by Amelia Partin, to send Warren County into Friday's championship match against Prescott South.

Warren County finished the job with a 2-0 victory.

Emma Kate Lippe and Abigail Laxson supplied the goals as the Lady Pioneers shut out Prescott South to capture the district championship. Afterward, June Cossitt, Finn MacDonald and Guthrie were named to the all-district team.

The two tournament victories improved Warren County to 11-3 and continued a season where the Lady Pioneers have been remarkably difficult to put away. WCMS scored 51 goals during the regular season and recorded five shutouts while its only three losses came by scores of 1-0, 2-1 and 1-0.

Now the Lady Pioneers get to put that season on the line in front of their home crowd.

Coach Sally Willmore remembers being in a similar position a year ago. The difference is Warren County had to travel for its region matchup then.

“Last year we had to travel. Even though we won last year on the road, it will be a lot more fun to host and have their friends and family there cheering them on,” said Willmore.

The cheering starts Monday at 6 p.m. with Warren County trying to extend its season at least one more match.

One final home night for Lady Pioneer seniors

One of Warren County's most memorable soccer seasons will reach an emotional milestone Tuesday when the Lady Pioneers celebrate Senior Night against Notre Dame at 6 p.m.

Warren County enters its final home match riding another wave of momentum.

The Lady Pioneers beat Spring Hill 5-0 Monday, erupted for six unanswered goals in a 6-1 victory at DeKalb County Tuesday and then survived another dramatic district battle Thursday, topping Columbia Central in penalty kicks after a scoreless regulation.

Freshman keeper Kinsley Simpson made two saves in the shootout while Gisell Escamilla, Noelle Bratcher and senior Maci McBride converted PKs to secure the win.

The latest dramatic finish continued a season defined by Warren County finding ways to win. The Lady Pioneers have knocked off 2024 Class 2A state champion Franklin County and 2025 Class 2A state runner-up Tullahoma while also establishing one of the area's stingiest defensive units.

Tuesday will give Warren County a chance to honor seniors McBride, Addi Steakley, Mayliah Manier, Dayana Esparza, Zoey Snider, Marylou Margeson, Liyah Johnson, Lily Moore and Chloe Wanamaker (who has been injured all season after leading the team in scoring last season).

There won't be much time to come down from the emotions of the night.

Notre Dame enters the matchup with nine wins and averaging more than four goals per match, giving the Lady Pioneers another quality opponent in their final appearance at home. Warren County will then travel to Soddy Daisy Thursday for a 6 p.m. match.

**Photo from the WCHS Lady Pioneer volleyball Facebook page**

Four Lady Pioneers take center stage

Tuesday night will be about much more than another match for the WCHS volleyball team.

The Lady Pioneers will celebrate Aubrey Oleksik, Ali Young, Jenna Mullins and Alyssa Boyd when Cannon County visits Charlie Dalton Gym for Senior Night at 6 p.m.

Warren County enters the final week of the regular season 11-12 overall after finishing District 7-AAA play 7-7. The Lady Pioneers closed their district schedule with one of their best performances of the season, sweeping White County 25-20, 25-20 and 25-18.

Oleksik and Young have been fixtures in the varsity lineup, while Mullins and Boyd have earned praise for the leadership they've provided with the JV squad and Warren County's younger players. Coach Erin Blalock believes all four have made an impact that will last beyond their final matches.

“We are celebrating four incredible Lady Pioneers, Aubrey, Ali, Jenna, and Alyssa, who have given their time, talent, heart, and countless hours to Warren County volleyball,” said Blalock. “These four have represented our program with pride, competed for the name across their jerseys, and helped leave their mark on Lady Pioneer volleyball. Their roles on this team will not soon be forgotten or easily replaced.”

The Lady Pioneers opened their season by sweeping Cannon County on the road. Tuesday's rematch will be their final regular-season appearance at Charlie Dalton Gym and part of a busy final week that starts Monday at DeKalb County and ends Thursday at Shelbyville.

Blalock hopes the Lady Pioneers can make the final regular-season week memorable for a group that has become much more to her than simply four players on a roster.

“This is the part of coaching nobody really prepares you for,” said Blalock. “We start out teaching kids how to play volleyball. Then somewhere along the way, they become my girls, our girls. And eventually, we get to watch them grow up and let them go.”

For one more week, Blalock and the Lady Pioneers plan to enjoy having all four together.

“These girls mean so much to me and to their teammates and we plan to enjoy our time being together and playing together this week,” said Blalock.

**Brent Carden photo -** The Pioneers got back to their winning ways Saturday morning at Nunley Stadium.

One more game together

There isn't much time for the WCMS football team to enjoy its latest victory.

There is, however, time for one more game together.

Warren County will make the quick turnaround from Saturday's 28-14 victory over Tullahoma to face Upperman Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a bowl game at Upperman.

The win Saturday moved the Pioneers to 6-2 and provided a strong response after Warren County had fallen 26-16 at Harris earlier in the week.

It's been an adversity-filled closing stretch for a team that opened the season 5-0. Warren County suffered its first loss against EO Coffman, lost standout fullback and defensive playmaker Mikhail Wilcher for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury and then fell at Harris.

Instead of letting the season unravel, the Pioneers responded with a two-touchdown victory over Tullahoma.

Now coach Ben Matheney has to get his group ready again with only a couple of days between games.

“For sure, the short turn around isn’t ideal. We were back today and went over the game plan with the team,” said Matheney when asked Sunday about looking forward to the bowl game. “(I’m) Just glad these boys have one more opportunity to play together and grow before we send them to the high school.”

Tuesday will be that opportunity.

Week 2 brings battles between early contenders

Week 1 gave Warren County basketball fans plenty of names to learn. Week 2 will start showing which teams and stars are ready to take control.

Monday's biggest showdown comes at Centertown, where two unbeaten girls teams collide.

Boyd has been dominant behind Sky Wright, who scored 30 points in two victories during the opening week. The Lady Warriors counter with plenty of firepower of their own.

Camilla Lopez poured in 14 points on opening night before Lynlee Taylor returned from illness Thursday and scored 10 in a 24-9 victory over Bobby Ray.

Centertown could face another unbeaten Thursday when it travels to Irving College. Hadlee Green scored 10 in the Lady Tigers' opener, while Sophia Stubblefield has emerged as another difference-maker for a 2-0 Irving College squad.

Defending champion Hickory Creek is also 2-0 with Kimber Lowe and Blakely Martin coming off double-digit performances.

The boys race already looks wide open.

Centertown is 2-0 behind Greyson Eubanks and Colt Bratcher, while Irving College also enters Week 2 unbeaten. West may have made the biggest statement Thursday when Cam Chadwell and the Wizards knocked off Hickory Creek 27-13 in their debut.

Dibrell also showed how quickly things can change. After losing its opener, the Wildcats exploded for 48 points at Boyd as Jeb Culwell scored 14 and Owen Willis added 12.

Seven more elementary matchups are scheduled this week, with four Monday and three Thursday.

Regional dreams continue on the course

Two weather delays couldn't keep Warren County golfers from earning several reasons to celebrate at the District 9-AA Championship.

Now they'll see how far those postseason runs can go.

The Lady Pioneers shot 205 at Lakewood Golf Course in Tullahoma to finish second in the district and advance to Tuesday's region tournament as a team.

Gabby Molloy led Warren County with a second-medalist finish, while Lucy Mulligan finished fourth individually.

The Pioneer boys finished fourth with a team score of 348, but their season isn't completely over either.

Noel Davis fired a 78 and Ryder Hobbs shot 88, with both earning individual berths in the region tournament.

Warren County's regional qualifiers will be back on the course Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Pioneers get another chance to race

WCHS cross country will have a quick midweek opportunity to get back on the course when the Pioneers compete in Meet in the Middle Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The Pioneers have been busy in recent weeks, including the Burnett Invitational where Emma Woodlee returned to lead the Lady Pioneers with a 17th-place finish in 23:28.06 and Shiloh White paced the boys in 20:45.42.

Woodlee's return provided a boost for a Lady Pioneer team that finished sixth at Burnett, while Warren County's boys placed 10th.

Wednesday gives both groups another chance to build toward the final portion of the cross country season.

Boyd Christian's runners will also be in action this week, competing in a TSIAA meet Monday at 3 p.m.