Category: Sports

Coffee County QB Alontae Taylor (#6) pulls the ball on the read option as he looks over the pursuit of the Franklin County defense on Thursday night. Taylor scooted 30 yards on the keeper for the first Red Raider touchdown.

Alontae Taylor scored a pair of touchdowns on quarterback keepers and DeAaron Rozier bolted 70 yards on an inside trap play to lead the Coffee County Red Raider football team to a 3 to 1 win over Franklin County on Thursday night.  “The effort was there, that is the most glaring thing from last season,” said Coach Ryan Sulkowski following the scrimmage which closed their 10 day spring football session.  The visiting Rebels #2 squad did manage a score against the Coffee County reserves highlighting Sulkowski’s major concern coming out of spring camp.  “Depth is always an issue at the high school level but it is something we will work on,” added Sulkowski.  The Red Raider defense was also singled out by Sulkowski. “I could not be happier with the progress of our defense.”   A pair of costly penalties and a pair of turnovers kept the score closer and will give Coffee County some things to emphasis in the summer program prior to the start of “big boy ball.”

Tyrese McGee (#3) breaks up a pass completion on Thursday night as he delivers a vicious hit to the Franklin County wide receiver.

Sulkowski was complimentary of several Red Raiders efforts this spring including Jacoby Lowe and Reece Pratt in the offensive line.  The return of Tyrese McGee on defense “will help us in a major way” and Malik Scott was lauded as a bright spot as a Coffee County newcomer this spring.  The Red Raiders will take off until June 1^st before beginning  summer workouts, but Coach Sulkowski thinks the team members will work independently to maintain their off season gains.  When asked about how pleased he was with the physical dominance that Coffee County exhibited, Sulkowski was offered up praise for the work ethic in the weight room. “It is a testament to how hard our kids work in the weight room every day.”  The Red Raiders open the regular season on August 21^st as they host Tullahoma for the annual Coffee Pot game.

The resurgence of the Coffee County Central High School tennis team has been recognized by the Coffee County School Board as the board approved funds this week to refurbish a pair of abandoned tennis courts behind the Raider Academy.  Coach Mike Ray was ecstatic with the announcement. “Me and my kids are very excited to have this renovation being done. I feel like it will be the first of hopefully three (future) stages (of improvements),” said Ray.  Ray was effusive with his appreciation adding, “I appreciate the school board and Dr. McFall starting this project.”  CCCHS principal Dr. Joey Vaughn shared the Coach Ray’s excitement. “We are very appreciative to the Coffee County Board for giving us an opportunity to refurbish the tennis courts as CCRA.  Tennis is an important part of athletics at CCCHS and having a place to practice and have matches will be a tremendous bonus to our students,” said Vaughn in a statement to Thunder Radio.

Taylor Barnes

An overflow crowd at Coffee County on Wednesday night was treated to a 3 and a half hour, 12 inning thriller as Siegel stunned the Lady Raiders 3-1 in the Region 4AAA final. Coffee County’s Brianna Jones and Siegel’s Veronica Westfall combined for 35 strikeouts on the night as offensive opportunities were rare. Both pitchers were masterful as the 2 teams were held to 6 hits through the first 7 innings of play forcing extra innings.   The drama intensified in the 10^th inning as the international tie-breaker rules took effect.  This rule placed a runner on second base to begin in inning.  Siegel scored the first run of the night in the top of the 10^th as Jordee Cothran scored on a fielder’s choice.  Not to be deterred, Taylor Barnes led off the bottom of the 10^th as shs laced an RBI single to left field to score Clare Spellings and tie the score at one.  The Lady Raiders loaded the bases in the 11^th only to see Westfall pitch out of the one out jam.  In the top of the 12^th, the Lady Stars were able to string together 3 hits to plate 2 runs and Westfall ended the game by notching her 18^th and 19^th strikeouts of the night.  Rhianna Roberson of Coffee County finished the night going 2 for 2 and reaching base via a hit batter.  With her RBI single, Taylor Barnes was named the Gateway Tire and Service Center Player of the Game.  Despite the loss, Coffee County will finish as the runner up in Region 4AAA and will to Ooltewah on Friday night for a 7:00 PM(EDT) sectional match up with the Owls.  A win in the sectional will earn the Lady Raiders their 3^rd straight tournament berth in the last 4 years.  Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast with Lucky Knott on the call.  The pregame show will begin at 5:50 PM local time on Thunder Radio.

Coffee County CHS soccer players are named to District 8AAA All-District team. Front row(left to right): Cody Howes, Abelen Barerra, Ernesto Gomez. Back Row(left to right) : 1st team: Cole Hawkins, Ben Reid, Breyer Taylor and Lafredo Ramirez (Photo by Pascale Randolph)

Seven members of the Coffee County CHS soccer team were recognized for their outstanding play this season as they were selected to the District 8AAA All District teams.  Honored with 1^st team selection were: Lafredo Ramirez, Cole Hawkins and Breyer Taylor while Abelen Barerra, Cody Howes, Ernesto Gomez were named to the second team.  Ben Reid was named District 8AAA’s Freshman of the Year.  The Red Raiders finished their season with a 2 to 1 loss at Oakland on Tuesday night in the Region 4AAA tournament.  Thunder Radio will broadcast a podcast of that match on Thursday night beginning at 8:00 PM.

Samuel Prater(left) and Austin Farris(right) hold their 1st and 2nd place trophies on Wednesday following the CTC Golf Tournament (Photo by Holly Rodriquez)

Members of the CCMS Golf team (left to right): Samuel Prater, Matthew Hale, Josh Perry, Austin Farris and Jake Melton on Wednesday following the CTC Golf Tournament (Photo by Holly Rodriquez)

Coming back from a thumb injury this week, Coffee County Middle School’s  Samuel Prater did not look like his golf game had any rust on it as all as he shot an even par 36 in the CTC Golf Championship at Bear Trace on Wednesday.  Fellow CCMS golfer Austin Farris also blazed the course with a 1 over par 37 as the pair of Red Raiders shot the 2 lowest individual scores for the tournament.  However,  Tullahoma placed 3 golfers in the top 5 to hold off the Raiders for the team title 162 to 177.  Westwood’s Christopher Robinson was lower scorer for the Rockets as he posted a 50 while teammate Austin Burch carded a 55.  In girl’s play, Harris defeated Fayetteville 117 to 122.  Olivia Lewis and Reagan Chambers of Coffee County were the lone female golfers for either the Raiders or Rockets in Wednesday’s tournament.  The meet closes an exciting and successful school year for both middle school athletic departments

CHS forward Breyer Taylor strikes a free kick against Columbia on Friday night

If a team is to be remembered by how they close out their season, then the 2015 Red Raider soccer team of Coffee County Central High should be remembered as a band of tenacious and talented gentlemen who gave it their all on the pitch on Tuesday night at Oakland.  The Raiders battled through 80 minutes of regulation, and 20 minutes of overtime against an undefeated Oakland squad, only to see a header sail just over the outstretched hands of Raider keeper Lafredo Ramirez and give Oakland a 2 to 1 win.  Even at nil at the half, Coffee County opened the 2^nd half in attack mode and were rewarded with a Breyer Taylor goal in the 49^th minute.  The goal by Taylor was his 20^th of the season giving him the single season record for goals by a Red Raider player.  Oakland battled back and knotted the score 4 minutes later off of a corner kick.  Each team fielded scoring chances in the final 27 minutes, to send the match to a 20 minute overtime period.  During the first 10 minutes, Coffee County failed to convert 3 excellent scoring opportunities, 2 by Ernesto Gomez and a shot wide of goal by Taylor.  Oakland pushed the attack in the 2^nd 10 minutes driving a shot off the crossbar in the 94^th minute, before finding the back of the net in the 96^th minute on a header off a long throw-in.  The goal was initially waved off by the line judge, but after consultation with the referee, the goal was allowed.  Oakland dropped all 11 players deep in the final 4 minutes and the stunned Raiders battled to the final whistle, but could not drive home the equalizer.   With the loss, the Raider season came to a close marking the end for the 7 CHS seniors: Lafredo Ramirez, Abelen Barrera, Cole Hawkins, Max Nicoll, Krishna Patel, Scott Randolph and Cody Howes; and 2 exchange students: Ernesto Gomez and Sergio Iriondo.
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2015 CHS Soccer seniors

Due to the possible threat of severe weather; the Coffee County CHS Red Raiders will be moving their football scrimmage with Franklin County from Friday night to Thursday night at 5 PM at Westwood Middle School. Withe the impending threat of bad weather there was no make up date beyond Friday that both teams could agree on.
Admission will be free for the game which will mark the conclusion of the spring practice session for the Red Raiders.

Abby Morgan(left) hands the baton to Morgan Henley(right) in the final leg of the 4×400 meter relay on Tuesday a the CTC Meet

The Lady Raider track team of Coffee County Middle School won their 3rd straight CTC Conference Track Meet on Tuesday as they held off a late charge from the combined Tullahoma Middle School squad. The CCMS Red Raiders got several great performances in the field events, but were no match for the depth of the Tullahoma squad in the running events as they were unable to capture their 4th straight conference title. The final score in girl’s competition was 55 to 49 for the Lady Raiders, while Warren County finished a distant 3rd. For the boys, Tullahoma won the meet 66 to 45 over the Raiders while Warren County finished in 3rd.
Individual finishers for Coffee County were:
Girls
Discus-Faith Floyd 1st, Lindsey Perry 3rd
Shot Put-Carlie Barnes 1st, Haley Richardson 3rd
High Jump-Julia Duncan 4th
Long Jump-Marissa Douglas 1st, Julia Duncan 3rd
4x100m Relay- 1st: Gracie Pippenger, Laura Bogard, Mady Gravitt, Marissa Douglas
1600m-Kaytee Christian 2nd, Karie Wooten 3rd
100m-Mady Gravitt 4th
4x200m Relay- 1st: Abby Morgan, Ryan Green, Kayla Johnson, Marissa Douglas
400m-Gracie Pippenger 1st, Julia Duncan 2nd
800m-Willow Hobbs 3rd, Morgan Henley 4th
200m-Ryan Green 4th
4x400m Relay-1st Laura Bogard, Chloe Spry, Abby Morgan, Morgan Henley

Trace Bryant clears a new personal best of 5’3″ in the high jump at the CTC Meet on Tuesday

Boys
Discus-Trace Bryant 1st, Andrew Mahaffey 2nd
Shot Put-Drake Medina 3rd, Chase Davis 4th
High Jump-Trace Bryant 1st, Weston Hargrove 2nd
Long Jump-Weston Hargrove 1st, Andrew Mahaffey 2nd
4x100m Realy-2nd: Trace Bryant, Andrew Mahaffey, Zach Morgan, Weston Hargrove
4x200m-1st: Zach Morgan, Marcos Garcia, Tucker Anderson, Trace Bryant
400m-Jalen Morris 4th
800m- Marcos Garcia 2nd, Clinton Ferrell 4th
4x400m Relay-1st: Larson Meltzer, Andrew Mahaffey, Tucker Anderson, Weston Hargrove

Coffee County Middle School Track is coached by Travis O’Kelley

CCMS Lady Raider Track team celebrates their CTC Conference Title

Taylor Deberry competes in the 100M hurdles(file photo)

Taylor Deberry and Kani Johnson punched their ticket to the TSSAA Spring Fling on Tuesday as they each qualified in their hurdle events at the TSSAA Section 2 sectional at Rhea County.  Deberry, running in the 100M hurdles finished in 3^rd place in her heat with a time of 16.64 which qualified her for the state meet.  Johnson, competing in both the 110M high hurdles and the 300M hurdles finished in 3^rd place in the 110 with a time of 15.32 and 4^th in the 300M hurdles with a time of 40.66.  Both finishes were good enough to advance him to the state meet next week in Murfreesboro.  Also competing for the Raider thinclads was Cameron Davis in the discus.  Davis finished in 7^th place and that did not qualify her for state.  Next week at the TSSAA Spring Fling state meet, Sarah Pearson will compete in the pentathlon on Monday(May 18) beginning at 9:30 AM.  Taylor Deberry will compete on Thursday(May 21) in the 100M hurdles in the 3:00 PM session.  Kani Johnson will compete in the 110M hurdles and the 300M hurdles on Friday in the afternoon session which is set to begin at 4:00 PM.  The state track meet is held at the MTSU Track and Field Complex in Murfreesboro.

Westwood golfer Christopher Robinson strikes a putt on the 2nd green in Monday’s middle school golf action.

The Rockets of Westwood golf traveled to Shelbyville on Tuesday for a match with Liberty and Harris at Riverbend Country Club. Christopher Robinson again led Westwood as he shot a 51. Nick Johnson carded a 56 and Austin Burch shot a 64. Westwood finished 3rd on the day as a team as Coffee County cancelled due to the school’s academic banquet. Coffee Middle and Westwood will close out their season on Wednesday as they travel to Bear Trace for the season ending tournament. The teams will tee off at 9:00.