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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 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.