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Young Lady Pioneers on a roll
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Photo provided The WCHS JV girls basketball team has enjoyed a strong start to the season, going 8-3 through the first month. Members of the team are, front row, from left, Zoie Verge, Chloe Wanamaker, Brinlee Griffith, Valery Esparza, Addison Steakley, Alexia Ross, Gaby Castillo and manager Mayliah Manier. Back row, manager Liyah Johnson, Kealey Simpson, Anslee Crick, Harmoni Kennerly, Maci McBride, Alyssa Parsley and Aubrey Oleksik.
Jeffery Simmons
Published: Dec 22, 2023, 3:03 AM
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Freshman Aubrey Oleksik has flashed a growing skill set for the Lady Pioneers this season.

Rebuilding the Lady Pioneer basketball program was never going to be an easy task after five unforgettable seniors walked across the graduation stage in May. While the varsity team has had its share of struggles this year, the youth-filled junior varsity team is showing plenty of promise.

Warren County moved its record to 8-3 this week with a dominating 52-14 victory over Cannon County Monday. Coupled with a win over Riverdale (39-31) Saturday, the Lady Pioneers are getting big-time minutes from many girls who could be future stars at Charlie Dalton Gym.

“I got to take a minute and brag on our JV girls. They put in work – seven days a week sometimes (and are) constantly striving to get better,” said JV coach Kasey Owens in a social media post this weekend. “They are hungry. I’m so proud to coach an awesome set of girls. They are 8-3 right now and looking to add to the win column. (The) Future is bright!”

The young Lady Pioneers have a mixture of size and speed in the freshman and sophomore ranks. Against Cannon County, sophomore Kealey Simpson – who recently earned her first varsity start at White County – had eight points as she commanded the paint. On the wing, freshman Alexia Ross and junior Valery Esparza had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Freshman Chloe Wanamaker, a fixture among the top guards in county basketball the last two years at Morrison, added six points as she showed off her speed in the full court. Wanamaker is one of many young players looking to make the adjustment to high school basketball after playing local county ball, including Alyssa Parsley (Eastside post who has seen varsity minutes in the paint this year) and Simpson (a former Centertown star who played her freshman year at Boyd). 

Former Dibrell post Anslee Crick and Morrison forward Harmoni Kennerly were set to make help out the JV team this winter as well, but injuries have kept them away from the court so far.

The core of the WCMS team that won 23 games last year under Mendy Stotts has helped on the JV team as well. Maci McBride, a starter for varsity most of this year, got some work in with her classmates over the last week, scoring two points in a limited role against Cannon County Monday. Addison Steakley, another star for WCMS last year, had four points against the Lionettes in a blowout win.

Aubrey Oleksik, recently promoted into the starting lineup for the varsity team, has spent some time on JV as well this year. Ross and Gaby Castillo were also members of last year’s WCMS team that are making big plays for the JV squad this winter.
WCHS softball blanks Warren East, baseball goes 1-3 through weekend
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Matt Tyson
Published: Apr 9, 2025, 2:26 AM

Two days after steamrolling Shelbyville 20-0, the Warren County softball team carried its hot streak into the weekend with a Saturday matchup against Warren East (Ky.).

The Lady Pioneers continued to roll, taking down the visiting Lady Raiders 5-0.

The team posted nine hits over the course of the game, led by Lily Rains and Kyaira Sharpe with two each.

Addison Smith, Kaydence Wiser, Cortlyn Porter, Ceilee Gudat and Ali Young all followed with one hit each.

Porter had two of Warren County’s five RBI, with one each for Wiser, Sharpe and Young.

Gudat went the distance in the circle, striking out six and holding Warren East to four hits across all seven innings.

WCHS baseball loses three of four.

The Warren County High School baseball team was back in action Friday evening with a pair of games against Marion County and Heritage Christian (Ala.).

In their first game against Marion County, the Pioneers came up just short in an 8-7, 5.5-inning loss.

Sam Robinson led Warren County’s effort at the plate with two of the team’s seven hits. Tyler Adams, Ryder Gilispie, Woogs Bryan, Hayven Jones and Corban Felton each added one. Adams, Robinson, Jones and Jerren Harris each had one RBI for a team total of four.

Brady Swallows got it started on the mound with three strikeouts, three hits, four runs and three walks. Jaytton Baker followed for 1.1 innings and came off with five hits and three runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped it up with two strikeouts, two hits and one run over the last two innings.

The Pioneers had better luck in their nightcap against Heritage Christian, coming out on top 4-1 in five innings.

Warren County finished the game with eight hits, including two each for both Gilispie and Bryan. Felton, Jones, Baker and Evan Snapp followed with one hit each.

Bryan came away with two of the team’s three RBI, with Gilispie adding the third.

Jones pitched 4.2 innings and finished with six strikeouts, five hits, one run and six walks.

Gilispie came on to close out the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Pioneers were back at it Saturday with two more games against Sequatchie County and Whitwell, respectively.

Opening against Sequatchie County, Warren County gave up eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on the way to a 9-0, 6.5-inning shutout loss to begin the day.

The team was held to three hits, with one each for Felton, Bryan and Jones.

Keaton Rowe pitched 5.2 innings, striking out two and allowing six hits, eight runs and three walks. Isaac Smith added one strikeout, two hits and one run to close out the bottom of the sixth inning.

Warren County once again ran into scoring trouble against Whitwell, falling 6-1 in six innings to the Tigers.

Smith was credited with three of the team’s four hits, with Felton adding the fourth.

Robinson had the team’s lone RBI.

Braden Whinnery got it started on the mound with three strikeouts, three hits, four runs and one walk through 3.2 innings. Lealon Arnold came on in relief, finishing the top of the fourth inning with one hit and one run. Up next was Miguel Garcia, who additionally surrendered one hit and one run in the top of the fifth inning. Keagan Thompson closed it out, striking out one and adding one more hit over the remaining 1.2 innings.