After 18 seasons and three conference championships, Westwood Rockets head football coach Chad Dyer is stepping away from the football program.
Dyer met with his players and informed them of his decision Friday morning.
” Next season will mark the 60th year Westwood Middle School / Junior High has competed in the sport of football,” said Dyer in a statement. “I have proudly served as head coach of the Westwood Rockets for 18 of those years. “
The Rockets completed three perfect seasons and won three conference championships under Dyer’s guidance.
Dyer will remain at the school as a physical education teacher and will be taking up new roles – coaching cross country and archery.
Read Dyer’s statement in its entirety below:
“Next season will mark the 60th year Westwood Middle School / Junior High has competed in the sport of football. I have proudly served as head coach of the Westwood Rockets for 18 of those years. Along the way I have had the opportunity to work with some of the greatest professionals the Manchester City School System has known. From the moment I was born until this very day Westwood Football has been an influential component in my life. As a kid watching from the other side of the fence in the 70s and early 80s, to having the opportunity to play for the Rockets in the late 80s, to the moment I was hired as a teacher and head coach in 2004 I have been one of the biggest fans of the Boys in Blue and Rocket Pride. I have proudly upheld the traditions implemented from the past into the players and teams of the future. Rocket Pride will never cease to exist. The support I have received from my wife and children has been unwavering. The relationships I have made with my players has been unforgettable, and the Pride each of us have towards this program will forever be undeniable. I am forever grateful for my past and present administrations, school board members, and the parents who reinforced Rocket Pride at home and throughout this community. It is time for someone else to have this experience, and it is time for me to continue rooting for the Boys in Blue from the other side of the fence. With the utmost respect for Westwood Junior High, Westwood Middle, and the Manchester City School System I hear by resign as Head Football Coach of the Westwood Rockets. I look forward to continuing my ongoing position as Physical Education teacher along with my new after school duties as Cross-Country Coach and Archery Instructor. Rocket Pride. We Are City.“
CMS Raiders to play Harris for conference championship Saturday
After an unbeaten regular season, the Coffee County Middle School football Red Raiders will play for a CTC Championship for the third consecutive season.
Coffee County will travel to Shelbyville for a 6 p.m.. kickoff against Harris Middle School Saturday. The game will be played at Shelbyville High School. The two teams did not meet in the regular season due to COVID cancellation.
The Raiders won the CTC championship last year with a win over Tullahoma.
FOOTBALL: Coffee County to host Warren County for Homecoming Friday
Coffee County Central’s Red Raider football team (2-4 overall / 0-2 Region) is looking for its first region win of the season Friday (Oct. 1) when Warren County comes to town for homecoming.
For anyone planning to attend, tickets can be purchased at the CHS main office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, or purchase online by clicking here. There will be no paper tickets at the gate.
Broadcast information
The Raiders and Pioneers kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday at Carden-Jarrell Field in Manchester. You can listen live beginning at 6 p.m. to the Friday Night Thunder Pregame show on Thunder Radio. Postgame show will air through about 10:30 p.m. Thunder Radio can be heard at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, Manchester Go smartphone app and thunder1320.com.
SOCCER: Lady Raiders struggle on senior night, fall 7-0
Coffee County took a loss on the chin Thursday night – falling to visiting McMinn County 7-0 on senior night at Raider Academy.
The Lady Cherokees scored 3 goals within 9 minutes to take a lead and never looked back. McMinn County went on to score 6 goals within the games first 23 minutes and cruised to a 6-0 halftime lead.
Kylee Hockman led the way with 4 goals. Coffee County only managed 4 shots on goal in the loss.
Westwood soccer to play in DRVC Championship Friday
Three goals was enough for the Westwood Lady Rockets Wednesday, as WMS shutout Huntland in a 3-0 win to advance to the Duck River Valley Conference championship match.
With the win, Westwood will play Cascade at 5 p.m. Friday at Cascade in the title match.
On Wednesday night in Manchester, Westwood goals from Bailey Barsenas, Jenny Sanchez and Angelica Montealegre – who scored on a penalty kick. Barsenas’ shot went in clean from a corner kick.
Tullahoma to vacate middle school volleyball title win over Coffee Middle; stopping competition in CTC fall sports
Early Wednesday afternoon, the Tullahoma City School District was informed that due to an off-the-field
violation, all fall middle school sports teams would be removed from their respective Central Tennessee
Conference Tournament.
The TSSAA informed TCS that because the TMS middle school girls soccer, volleyball and cross-country
teams are listed as club sports, those squads are ineligible to compete for their respective conference titles.
Tullahoma is the sole member of the CTC in those sports that is not a member school of the Tennessee Middle
School Athletic Association.
“My heart hurts for these girls because they have worked so hard and set themselves up for success,” said
TCS Director of Schools Dr. Catherine Stephens. “We have participated for about 18 years as club sports with
no issues, but our teams will no longer be participating in CTC competition this fall. While I know they are hurt
now, these young ladies should hold their heads high and know that they are true champions.”
Due to the violation, the TMS girls soccer team will no longer be eligible to compete in its upcoming CTC
Tournament matches. The TMS volleyball team is also forced to forfeit its CTC Title that it won on Tuesday
evening.
“Those head coaches and I spoke to the student-athletes affected at both East and West middle schools,” said
TCS Athletic Director John Olive. “They were tough discussions to have because our students did nothing
wrong. We plan to honor these athletes individually as they deserve to be celebrated.
“Last spring, we started researching what it was going to take to move the remaining eligible teams to be
TMSAA affiliated. We did not make that transition before fall sports got underway. However, we are working to
make this move as soon as possible so our athletes can compete this spring and going forward under the
TMSAA.”
Currently, Tullahoma has four sports associated with the TMSAA: football, basketball, track and field, and
cheerleading. TMS wrestling is associated with AAU, while the remaining sports fall under the club sports
category, which has existed for about 18 years.
“Tullahoma East Middle School and Tullahoma West Middle School are not allowed to compete against TMSAA
member schools in the sports of cross-country, tennis, soccer, golf, baseball, softball, bowling, volleyball, and
wrestling until their School Board approves those sports,” said TSSAA Executive Director Richard McWhirter in
a letter to Olive. “Additionally, the schools must recognize these sports by having school-sponsored teams and
must follow all TMSAA Bylaws for these sports. Furthermore, if Tullahoma East Middle School and Tullahoma
West Middle School continue to field teams in these sports as club teams instead of school-sponsored teams,
TSSAA officials will not be assigned to work in those contests.”
Moving forward, the Tullahoma City School District is working toward making sure that eligible teams are
associated with the TMSAA.
“I am disheartened that this occurred this fall,” Dr. Stephens said. “District administrators, the TCS School
Board and myself are working to ensure this does not happen again for any of our Tullahoma teams.”
Cross Country runners show out at Speedway Shootout
The Red Raider cross-country runners were in action on Saturday (Sept. 25) competing in the Speedway Shootout at the Nashville Superspeedway. Both the Raiders and Lady Raiders turned in strong performances as the boys posted a 2nd place finish, while the girls followed close behind with a 3rd place finish in the nine team field. Seven Red Raider runners and 3 Lady Raider runners were able to post personal best times on the 3.1 mile course.
The boys were led by Jacob Rutledge with a time of 16:46. Rutledge was able to cruise to a 2nd place individual finish. Joining Rutledge in the Top 10, were Garrett Masters (17:55) in 8th place and a personal best time for Fletcher Barnard (17:56) in 9th place. Rounding out the scoring for boys team was Landon Kenney with a personal best 18:07, and Jacob Slabaugh with a personal best of 18:23.
The girls were paced by Patricia Barrera, who finished with a time of 22:12, which earned her a 10th place individual finish. Following Barrera, was Ava McIntosh, with a personal best time of 24:32, Kailee Rossman (26:26), Rylea McNamara (26:37), and Raygan Dubler with a personal best time of 28:46.
Both teams will be back in action on October 9th, where they will get a preview of the State Championship course at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville
BASKETBALL: 6th grade Lady Rockets pick up win
Westwood Lady Rocket 6th grade basketball team picked up a 24-18 win Tuesday night against Winchester Christian Academy.
Maisey Hubbard paced Westwood with 11 points, followed by Deysi Barrera with 5 and Kylie Evans with 4.
VOLLEYBALL – Coffee Middle places second in CTC tournament
Coffee Middle School volleyball Lady Raiders placed second in the CTC tournament after a hard-fought 3-set loss to Tullahoma Wednesday night.
The Lady Raiders won the first set in the best-of-three 25-23, and then lost the second set 27-29. Tullahoma went on to win the third set and the championship 15-11.
CMS won a pair of matches to reach the championship round.
COFFEE COUNTY HOSTS WARREN COUNTY: Ticket and broadcast information
Coffee County Central’s Red Raider football team (2-4 overall / 0-2 Region) is looking for its first region win of the season this Friday (Oct. 1) when Warren County comes to town for homecoming.
For anyone planning to attend, tickets can be purchased at the CHS main office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day this week, or purchase online by clicking here. There will be no paper tickets at the gate.
Broadcast information
The Raiders and Pioneers kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday at Carden-Jarrell Field in Manchester. You can listen live beginning at 6 p.m. to the Friday Night Thunder Pregame show on Thunder Radio. Postgame show will air through about 10:30 p.m. Thunder Radio can be heard at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, Manchester Go smartphone app and thunder1320.com.
Doug Greene Show
Hear from CHS head coach Doug Greene and guest players at 7 p.m. Wednesday night on The Coach Doug Greene Show – built by Gilley Crane. The show airs live from the back porch at Praters and everyone is welcome to attend. The coaches show can be heard at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, Manchester Go smartphone app and thunder1320.com.