Repeating last year’s run to the state tournament began Monday for the Warren County High School Lady Pioneer golf team, while the Pioneers started retooling their roster in hopes of making a bigger splash in District 6-AAA this year.
The local teams gathered at McMinnville Country Club Monday as coach J.W. Holt made his selections for the players who will be representing Warren County. Coach Holt picked nine Lady Pioneers while 10 golfers make up the Pioneer roster.
The main members from last year’s state-tournament run return to the girls golf team, including last year’s District 6-AAA player of the year and freshman of the year Hannah Powell. Powell was the top performer in last year’s district tournament and helped the Lady Pioneers capture a fourth-place finish in the 2013 state tournament held at Willowbrook Golf Course. Warren County held a share of the lead after the first day of competition before falling behind eventual winner Science Hill.
Hannah looked primed for another stellar season Monday as she led all players at tryouts by shooting 71 in her opening round.
Also returning from last year’s roster are senior Brittany Myers and junior Saylem Powell. Along with Hannah Powell, the trio became one of the top teams in the Midstate while winning tournaments in Cookeville and Murfreesboro.
Coach Holt believes the sky is the limit for his girls team as his three top players return.
“We obviously have very lofty goals for the girls team. They begin the season as one of a handful of teams that should be in contention for a state championship,” said Holt.
The girls team also includes sophomores Mia Grace Cantrell, Alli Mingle and Belle Ramsey. Freshmen Baleria Vargas and Ashlee Myers round out the roster.
The boys team will be led by three seniors – Nicholas Powell, Nick Stern and Chandler Cassel. Powell, the older brother of Hannah Powell, is two years removed from qualifying for the state tournament individually as a sophomore.
Stern was one of the team’s most consistent performers last year while Cassel is vying for one the team’s last varsity spots.
Juniors Liam Brock and Logan Bodnar are also back for the Pioneers, as is sophomore Bracton Womack – one of the top freshmen in the district a year ago.
Newcomers include sophomore Gavin Harper and freshmen Nate Cantrell, Jaeden Pyburn and Bunker Brock – Liam’s younger brother.
Coach Holt is hopeful his boys team will be vastly improved this year, especially after seeing six members of his squad turn in scores in the 70s Monday. Coach Holt believes with consistent play from the bottom of this roster, the Pioneers could challenge Cookeville and White County for the district title.
“I’m pretty excited about the boys. I believe we have guys at the top who will turn in scores in the 70s consistently. It will be crucial to get those type of scores from our No. 4 and 5 players,” said Holt.
The golf teams will begin practice immediately as the season approaches in next few weeks. Warren County will begin its season Monday, July 21 with a dual match against Cookeville and White County in Cookeville.
The Pioneers and Lady Pioneers will make their home debut Thursday, July 31 against Cumberland County.
Along with playing matches against fellow district foes Rhea County and Stone Memorial, Warren County is set to take part in tournaments held in Tullahoma, Murfreesboro, Cookeville, Crossville and McMinnville (the Keith Maxwell Invitational Sept. 2).
The District 6-AAA tournament is set to be played in Cookeville Sept. 15 while the state tournament will once again be held in Manchester Sept. 29 through Oct. 1.