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Yokley finishes third in state
Lady Pioneer performs well at TSSAA State Wrestling Tournament
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Lady Pioneer Hollie Yokley has her hand raised after winning her match for a third-place finish in the TSSAA State Wrestling Tournament. She is a two-time medalist at the state level and improved this season over her fourth-place finish last year.
Kyle Robinson
Updated: Feb 23, 2016, 11:38 PM
Published: Feb 24, 2016, 12:38 AM

Hollie Yokley has been on a personal quest after last year’s fourth-place finish at the TSSAA State Wrestling Tournament.
Most wrestlers would have been satisfied with a top 4 finish at the state level, but Yokley wanted more. Her strenuous workout regimen and dedication got her all the way back to this year’s TSSAA State Tournament.
After a loss to the eventual winner of the tournament in her second match, Yokley fought her way back up the loser’s bracket for a bronze medal and a third-place finish.
Yokley, a 17-year-old junior at Warren County High School, is one of only a few Lady Pioneer wrestlers. She blazed a trail through the season and earned a second consecutive trip to the state wrestling tournament in the 130-pound class.
On Friday, in her first match, Yokely defeated Saskia Buse, a foreign exchange student who refused to wrestle Yokley. She advanced to the second round without even breaking a sweat.
In the second round Friday night, she was faced with her toughest match of the tournament, admitted Yokley. In a back-and-forth match that lasted the entire three rounds, Yokley was defeated by Krista Legagneur of Bearden, 15-12.
Yokley got off to an early 5-0 start and then she made some mistakes that allowed Legagneur to claim the lead. Not able to take control back, her frustration quickly mounted.
Yokley left herself open and got caught late in the third. She was able to regain control with 30 seconds left.
Yokley made a move that would have tied the match as time expired.  The loss moved her to the loser’s bracket and cost Yokley any hopes of a first-place finish.
On Saturday morning, Yokley returned and refused to settle and maintained her composure. Her next opponent was Sky DeWeese from White House and just 43 seconds into the match Yokley took her straight to her back and pinned DeWeeese to the mat.
Her momentum skyrocketed and Yokley was pumped and was guaranteed at least a fourth-place finish.
In her final match, she faced Kyah St. Marie from Stone Memorial, a favorite to win the state tournament this year.
Yokley took her down in the first round and put the heavily favored St. Marie on her back. In the second round St. Marie escaped and scored. Yokley took her back to the mat and after two rounds Yokley led 10-1.
In the third and final round Yokley again took her opponent to the mat and laced her on her back. This time Yokley was well aware of the implications of the match and wrapped up her opponent and won the match by pinfall with 1:09 left.
Yokley is Warren County’s first two-time medalist in the state wrestling tournament and the highest placing medalist for WCHS in wrestling.
She is already in the planning stages for next season and plans on attending camps over the summer. She credits her coaches Dave Holcomb, Stephen Martin, and Bob Bailey. She also is thankful to former Warren County Pioneer wrestler Ray Bishop and her instructor at Gary Steele Karate, Paul Byars.
WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 2, 2025, 10:16 PM

One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.