This week in sports: Aug. 18-23

It has finally arrived. For many of the local high school programs locally, it is officially the first game week of the 2025-26 school year. And for three squads, the first chance to perform in front of Pioneer Nation will come this week as well.

The Lady Pioneer soccer and volleyball teams will both make home debuts Thursday against Riverdale and Cookeville, respectively. The following night, expect a packed crowd at Nunley Stadium when the Pioneers once again kick off on the gridiron against DeKalb County.

Boyd golf will also be teeing off for the first time at McMinnville Country Club at 3:30 p.m.

Star 107 will be at Nunley Stadium to broadcast the football games against DeKalb County with the Voice of the Pioneers and WC Sports Hall of Famer Jay Walker on the call. As always, Walker will be joined by Jeff Lee in the booth as the Pioneers get ready for their annual tussle with the Tigers.

Also, be on the lookout for the Pioneer pregame show with the WCSA guys – Chris Sullens, Trevor Evans and Jeff Simmons – Friday afternoon.

Here’s a detailed look at This Week in Sports in Warren County:

Pioneers set for the real battles

 Warren County’s preseason is in the books, and now all eyes are on Aug. 22 and a season-opening showdown with DeKalb County at Nunley Stadium.

The Pioneers wrapped up their preseason slate with a 12-7 loss to Gordonsville in Friday’s Smith County Jamboree, ending a three-game run that also included a 14-0 loss to MBA and a 44-23 win over Dade County. While the scoreboard didn’t count in any of the matchups, first-year head coach Eric Belew was able to get a long look at his roster as he prepares for his debut.

Belew is leading the program into a new era, not only taking the reins but guiding the Pioneers through a schedule that - for the first time - won’t feature any region games. Instead, Warren County will play 10 non-region opponents and rely on overall performance to earn a playoff spot.

Last week, coach Belew thought his team’s slow start against Gordonsville could be attributed to looking forward at the Tigers. His challenge now: Be ready every day leading up to the Friday night lights.

“The emphasis is to be where our feet are. If we can control us and our dynamic, we’ll be fine,” said Belew, stressing the importance of being present and locked in to the task at hand each time the pads go on.

Kickoff for the Week 1 matchup against DeKalb County is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Nunley Stadium.

Lady Pioneers ready to make statements

With a seasoned senior class and returning all-district talent, the Warren County Lady Pioneer volleyball team is geared up for a big start to the 2025 season. The regular season opens Monday at Van Buren County, followed by a road match at Wilson Central Tuesday before Thursday’s highly anticipated home debut against Cookeville.

Coach Erin Blalock saw promising signs through a busy preseason, including local scrimmages and a strong showing at the Attack at the Rock tournament in Gatlinburg Aug. 9–10.

“The girls are making adjustments, seeing the court really well, and playing together as a team,” said Blalock. “That’s what we want to see as we inch closer to the start of the season.”

Leading the charge will be returning all-district performers Lola Wells and Ali Young. Wells, a dynamic weak-side hitter, recently committed to play softball at Tennessee Tech but continues to be a force on the volleyball court. Young, a steady back-row presence and serving specialist, will anchor the team’s defense.

Wells headlines a senior class that also includes setter Abigail Brown, middle blocker Samantha Saldana and jack-of-all-trades Hope Gilley. Saldana was limited by a preseason injury, but the team is hopeful she’ll be ready to make a big impact early in the season.

With experience and depth, the Lady Pioneers aim to make a statement early.

Time for soccer to kick off

The Warren County High School girls soccer team has spent the last two weeks sharpening up in preseason, and the Lady Pioneers have already shown signs of being ready for another competitive campaign.

WCHS looked sharp in a home scrimmage against Upperman, where the Lady Pioneers set the tone with energy and execution on both ends. They also had stretches of success against a talented Cookeville squad before closing preseason play with a matchup against Blackman.

The biggest storyline coming out of the preseason, though, is the health of senior leader Jayla Garibaldi. After fighting back from a previous ACL injury, Garibaldi suffered another injury against Blackman and is currently awaiting the results of scans this week. The program is hopeful she’ll still be able to contribute in her senior season.

With returning all-district players Addison Steakley and Chloe Wanamaker providing plenty of firepower, a strong senior class, and depth across the lineup, the Lady Pioneers will now turn their full attention to the regular season.

Warren County officially kicks off its 2025 schedule on the road Aug. 19 against Rhea County before hosting Riverdale in the home opener Aug. 21.

Here is a full schedule for Aug. 18-23:

Monday, Aug. 18
WCHS Golf at Coffee County, 1 p.m.
WCMS Volleyball at Prescott, 5 p.m.
WCHS cross country at Community, 5 p.m.
WCHS volleyball at Van Buren County, 5 p.m.
WCMS soccer at Prescott, 5:30 p.m.
WCHS Football (JV/Freshman) vs. Cookeville, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 19
Boyd golf at McMinnville CC, 3:30 p.m.
WCMS Volleyball at Avery Trace, 5 p.m.
WCHS Volleyball at Wilson Central, 5 p.m.
Boyd MS Volleyball vs. 931 Volleyball, 6 p.m.
WCHS Soccer at Rhea County, 6 p.m.
WCMS football vs. Coffee County, 6:30 p.m.
Boyd HS volleyball vs. 931 volleyball, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 20
WCHS Golf in Golden Classic, 9 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 21
WCHS freshman volleyball vs. Cookeville, 4:30 p.m.
Boyd MS volleyball at Legacy Athletics, 5 p.m.
WCMS volleyball vs. Coffee County, 5:30 p.m.
Boyd HS volleyball at Legacy Athletics, 6 p.m.
WCHS volleyball vs. Cookeville, 6:30 p.m.
WCHS Soccer vs. Riverdale, 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 22
WCMS soccer vs. Upperman, 5:30 p.m.
WCHS football vs. DeKalb County, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 23
WCHS Volleyball in Junior Slam Tournament, TBD