Sports Calendar: October 26-31
Halloween is just around the corner, but with state championship hopes, new seasons and unbeaten records at stake, Warren County will have plenty of tricks, treats and intrigue in store for the week ahead in sports.
The WCHS cross country teams will chase state berths on Monday, while Warren County Middle School opens its basketball and wrestling seasons and elementary basketball teams continue jockeying for position in the standings.
The week wraps up on Friday night at Nunley Stadium, where the WCHS football team will celebrate Senior Night against Glencliff as the Pioneers look to build on last week's convincing victory over Howard and pick up their second straight win.
Pioneers eye Senior Night victory
After three frustrating weeks, Warren County finally found its way back into the win column Friday night, and now the Pioneers will look to keep the momentum rolling as they return to Nunley Stadium for Senior Night.
Warren County (4-5) will host Glencliff (1-8) Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m., looking to build on a 41-18 road victory over Howard that snapped a three-game losing streak. The matchup marks the Pioneers' final game of the regular season before they welcome LaVergne for the Nurserymen's Bowl on Thursday, Nov. 5.
The Pioneers had little trouble finding the end zone in Chattanooga, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions and six times overall. Warren County piled up 27 first-half points and carried a commanding 41-6 advantage into the fourth quarter after being outscored 129-23 during its previous three outings.
Quarterback A.J. Whitman led the resurgence, rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns while completing 6 of 10 passes for 103 yards and another score. Christian Munoz added 75 rushing yards on just four carries, while Carter Lee caught three passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Five different Pioneers reached the end zone, with Colton Gater, Dylan Aguilar and Cameron Redmore joining Whitman and Lee in the scoring column.
“Anytime we can get multiple guys with the ball in their hand, it's always going to benefit our offense,” coach Eric Belew said after Friday’s victory. “I was very pleased with that.”
The win also gives Warren County an opportunity to finish above .500 for the second consecutive season, provided the Pioneers can close out their remaining two games with victories.
For Belew, Friday's return home will carry added significance as the program recognizes its seniors.
“We’re really excited to give a special night for our seniors,” Belew said. “I just love those guys to death.”
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Star 107 will have the radio call on 107.3 FM, with Jeff Barnes handling play-by-play alongside Ben Matheney. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. with Pioneer Nation Live, the official Warren County football pregame show, broadcasting from Nunley Stadium. The show will air on Star 107 and stream live on the Main Street Journal Facebook page and Main Street Media McMinnville YouTube channel.
Fans can also watch the game live on the Warren County Schools Television YouTube channel and BLTV Channel 180.
Road to state runs through Warren County
The regular season is in the rearview mirror for Warren County's cross country teams, and Monday brings their biggest race yet.
The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers will welcome visiting programs to Warren County High School for the Section 4-3A meet, with berths in the state meet up for grabs. The girls race begins at 10 a.m., followed by the boys at approximately 10:40 a.m.
Leading the Lady Pioneers will be Emma Woodlee, who is chasing her third consecutive appearance at the state championships after closing the regular season with her second individual victory of the fall.
Last time out, Woodlee took first place at the Sewanee 5K Invitational on Oct. 15, finishing in 21 minutes, 31 seconds. Warren County placed five girls among the top 13, with Jolene Meadows finishing fourth in 23:55 and Gracee O'Neal taking ninth in 24:32.
On the boys side, freshman Shiloh White led the Pioneers with an eighth-place finish in 20:10. Lucas Rhea took 10th in 20:17, followed by Christian Hewitt in 12th at 20:28, giving Warren County three runners among the top 12.
The strong finish had coach Kelsea Turner encouraged as her teams prepare to compete on familiar ground with their seasons at stake.
“We’ve continued to improve throughout the season, and it’s exciting to see our athletes putting themselves in a position to compete at a high level as we head into the postseason,” Turner said following the regular season finale at Sewanee.
The top four teams in each section race will advance to the state championships, along with the next five fastest individuals who are not members of qualifying teams.
WCMS basketball tips off new season
Warren County Middle School basketball coaches Tyra Rubio (left photo) and Isaiah Grayson (right photo) both enter their second seasons at the helm as the Lady Pioneers and Pioneers prepare to tip off the 2026-27 season on Tuesday.
A new basketball season is on the horizon for Warren County Middle School, with both varsity teams set to return to the court for a pair of matchups this week.
The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers will open at home Tuesday against Tullahoma West before hitting the road Thursday to face Tullahoma East, with both doubleheaders set for a 6 p.m. girls game start.
Both programs enter their second seasons under their respective head coaches, Isaiah Grayson leading the boys and Tyra Rubio guiding the girls, but each faces a different rebuilding challenge after losing several key contributors from last winter.
The Pioneers are coming off a 16-5 campaign that included a 5-3 mark in District 6-3A play and a trip to the district tournament semifinals. Warren County won 15 of its first 17 games before dropping three of its final four, including a 47-36 loss to White County in the postseason.
However, the Pioneers face considerable turnover after losing 10 eighth-graders, including much of the offensive firepower that fueled last season's success.
Kingston Judkins, who averaged 10.1 points per game, led a group of departing players that also included Aiden Contreras (7.4 ppg), Aiden van Vuuren (6.7 ppg), Austin Breedlove (6.2 ppg) and Jesiah Rippy (5.8 ppg). The five accounted for a sizable portion of Warren County's scoring last winter, leaving plenty of opportunities for a new group of Pioneers to emerge.
The Lady Pioneers, meanwhile, missed the postseason with a 4-16 record (0-8 in district) last winter and will look to take another step forward under Rubio.
Warren County also graduated five eighth-graders from its girls roster, including leading scorer Kinsley Simpson, who averaged 10.9 points per game. Anna Templeton and Christy Farmer were also among the departing contributors, leaving the Lady Pioneers with significant production to replace as they look to improve on last season's four-win campaign.
Both squads will get an early test of their new-look lineups with two games in three days to open the season.
WCMS wrestling returns to the mat
Another Warren County Middle School program will begin its season Thursday as the wrestling team returns to competition with championship expectations.
Warren County will travel to Cookeville High School for a 5 p.m. quad-meet against Prescott South, Algood and Avery Trace before heading to Spring Station Middle School on Saturday for the Mustang Dual Tournament.
The Pioneers are coming off another successful campaign under coach Ben Matheney, finishing 27-7 in dual competition and claiming their second consecutive Region 4-AA Dual Championship.
Warren County secured that title with a 58-29 victory over Tullahoma, continuing a run of regional success before its season ended with a narrow 47-40 loss to Lake Forest in the Section 2-AA semifinals.
The program also celebrated a historic individual achievement last winter as sixth-grader Tillie Galligan became the first WCMS wrestler to qualify for the TMSAA Girls State Championships. Galligan won the 84-pound sectional title before advancing to the state semifinals and finishing fourth overall.
With another season beginning, the Pioneers will look to build on a program that has established itself as a consistent contender at the regional level.
Boyd, West look to keep perfect records intact
Boyd Christian's Sky Wright (left photo) and West's Cam Chadwell (right photo) have helped lead their respective teams to unbeaten starts in elementary basketball this season.
The list of unbeaten teams has dwindled to two in Warren County elementary basketball, but the competition near the top of both divisions is far from settled.
Boyd Christian's Lady Broncos and West's Wizards enter Halloween week as the only remaining undefeated squads, with both looking to keep their perfect starts intact during another round of county matchups.
The Lady Broncos (6-0) seized sole possession of first place Thursday with a convincing 37-6 victory over previously unbeaten Hickory Creek in a rematch of last year's championship game.
Sky Wright led Boyd with 15 points, while Juliette Ferguson added 10. The Lady Broncos have outscored their six opponents 198-30, winning every contest by at least 18 points.
Boyd will visit Irving College (5-1) Monday in one of the week's most intriguing girls matchups before hosting West on Thursday.
Hickory Creek, Centertown and Irving College are all tied at 5-1, leaving a crowded chase behind Boyd. Centertown will visit Hickory Creek Monday, while Irving College travels to face the Lady Hawks on Thursday in another matchup with major standings implications.
On the boys side, West (5-0) remains alone atop the standings after handing Irving College its first loss in a 36-13 victory Monday. Cam Chadwell scored 14 points in that contest, bringing his season total to 62 and his average to 12.4 per game.
The Wizards will host Bobby Ray Monday before traveling to Boyd Christian Thursday, looking to preserve their position at the top.
Dibrell (6-1) has emerged as West's closest challenger, riding a six-game winning streak after defeating Irving College 31-23 Thursday. River Rice led the Wildcats with 12 points, while Jeb Culwell added 10.
Centertown and Hickory Creek are next at 4-2, followed by Irving College at 3-3, as several teams remain within striking distance of the leaders.
Monday's elementary schedule also includes Eastside at Morrison, while Thursday's slate features Centertown at Eastside and Morrison at Bobby Ray.
Full Schedule
(Subject to change)
Monday, Oct. 26
Section 4-3A Cross Country Meet at WCHS - 10 a.m
Elementary basketball:
Bobby Ray at West - 6 p.m.
Boyd at Irving College - 6 p.m.
Centertown at Hickory Creek - 6 p.m.
Eastside at Morrison - 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27
WCMS basketball vs Tullahoma West - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28
(No events scheduled)
Thursday, Oct. 29
WCMS wrestling at Cookeville - 5 p.m.
WCMS basketball at Tullahoma East - 6 p.m.
Elementary basketball:
Centertown at Eastside - 6 p.m.
Irving College at Hickory Creek - 6 p.m.
Morrison at Bobby Ray - 6 p.m.
West at Boyd - 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30
WCHS football vs Glencliff (Senior Night) - 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31
WCMS wrestling at Spring Station Mustang Dual Tournament
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