Sports Calendar: August 17-22

Fall sports hit another gear this week in Warren County.

High school football joins the mix Friday night when the Pioneers make the short trip to Smithville to open the season against longtime rival DeKalb County, while WCHS volleyball, girls soccer and cross country also make their 2026 debuts.

There is plenty already underway as well. The WCHS golf team will finally get its first home match, Boyd Christian volleyball continues its pursuit of a breakthrough victory and Warren County Middle School enters a busy stretch with football and girls soccer still unbeaten and volleyball riding back-to-back wins. 

From Monday afternoon through Friday night, the local schedule offers little room to slow down.

Border battle kicks off Pioneers’ season

The wait for Friday night lights is almost over for Warren County.

After a preseason that did not go entirely according to plan, the WCHS football team will finally play a game that counts Friday when the Pioneers make the short trip to Smithville for their annual border battle with DeKalb County.

Nearly three weeks will have passed between live action for Warren County by the time it takes the field. The Pioneers completed only one of their three scheduled preseason scrimmages, facing Spring Hill at Nunley Stadium on July 30 before weather wiped out a planned outing at Columbia and Coffee County's mounting injuries led to the cancellation of Friday's scheduled jamboree-style tune-up at Nunley Stadium.

In their only preseason action against Spring Hill, Warren County used a 10-play format and produced three touchdown drives while the Pioneer defense settled in after a shaky start. Quarterback A.J. Whitman flashed his ability on the ground and through the air, while Carter Lee made an impact on both sides of the ball and running backs Huck Damon and James Meitling were among several players to receive opportunities.

Now there will be no more rehearsals.

Warren County opens against one of its most familiar opponents Friday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at DeKalb County.

The Tigers enter the 2026 season in a period of transition after longtime coach Steve Trapp stepped down following 21 seasons. Former assistant Michael Shaw takes over a program that finished 4-6 last fall and lost 11 seniors to graduation.

DeKalb County may be changing at the top, but recent meetings suggest Warren County should expect another battle.

Five of the last eight games between the neighboring programs have been decided by 10 points or fewer. Warren County won in 2023 before DeKalb answered with victories in each of the last two seasons.

Last year's opener may still sting the most.

Warren County fell 19-16 at Nunley Stadium after a night featuring a scoreboard malfunction and a nearly hour-long lightning delay. The Pioneers were driving late before coming up short on fourth down in Tiger territory, allowing DeKalb County to run out the clock.

Friday offers Warren County an opportunity to reverse that result while beginning what the Pioneers hope will be another step forward after finishing 6-5 last year in Eric Belew's first season as head coach.

High school sports in full swing

Football will be the final WCHS program to begin competition later this week, but it will hardly be the only debut.

The Lady Pioneer volleyball team, coming off a 16-10 season last year and third place finish in District 7-3A, spent the preseason testing themselves against a wide range of competition, including hosting the Tree City Playday and an East Tennessee road trip to the Attack at the Rock Playday. Warren County saw opponents such as Knoxville Catholic, Bardstown, Seymour and Cleveland during its trip to Gatlinburg, giving the team opportunities to work against different styles before the matches begin to count.

Warren County will visit Cannon County Monday at 6 p.m., then return to Charlie Dalton Gymnasium for back-to-back district matches. Wilson Central comes to town Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m., followed by LaVergne on Thursday, Aug. 20 at the same time.

The WCHS girls soccer team will also trade preseason tune-ups for meaningful matches this week.

The Lady Pioneers enter the season after a promising preseason in which they finished 3-0-1, scored nine goals and allowed only two. Six different players found the net, providing an encouraging display of balance from an offense looking for new sources of production.

Junior Emory MacDonald led the preseason scoring with three goals. Noelle Bratcher added two goals and an assist, while Izzy Rodriguez, Addison Steakley, Ashlyn Bailey and Giselle Escamilla also scored.

The Lady Pioneers finished 7-7-2 last season in Todd Willmore's return as head coach, falling to Lincoln County in the opening round of the District 9-3A Tournament to end the 2025 season. Their opportunity to begin a new campaign comes Tuesday at 6 p.m., when they play host to Ooltewah before traveling to Riverdale for a 7 p.m. kickoff Thursday.

WCHS cross country will join the quartet of high school teams making their season debut this week, traveling to Unionville Wednesday, Aug. 19 for the Community High School Trail Invitational. Middle school races are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., with the high school competitions following at 5 p.m.

Warren County enters the season hoping to build on a historic finish to 2025. Emma Woodlee and Malachi Wilcher, both sophomores on last year's squad, each qualified for the TSSAA State Cross Country Championships last fall, marking the first time in school history WCHS was represented in both the boys and girls state races during the same season.

Woodlee continues to work her way back from injury, but Wednesday will provide the first measuring stick for a program looking to build on last fall's breakthrough.

Lady Broncos continue pursuit of first win

The Lady Broncos came closer and closer during their opening week, and now they will try to take the next step.

Boyd enters week two under first-year coach Emily Davis still searching for its first match victory after an 0-3 start, but the results have shown steady progress.

After dropping their opener to Franklin Road Christian in straight sets last Monday, the Lady Broncos captured their first set victory in a four-set loss at Lancaster Christian on Tuesday.

Two nights later, Boyd pushed Riverside Christian all the way to a deciding fifth set at J.K. Stanley Gymnasium. Boyd took the opener 26-24 and, after Riverside won the next two, responded with a 25-19 victory in the fourth to force a winner-take-all fifth. Riverside ultimately pulled away 15-5, but the performance represented another step forward.

The Lady Broncos will get two more opportunities in TSIAA play this week, traveling to Highland Rim on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before visiting Franklin Classical Thursday at the same time.

WCHS golf finally comes home

After three weeks on the road, the WCHS golf team will finally get a taste of home cooking.

The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers play host to Lincoln County on Monday, Aug. 17 for their first home match of the season, welcoming their District 9-AA opponent to McMinnville Country Club for a 1 p.m. tee time.

Warren County enters the match with several encouraging performances already in the books.

The Lady Pioneers have shown steady improvement in the early going, most recently shooting a 178 to finish fourth among 11 teams at the Cookeville Early Bird Tournament.

Gabbi Molloy led Warren County with an 85, her best round of the season, while Lucy Mulligan followed with a 93.

Senior Noel Davis continued his strong start on the boys side by firing a season-best 72 and finishing fourth individually. Warren County shot 353 as a team, improving by 15 strokes from its previous tournament at the Golf Capital Classic.

The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers will not have to travel far for their second competition of the week, either.

After Monday's home match, Warren County will head up Highway 55 Wednesday for the Golden Classic at WillowBrook Golf Club, where play is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Middle school teams look to stay hot

The feeling of victory is starting to become very familiar for several Warren County Middle School teams.

The WCMS football and girls soccer teams enter the week undefeated, while Lady Pioneer volleyball has responded from a difficult stretch with consecutive victories. All three will have opportunities to continue their strong starts during a packed five-day stretch.

On the football side, the Pioneers get their first opportunity to play at home on Tuesday when Bridgeforth visits Nunley Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

The Pioneers improved to 2-0 Thursday with a 30-14 victory at Jasper, overcoming a sluggish opening half before scoring 22 second half points and pulling away.

Brody Chisam, Dallas Gater, Gabe Rowland and Bryson Carroll each scored as Warren County's deep group of backs and productive offensive line eventually wore down the Warriors.

The WCMS girls soccer team has been every bit as impressive.

The Lady Pioneers enter the week 3-0 after rolling to consecutive 7-0 district victories over Avery Trace and Upperman. Warren County has outscored its first three opponents 17-2 and has not surrendered a goal since its 3-2 season-opening victory at Coffee County back on Aug. 7.

L.B. Guthrie has led the offensive surge with six goals through three matches, while Emma Kate Lippe has four. Abigail Laxson, Jensi Griffith and Finley MacDonald each have two.

After having their originally scheduled home opener against Franklin County canceled by weather, the Lady Pioneers finally get to play in front of a home crowd on Monday when Tullahoma visits the WCHS soccer field at 5:30 p.m. Warren County closes its week Friday at home against Algood at 6 p.m.

No local team will be busier this week than WCMS volleyball.

The Lady Pioneers face four opponents in five days, beginning Monday at home against Cumberland County. Warren County then travels to White County Tuesday before returning home to face Avery Trace on Thursday and Coffee County on Friday in a non-district contest. 

Warren County enters the stretch on a two-match winning streak after rallying past Stone Memorial in three sets Tuesday and sweeping Avery Trace 25-20 and 25-19 on Thursday, overcoming a six-point deficit in the second set to complete the straight set victory.

The Lady Pioneers begin their four-match gauntlet Monday at 5:30 p.m. against Cumberland County and will hardly have time to catch their breath before the next one.

Full Schedule

(Subject to change)

Monday, Aug. 17
WCHS golf vs Lincoln Co. - 1 p.m.
WCMS volleyball vs Cumberland County - 5:30 p.m.
WCMS girls soccer vs Tullahoma - 5:30 p.m.
WCHS volleyball at Cannon County - 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 18
WCMS volleyball at White Co. - 5:30 p.m.
WCHS volleyball vs Wilson Central - 6 p.m.
WCHS girls soccer vs Ooltewah - 6 p.m.
Boyd volleyball at Highland Rim - 6 p.m.
WCMS football vs Bridgeforth - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 19
WCHS golf at Golden Classic (WillowBrook GC) - 9 a.m.
WCHS cross country at Community - 5 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 20
WCMS volleyball vs Avery Trace - 5:30 p.m.
WCHS volleyball vs LaVergne - 6 p.m.
Boyd volleyball at Franklin Classical - 6 p.m.
WCHS girls soccer at Riverdale 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 21
WCMS volleyball vs Coffee County - 5:30 p.m.
WCMS girls soccer vs Algood - 6 p.m.
WCHS football at DeKalb County - 7 p.m.