Sports Calendar: August 10-15

With the first week of competition in the books for several local teams, the fall sports season is beginning to take shape across Warren County.

The week ahead brings a heavy dose of district competition at the middle school level, along with a chance for the WCMS football team to build on its dominant season-opening victory. WCHS golf also returns to tournament action, while Pioneer football gets one final preseason opportunity and WCHS cross country and Boyd Christian volleyball make their season debuts.

WCMS football looking to build on fast start

The Pioneers could hardly have asked for a better beginning to their 2026 campaign.

Warren County Middle opened its season Thursday with a 44-14 road victory over border rival DeKalb County, scoring on six of its first seven possessions and building a 36-6 halftime lead before a running clock took effect in the second half.

Now, Warren County will try to carry that momentum on the road again when it travels to Jasper to face the Warriors on Thursday, Aug. 13, at 6:30 p.m.

The Pioneers showed plenty of weapons in their opener. Quarterback Dalls Gater scored twice on the ground, including a 56-yard touchdown, while Mikhail Wilcher added two rushing scores. Bryson Carroll, Gabe Rowland and several others also contributed to a rushing attack coach Ben Matheney felt was clicking from the start.

Warren County's defense was equally impressive, shutting down the Saints' offense and creating turnovers to complement a strong offensive showing.

Matheney was particularly encouraged by Gater's continued development running an offense he described as complex for the middle school level. While Warren County showed flashes through the air as well, Matheney said improving its timing in the passing game remains one of the team's next steps.

"As long as we keep improving, the sky's the limit with this team," Matheney said following the season opening victory in Smithville.

Thursday's trip to Jasper will give the Pioneers their next opportunity to show that improvement.

Lady Pioneers dive deeper into district play

After squeezing four matches into the first five days of the season, the Warren County Middle volleyball team will get little opportunity to slow down.

The Lady Pioneers went 3-1 during their opening week, picking up victories over Westwood, White County and Coffee County while suffering their lone loss against defending TMSAA Class AA state runner-up Upperman.

This week brings three more District 7-AA matches, beginning with an immediate opportunity for revenge.

Warren County travels to Upperman Monday for a rematch with the Lady Yellow Jackets before hosting Stone Memorial Tuesday and traveling to Avery Trace Thursday. All three junior varsity matches are scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with varsity to follow.

The Lady Pioneers were competitive throughout their first meeting with Upperman, holding multiple leads before the Lady Yellow Jackets closed stronger in both sets to win 25-22, 25-18.

Warren County responded well to the loss.

The Lady Pioneers defeated White County Thursday before traveling to Manchester Friday and sweeping Coffee County 25-19 and 25-16 despite playing their fourth match in five days. Fallon Youngblood was particularly effective from the service line against Coffee County, recording five aces and helping Warren County begin the opening set on an 11-0 run.

Ellie Dixon, Lyvia Wilson, Khloe Howell, Maebry Yates and Emma Boon have also been among the Lady Pioneers making early contributions for second-year coach Bethany Mesaros.

After surviving one of the busiest opening stretches on the schedule, Warren County now has a chance to begin establishing its place in the District 7-AA race.

WCMS soccer opens district slate

After waiting an extra day to finally get onto the field, the Warren County Middle girls soccer team made its season debut count.

The Lady Pioneers defeated Coffee County 3-2 Friday night in Manchester, overcoming multiple weather delays to give coach Sally Willmore a victory in the first match of her second season.

Warren County was originally scheduled to open Thursday against Franklin County, but inclement weather canceled the match. Lightning caused problems Friday, delaying the start before another stoppage came just six minutes into the first half.

Once the Lady Pioneers were able to stay on the field, Emma Kate Lippe, Finley MacDonald and L.B. Guthrie each found the back of the net. MacDonald's goal came on a header off a corner kick delivered by Guthrie.

The stakes increase this week as the Lady Pioneers begin District 7-AA play with two road matches.

Warren County travels to Avery Trace Monday for a 6 p.m. matchup before heading to Upperman Friday, also at 6 p.m.

With one victory already secured, the Lady Pioneers will now get an early look at where they stand in the district race.

WCHS golf returns to Early Bird

The Warren County High School golf team will return to tournament competition Monday when the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers travel to Cookeville for the Early Bird Tournament with tee time scheduled for 9 a.m.

Warren County will be returning to an event where it found success last season. The Pioneers finished second in the boys competition a year ago, while the Lady Pioneers placed ninth.

Both groups have already had several opportunities to test themselves this season.

Noel Davis has emerged as the early pace-setter for the Pioneers, leading Warren County in each of its first three tournaments. Davis recently shot an 82 at the Golf Capital Classic at Lake Tansi Golf Course, tying for 14th individually while helping the Pioneers finish eighth as a team.

Aiden van Vuuren, Sawyer Caten and Aden Johnson have also been among Warren County's regular scorers during the opening weeks.

The Lady Pioneers have shown promise as well, with Gabbi Molloy among the golfers Warren County will rely upon as the season progresses. The girls opened the year with a fourth-place finish at the Lawrence County Invitational before following it with another encouraging showing against White County and Livingston Academy.

Coach J.W. Holt has emphasized steady improvement throughout the early schedule, particularly with the postseason picture in mind. Monday's Early Bird will give both teams another opportunity to measure themselves against a larger tournament field as they continue working toward that goal.

Pioneers get final preseason tuneup

The WCHS football team’s preseason schedule did not go exactly according to plan, but the Pioneers will get one more opportunity to take the field before the games begin to count.

Warren County will host neighboring Coffee County Friday at 7 p.m. for its second and final preseason scrimmage.

The matchup is expected to feature a shortened, jamboree-style format of approximately two quarters rather than a full scrimmage. It will also be Warren County's first live action in two weeks after its scheduled trip to Columbia was canceled because of weather.

The Pioneers' lone completed scrimmage came July 31 against Spring Hill at Nunley Stadium.

Using a 10-play format rather than keeping an official score, Warren County produced three touchdown drives while its defense came away with multiple red-zone stops and turnovers.

Quarterback A.J. Whitman showed his ability both on the ground and through the air, while Carter Lee made plays on both sides of the ball. Running backs Huck Damon, James Meitling and Isaac Smith were among several players who received opportunities, while Marek Sadlon and Wesley Romzek were involved in the passing game.

Coach Eric Belew has spent much of the preseason evaluating more than individual plays. Entering year two, the Pioneer staff has emphasized the team's familiarity with the system, leadership and overall response when practices or scrimmages become difficult.

Friday will provide one final chance to do that against Coffee County before Warren County turns its full attention toward the regular season opener at DeKalb on Aug. 21.

Seasons begin for Boyd volleyball, WCHS cross country

Two more local teams will officially join the fall sports calendar this week.

Boyd Christian volleyball begins its season Monday, Aug. 10 at J.K. Stanley Gymnasium, hosting Franklin Road Christian Academy at 6 p.m. in the first of three TSIAA matches scheduled during the week.

The Lady Broncos then travel to Lancaster Christian Tuesday for a 7 p.m. matchup before returning home Thursday to host Riverside Christian at 6 p.m.

The season marks the beginning of a new chapter for the program under first-year head coach Emily Davis, a 2024 Warren County High School graduate and former four-year Lady Pioneer volleyball player, who takes over a Boyd program entering its fourth season with a different head coach. 

After spending the preseason getting accustomed to her new team, Monday will be the first opportunity for Davis and the Lady Broncos to see how that work translates into meaningful competition.

Warren County High School cross country will make its season debut one day later on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers are scheduled to compete Tuesday in the Mountain Lion Jamboree at St. Andrews-Sewanee. Middle school races are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., followed by the high school competition at 6 p.m.

Warren County enters the season looking to build on a historic finish to 2025.

Emma Woodlee and Malachi Wilcher both qualified for the TSSAA State Cross Country Championships last fall, marking the first time in school history Warren County was represented in both the boys and girls state races in the same season.

Woodlee continues to work her way back from injury, but Tuesday's trip to Sewanee will officially begin another season for a Warren County cross country program hoping last year's historic finish was another step forward.

Full Schedule

(Subject to change)

Monday, Aug. 10
WCHS golf at Cookeville Early Bird - 9 a.m.
WCMS volleyball at Upperman - 5:30 p.m.
WCMS girls soccer at Avery Trace - 6 p.m.
Boyd volleyball vs Franklin Road Christian - 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 11
WCHS cross country at Sewanee Mountain Lion Jamboree - 5 p.m.
WCMS volleyball vs Stone Memorial - 5:30 p.m.
Boyd volleyball at Lancaster Christian - 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 13
WCMS volleyball at Avery Trace - 5:30 p.m.
Boyd volleyball vs Riverside Christian - 6 p.m.
WCMS football at Jasper - 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 14
WCHS football vs Coffee County (scrimmage) - 7 p.m.
WCMS girls soccer at Upperman - 6 p.m.