WCHS Athlete of the Week

The Pioneers’ season may have ended in disappointment, but senior Ethan Holder made sure his final appearance in a Warren County uniform was a memorable one.

Holder delivered another strong defensive performance in Thursday night's 21-14 loss to LaVergne in the 19th Nurseryman's Bowl at Nunley Stadium, earning recognition as the Main Street Journal's Reddick Brown Ford WCHS Athlete of the Week for Nov. 1-7.

The Pioneer senior finished with nine tackles, including six solo stops and three assists, while recording a sack and a tackle for loss.

Holder also made his presence felt on special teams, blocking a LaVergne punt early in the third quarter to give Warren County possession at the Wolverine 23-yard line.

With the Pioneers holding a 14-8 halftime advantage, the blocked punt provided an opportunity to extend their lead. Warren County was unable to capitalize, however, gaining just three yards before a missed field goal kept LaVergne within striking distance.

Despite the missed opportunity, Holder helped anchor a defensive effort that kept Warren County in contention throughout the night. 

Thursday's performance capped a productive senior campaign for Holder, who finished the 2026 season with 69 total tackles, including 38 solo stops and 31 assists. He also recorded 13 tackles for loss and three sacks across Warren County's 11 games.

Holder opened the season with one of his strongest outings, recording a season-high 12 tackles and three tackles for loss against DeKalb County on Aug. 21. He added two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 34-21 victory over Franklin County on Sept. 11.

His production continued throughout the fall, including seven tackles against Stone Memorial, six against Cannon County and 10 against Howard before closing the season with nine against LaVergne.

Holder's contributions also attracted attention at the collegiate level. In late October, he received an offer to continue his football career at Maryville College, joining teammates Camron Holder, Canaan Curtis and Ryan Romzek among four Pioneers to receive offers from the Scots.

For Holder, the Nurseryman's Bowl marked the end of one chapter, but his productive senior season and interest from Maryville College have given him plenty to look forward to.