The Central High School junior varsity wrestlers sent 7 competitors to the MTWOA grand championships and they were able to get three placements.
Lyra Leftwich took 2nd place in girls 145 pounds, Ian Walker 2nd in freshman 195 and Josh Bowland 3rd in freshman 152.
Lyra Leftwich 
Josh Bowland 
Ian Walker
Three swimmers make state cuts on senior night
Coffee County swimmers celebrated seniors and 8th graders on January 14.
It was supposed to be a dual meet against St. Andrews Sewanee. Unfortunately, St Andrews didn’t make it down the mountain for the meet due to Covid. The meet ran as normal as an Intra-Squad meet and against homeschool team, Grace Academy.
The majority of both teams swim side by side during the week as Manchester Makos. Despite that, there were several great swims, with 3 State cuts made by Junior Emily Williams in the 100 butterfly clocking at a 106.44. Freshman teammates, Abby Gilday and Elsie Lazalier posted State cuts in the 500 Freestyle.
On the Middle school sides, Westwood swimmer Karsyn Riddle qualified for MS Regionals in the 50 freestyle with a time of 35.04. Jacob Bolin from CCMS, clocked in at 33.61 qualifying for MS Regionals.
Raider defense smothers Rebels as CHS moves into tie for district lead
They say that defense travels well.
Coffee County’s sure did Friday night.
The Red Raiders of Central High School held Franklin County to 6 points in the first quarter, 6 in the second and 2 in the fourth quarter to leave Franklin County High School with a 44-28 victory and a new spot tied atop the District 6-4A rankings.
The win avenged a 10 point home loss to the Rebels the previous week.
Coffee County flustered the Rebels all night. CHS held Shamar Lyons to just 2 points – none from the field – and those came in the final minutes. Lyons torched the Raiders for 21 the prior week.
Meanwhile, on offense Coffee County opened the floor was some early 3-point shooting. Junior Dayne Crosslin buried three from the arc and finished with a team-high 11 points. Connor Shemwell and Cooper Reed also hit 3-pointers in the first half.
Outside shooting opened the middle and the Raiders attacked the paint immediately to open the third quarter. In addition to stellar defense, the Raiders also cleaned up their turnovers from the first matchup. They finished with only 8 team turnovers (2 in the first half, 6 in the third quarter) compared to 20 in the first meeting.
Coffee County led the game wire to wire. Shemwell finished with 9 points, Aidan Abellana 7 and Reed and Phineas Rollman with 5 apiece. Crosslin was named Thunder Radio broadcast Stone Fort Mortgage Player of the Game.
The Raiders improve to 12-7 on the season with the win and 3-1 in District 6-4A play. It puts CHS in a tie with the Rebels for first place.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR AUDIO REPLAY.
Girls forfeit win
The Lady Raiders earned a win while cheering from the student section. Franklin County forfeited the game due to sickness, giving CHS the win and improving the Lady Raiders to 4-0 in District 6-4A play.
Both Raiders and Lady Raiders will return home on Monday, Jan. 24 for a non-district tilt against Lighthouse Christian. Girls tip at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow – senior night will be celebrated between games. Both games will be broadcast LIVE on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com.
Brady Nugent 
Dayne Crosslin 
Aidan Abellana
BASKETBALL: Lady Raiders advance to CTC championship, Raiders eliminated
The Coffee Middle School Lady Raider basketball team is headed to the CTC Championship game.
The Lady Raiders disposed by East Tullahoma in dominant fashion Thursday at South Middle School – rolling to a 52-17 win. Natalie Barnes and Ella Arnold led the way with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Seventh grader Jaydee Nogodula added 8.
The win improves CMS to 18-2 overall / 12-1 in CTC play. The Lady Raiders will play in the CTC Championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday at South Middle. That game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go App and thunder1320.com.
Coffee Middle Red Raiders 17, North Gators 33
A 4-point first quarter from Landan Abellana helped the CMS Red Raiders to a 6-6 first-quarter tie with North. But the Raiders couldn’t muster enough offense and fell to the Gators 33-17 at South Middle School.
The loss eliminates the Raiders in the first round of the CTC tournament. They fall to 4-14 on the season.
Abellana led the way for CMS with 6 points.
BASKETBALL: Coffee County to host senior night January 24
Coffee County Central’s basketball programs will host senior night on Monday, January 24 at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium.
The Lady Raiders (18-3 overall / no. 6 Associated Press state poll) will be honoring seniors Elli Chumley and Kiya Ferrell. Meanwhile, the Raider boys (11-7 overall) will be honoring John Dobson, Connor Shemwell, Aidan Abellana, Brady Nugent and Phineas Rollman. Lady Raider cheerleaders Macie Lawrence and Olivia Kilpatrick, as well as dancers Makenna Orrick, Jaxen Waggoner and Hallie Pittman will also be celebrated.
The Lady Raiders will tip off at 6 p.m. against Lighthouse Christian with the boys to follow. Senior festivities are scheduled between games.
As always, both games will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and Thunder1320.com.
BASKETBALL: Lady Raiders to get forfeit win over Franklin County; boys game moved up
Coffee County Lady Raider basketball will pick up an easy win Friday.
Franklin County informed CHS on Thursday that the Rebelettes would be unable to play. Therefore Coffee County will get a forfeit win, moving the Lady Raiders to 18-3 overall on the season and a perfect 4-0 in District 6-4A. The girls JV game scheduled for Friday has also been cancelled.
Meanwhile, the Raider boys game will continue but will be moved up in time. The Raider JV boys will play at 4 p.m. with the varsity Raiders and Franklin County Rebels set to tip at 6 p.m. at Franklin County High School.
The boys game can be heard on Thunder Radio – your home for all Coffee County Sports. Listen at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com. Coffee County basketball on Thunder Radio is driven by Al White Ford Lincoln.
WRESTLING: Raiders fall to Page in Tuesday meet
Below are results from Coffee County vs. Page on Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Page (PAGE) 56.0 Coffee County (COFF) 21.0
106: Jeremiah McDougall (PAGE) over (COFF) (For.) 113: Nathan Simpson (PAGE) over (COFF) (For.) 120: Thomas Brown (PAGE) over (COFF) (For.) 126: Jeremiah Wardell (COFF) over Aiden Gifford (PAGE) (Fall 1:59) 132: Cannon Drake (PAGE) over Gabriel Westbrook (COFF) (TF 15-0 0:00) 138: Jamie Norris (COFF) over Tyler Casillas (PAGE) (Fall 4:57) 145: Landon Williamson (PAGE) over (COFF) (For.) 152: Jacob Barlow (COFF) over Josh Ward (PAGE) (Fall 4:45) 160: Will Parcel (PAGE) over Tommy Miller (COFF) (Fall 1:10) 170: Reese Olsen (PAGE) over Erik Foster (COFF) (Fall 3:37) 182: Connor West (PAGE) over Chris Hollis (COFF) (Dec 6-4) 195: Kyle Kowalski (PAGE) over Ian Walker (COFF) (Fall 5:45) 220: Kolby McCormick (COFF) over Caleb Meeks (PAGE) (Dec 10-4) 285: Ronan O`Connell (PAGE) over (COFF) (For.)
BASKETBALL: Coffee County sweeps Shelbyville in district play Tuesday
Three Lady Raiders hit double-figure points, led by junior Chloe Gannon as Coffee County Central easily disposed of Shelbyville 57-26 Tuesday night.
The win marks 14 straight for the Lady Raiders, who jumped to no. 6 in the state Associated Press poll this week.
Coffee County led the Eaglettes 25-12 at halftime and pulled away in the paint – Gannon scoring 17 points, 16 coming from the field. She played sparingly in the second half. Her sister Channah Gannon picked up the slack with 14 and freshman Olivia Vinson added 12 behind a pair of 3-pointers.
Most all of Coffee County’s points came from the field. CHS hit only 3 free throws on the night.
The win improves CHS to 17-3 overall, 3-0 and in first place in District 6-4A.
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE BROADCAST.
Raiders 62, Eagles 51
The Red Raiders completed the district sweep behind a strong night from their bench. CHS got 11 points from Cooper Reed and 9 from Jackson Shemwell off the bench to go along with 12 from Connor Shemwell in a 62-51 win. The scored looked closer after a buzzer-beating 3 by the Eagles.
Coffee County led by 5 at the half and 10 after 3 quarters. Shelbyville was able to close the gap to 5 at one point in the fourth quarter, but never got closer. Poor free-throw shooting hurt the Eagles, who went 7-of-17 at the charity stripe. Coffee County was 16-of-23.
The Raiders move to 2-1 in district play and in 2nd place.
Both Coffee County teams travel to Franklin County Friday. Tip is set for 6 p.m. for the girls with the boys to follow and both games will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com
THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO REPLAY.
Westwood girls basketball schedule changed due to tournament
The 20-1 Westwood Lady Rockets were scheduled to play the semi-finals of the James C. Haile tournament Thursday – but winter weather early in the week has rearranged the tournament bracket.
The Lady Rockets will now play the winner of Walter J. Baird and Jim B. Satterfield girls on Monday, Jan. 24 at 5:45 p.m. A win in that game will put Westwood in the title game at 6 p.m. Saturday, January 29.
Raider baseball invites former players to alumni game
Coffee County Central baseball program has announced plans for Red Raider Alumni Day.
First pitch for alumni game is set for 10 a.m. and all alumni are invited to attend.
There will be a game, retired jerseys available for sale and lunch will be available.
following the alumni game, the 2022 Red Raiders will participate in the inaugural Dingers for Dollars fundraiser – a hit-a-thon fundraiser.
Anyone planning to attend should register by clicking here.