UCR, WCSA partnering to broadcast Pioneers
The most popular sports show in Warren County will be expanding its coverage in 2026-27. The Warren County Sports Authority is partnering with Upper Cumberland Reporter (UCR) to become the broadcast team for a UCR-WCSA joint venture to cover Pioneer and Lady Pioneer sports next season.
The Warren County Sports Authority launched as a weekly podcast in 2024 and has since grown to reach over 200,000 views monthly on its Facebook page. The weekly show, streamed live each Wednesday on Facebook and also available on Spotify, Apple and YouTube, is hosted by Chris Sullens, Jeff Simmons and Trevor Evans - the same trio that will serve as the football broadcast team this fall.
“UCR is a cornerstone in high school athletics when it comes to digital media, broadcasts and local community outreach. We are excited for the opportunities a mutual endeavor brings to Warren County and the student athletes inside its school system,” said Sullens, owner of C&S Brokerage and Media Company.
Upper Cumberland Reporter (UCR) is the area’s leader in high school sports coverage. Specializing in comprehensive coverage of nearly two dozen high schools in the region, UCR provides free live streams, photo galleries, stories, highlight videos and more.
Upper Cumberland Reporter has been owned by Noah McKay and Justin Matheney since 2022, where they also serve as the lead broadcast team for the platform.
UCR reaches millions of viewers monthly on its Facebook page, which has grown to over 48,000 followers behind the guidance of McKay and Matheney and a dedicated staff delivering a quality product in real time during regular season and postseasons every season.
“We are excited to expand UCR's platform to McMinnville, and there is no better group of guys to do it with than the WCSA," McKay said. "We share a mission of putting a huge spotlight on the student athletes in our area, and this partnership will allow us to do that in a huge way."
Matheney added, “Joining forces with the guys at WCSA is a no-brainer. We cannot wait to bring UCR’s coverage to the student athletes in Warren County with the names you know and trust.”
Sullens has a long history of coaching in Warren County, winning over 300 games - including a pair of district basketball titles at WCHS - during his high school, middle school and county school stops locally. Sullens is also the owner of Sullens Transport, a local business which helps support a number of local sports teams.
Simmons has been covering sports in Warren County since 2010, garnering over a dozen of Tennessee Press Association awards along the way - including twice being named the state’s sports writer of the year. Simmons will be continuing his journalism on a new venture in the near future.
“This has been something our audience has wanted for a while and, with the help of UCR, we now get to give them what they want. We’ve always been committed to telling the stories and painting the picture of Warren County sports and this is another chance for us to boost our local athletes to a wider audience,” said Simmons.
Evans is a beloved member of the community after a memorable run with the 2020 district champion Pioneers. He came back to serve as a manager under Sullens, where he was able to help guide WCHS basketball team to another championship in 2021. Evans now works with Adam Wood - Farm Bureau, another proud supporter of Pioneer sports.
“I’m very excited to join forces with the guys from UCR - it’s a full-circle moment because I was going to do some broadcasts with them when I graduated before the COVID shutdowns. I’m glad we’re getting our chance now,” said Evans. “Noah and Justin have set the bar high for broadcasting and doing things the right way when it comes to serving the local community. I like to think the WCSA has done it in a similar way here, so this should only strengthen both UCR and the WCSA.”
Sponsorships with UCR broadcasts locally, powered by the WCSA broadcast team, will be available. Reach out to UCR or the WCSA Facebook pages to partner your business with the fastest-growing sports media company in the midstate and most recognized voices in Warren County.
