Let’s get ready to rumble!
The new school year started Wednesday and most fall sports seasons get under way this week, highlighted by the first Warren County High School football game Friday night at Nunley Stadium.
Before the WCHS Pioneers kick off their football season, a number of high school and middle school teams will see their first regular-season action earlier in the week. The WCHS Lady Pioneer volleyball team travels to Woodbury on Monday to face Cannon County in a match scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
It’s year two for coach Erin Blalock as leader of the WCHS volleyball program and she appears to have a solid nucleus led by seniors Bella Cantrell, Marli McBride, Juju Pyburn, Danika Reno and Mea Starkey.
After hitting the road on Monday, the high school volleyball team will play its first home match when Grundy County pays a visit to Charlie Dalton Gym on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
The WCHS Lady Pioneer soccer team is expected to be one of the strongest teams of any sport in Warren County this year. The Lady Pioneers return nearly every key player from last year’s squad that went undefeated in district play during the regular season.
Girls soccer season gets under way Tuesday in Ooltewah and the Lady Pioneers will stay on the road for another away match Thursday in Murfreesboro against Riverdale. Start time for both matches in scheduled for 6 p.m.
Soccer fans won’t get their first chance to see the Lady Pioneers at home until Aug. 24 against Central Magnet at 6 p.m.
High expectations greet the Lady Pioneers as the season gets under way. The team is bolstered by defensive star Shelby Roberts and offensive phenom Katie Toney, both seniors.
The Lady Pioneers had an intrasquad scrimmage and alumni game Friday night as a final tune-up for Ooltewah. “And to have some fun,” said coach Todd Willmore.
The game which promises to pack the most fans in the stands is the gridiron rivalry between DeKalb County and Warren County on Friday night. The series between these two teams couldn’t be much closer with the Pioneers holding an 8-7 edge in the 15-year history of the rivalry. The Pioneers have won three of the last four.
Warren County coach Matt Turner broke a 29-year drought without a winning football season with last year’s 8-3 team.
Turner will now be looking to string together back-to-back winning seasons for WCHS football for the first time since the 1982 and 1983 seasons.
