Chip Cirillo
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Freelance sports writer, University of Illinois graduate. Uncle to two nephews in England.
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Articles by Chip Cirillo
Final Four finish for Summertown
First state tournament appearance since '22 ends with loss to Marion County CHIP CIRILLO For Main Street Media Summertown coach Wes Woods and the Lady Eagle infield watch as Mary Ella Parson prepares to take the circle in relief Friday against Marion County in the Class 2A state tournament semifinals. Summertown trailed early and couldn’t put together a comeback in a 6-2 season-ending loss. CARL EDMONDSON JR.
Summit’s season ends with second defeat in state tourney
Summit’s Audrey Cathey tries to beat the throw and the raindrops during Thursday’s Class 4A state tournament elimination game against East Hamilton. The Spartans dropped a 5-0 decision, finishing their season at 18-21. CARL EDMONDSON JR. Summit was the only softball team in the Class 4A tournament with a losing record, but the Lady Spartans still managed to make a fifth-place finish. The Lady Spartans finished at 18-21 after a 5-0 loss to East Hamilton in an elimination game at Starplex on Thursday.
Wildcats scratched in Class 3A tourney debut
Jack Emerson (1) is greeted by his Lawrence County teammates after his third-inning run gave the Wildcats a lead in Tuesday’s Class 3A state tournament opener against Greeneville at Smyrna’s Sonny Gray Field. Greeneville, the defending state champ, rallied for a 4-1 win. JAMES POWELL Lawrence County’s first state tournament appearance since 1977 went down as one of missed opportunities. “We left too many people on base,” Wildcats baseball coach Clint Wright said. Did they ever.
Seeing Double: Nolensville’s Barney twins back on the state baseball stage
NOLENSVILLE – It took Nolensville High School coach Zach Hudson about 18 months to differentiate between two of his baseball players, identical twins Kael and Kyson Barney. “But now I think I’m batting 1.000,” Hudson said. “I can tell them apart now. There are some subtle differences that once you pick up on it, you know.” Hudson called them Barney during their freshman and sophomore years when he was unsure who was who.
Soccer: Anderson's strikes in OT to lift Franklin past Ravenwood in region final
FRANKLIN – Tyler Anderson’s overtime goal gave Franklin High School the Region 5-AAA soccer championship, but he gave all the credit to his teammate. Anderson’s header off a corner kick from Beckham Phavongsay in the fifth minute of the overtime’s first half gave the Admirals a 1-0 win over Ravenwood at Cheek Park on Thursday night. “That was an amazing cross,” Anderson said. “I just did what I was supposed to do as the striker.
Summit falls in another close call to Page
Summit’s Brooklyn Robertson flips to get the forceout of a Page baserunner at second base during Wednesday’s Region 6-4A tournament title game. The host Lady Patriots won another nailbiter, edging the Lady Spartans 7-6 for their fifth victory in six games between the two teams. JOHN CROSS One word came to mind after Summit’s fifth loss of the season to Page on Wednesday night. “Oh, it’s so frustrating,” Lady Spartans coach Jenny Stevenson said.
Summit powers past Nolensville in Region 6-4A
Summit’s Addy Willingham shrugs as she approaches home plate following her tiebreaking two-run home run in the sixth inning of Monday’s eventual 9-5 Region 6-4A tournament semifinal win at Nolensville. CARL EDMONDSON JR. The Region 6-4A semifinal between Summit and Nolensville looked like Home Run Derby during the last three innings. First, Nolensville’s Anna Dotson hit a two-run homer to left field, tying the game at 5 in the fifth inning.
Columbia Central exits postseason with twin losses
Jack Beck jogs out of the batter’s box following his fifth-inning two-run home run, his 12th of the season, during Columbia Central’s 11-7 Region 6-4A tournament semifinal loss Friday to Nolensville. MICHAEL WHITE Two infeld errors proved costly for Columbia Central on Friday.
Baseball: Ravenwood rallies to beat Page, faces Nolensville for region title
RUDDERVILLE — Nolensville High School and Ravenwood will be facing each other once again. An extra-inning win by the Raptors and a nine-run third inning for the Knights in the Region 6-4A semifinals set up the Williamson County baseball rivals for a rematch in the region championship. Ravenwood rallied to beat Page 8-6 on Friday night after Nolensville defeated Columbia 11-7 earlier in the day at Page. Nolensville (26-7) will face Ravenwood (29–9) in the championship at noon Saturday.
Softball: Page tops Columbia, rallies to force winner-takes-district against Summit
COLUMBIA — The field lights went out for a few minutes in the middle of the sixth inning at the District 12-4A softball tournament Thursday night. A few minutes later, Izzy Melton turned out Summit’s lights with a two-run triple to left field in the bottom of the sixth, rallying Page to an 11-9 win at Columbia Central. The game was tied at 9-9 when the junior catcher came through with a clutch hit with two outs on a 3-2 count. “I was just thinking stay calm and watch good pitches,” Melton said.
Flag Football: Ravenwood edges Page to win region, advance to defend state title
BRENTWOOD – Ravenwood High School is returning to the state tournament to defend its title. The Raptors earned their spot at girls flag football state by winning the Region 6-AA championship with a 6-0 victory over Page at Ravenwood on Tuesday night. “We get to try to go and defend our throne next week,” Raptors coach Ricky Rodriguez said. “We treated this game as if it was the state championship game.
Baseball: Nolensville 3-peats in district with win over Raptors
NOLENSVILLE – Nolensville High School’s baseball players ran out of the dugout to mob closer Hayden Hupka on the infield grass near the pitcher’s mound after he struck out Luca Tarantino looking for the final out. Celebrations like that have become a familiar scene in early May for the Knights, who won their third straight District 11-4A title with an 11-5 win over Ravenwood on Sunday night.
Creek rises to first district championship
Members of the Battle Creek baseball team celebrate with their classmates following Monday’s 8-0 win over visiting Creek Wood for the District 11-3A tournament championship. The victory marked the first postseason title for the second-year program. ROB FLEMING Two seasons. That’s all the time it took for Battle Creek to win its first district title in baseball.
Soccer: Franklin's 2nd-half surge kicks off coach Burgoyne's final postseason run
FRANKLIN – Franklin High School began its final postseason run under longtime soccer coach Mike Burgoyne with a 4-1 win over Nolensville in a Class AAA quarterfinal at Cheek Park Friday night. It was vintage Burgoyne as the Admirals found a way to win, breaking a 1-1 halftime tie with three goals in the second half. Burgoyne, who has won a combined 280 games with the boys and girls, will retire from the boys team at the end of this season.
Baseball: Franklin rallies to earn shot at top-seeded Nolensville
NOLENSVILLE – Franklin High School fell behind by four runs early, but the Admirals didn’t get rattled. Rallying for nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Franklin baseball team beat Centennial 11-5 in a District 11-4A tournament elimination game on Thursday night. “This team doesn’t quit,” Franklin coach Wally Whidby said. “This team is solid.
Franklin’s Kemp, a former MLB star, honored at Freedom Middle
FRANKLIN – It was Tony Kemp Day in Franklin on Tuesday as Freedom Middle School unveiled a bronze plaque honoring its most successful baseball player. Kemp played in the major leagues for nine seasons before retiring last May after stops with the Houston Astros (2016-19), Chicago Cubs (2019), Oakland Athletics (2020-23) and Baltimore Orioles (2024).
Baseball: Paciorek’s pitching paces Ravenwood as Raptors even series with win at Nolensville
NOLENSVILLE – Ravenwood High School and Nolensville will meet one last time Wednesday for a rematch that will determine the District 11-4A baseball champion. The Raptors handed the Knights their first district loss, 8-4, on Tuesday night to set up the showdown. Ravenwood improved to 24-6 overall and 9-2 in the district while Nolensville fell to 21-7 and 10-1. “So, basically whoever wins the game (Wednesday) will be first place, whoever loses will be second place,” Knights coach Zach Hudson said.
Lacrosse: Despite storm, Ravenwood edges Franklin for crucial region win
FRANKLIN – First came dark clouds and lightning, then a change in the standings. Ravenwood High School moved into sole possession of first place in Region 3-AA with an 8-5 win over Franklin in girls lacrosse in a match shortened to 44 minutes by a lightning storm Thursday night. The Raptors improved to 9-5 and 3-0 in the league and broke a tie with the Admirals (8-5, 2-1). The girls can clinch the championship with a home win over archrival Brentwood (7-4, 2-1) Thursday.
College Hoops: Former WillCo greats Wilken, Brown lead UAH to historic season that concludes in DII Final Four
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – When the University of Alabama-Huntsville lost three of its first four basketball games, the Chargers didn’t look like a Final Four team. Anything but. However, two former Williamson County guards, Lili Wilken from Page High School and Millie Brown from Brentwood Academy, helped UAH win 27 of its next 28 games, and the Chargers were off to their most successful season in school history.
Softball: BGA ignites late to defeat FRA, win 10th in a row
FRANKLIN – For the first four innings, nothing went right for Battle Ground Academy’s softball team. Then the Wildcats rallied from a one-run deficit with five runs in the bottom of the fifth for a 5-1 win over Franklin Road Academy, giving BGA its 10th consecutive victory Thursday night. “Our girls have battled all year, like, I don’t ever feel like we’re out of a game,” said BGA’s Eric Fruechtemeyer, in his fourth year as head coach. “One-nothing was not a big deficit for us.
Lacrosse: Ravenwood stops Franklin for 'gritty win'
BRENTWOOD – Ravenwood High School’s players didn’t know what it was like to beat Franklin in boys lacrosse. Until Wednesday night, that is. The Raptors got their first win over the visiting Admirals in at least four years with a 13-11 victory as senior goalie Izaiah Sims held off Franklin with 15 saves. “I’ve never beaten them until today,” Sims said. “I’m hyped about that.” Franklin outshot Ravenwood 35-21, but Sims turned the Admirals away enough to get the win.
Carlton Flatt Took Brentwood Academy From Cow Pasture to Mountaintop
When Carlton Flatt began the Brentwood Academy football program in 1970, the team practiced in a cow pasture across the street from the school on Granny White Pike. All the games for the first two seasons were on the road because the field that now bears his name didn’t open until 1972. The first team was nicknamed the Cow Pasture Boys. BA struggled early, going 1-0-2 in 1970 and 3-7-1 the following season.
Baseball: Summit rallies to edge Centennial at Vanderbilt
NASHVILLE – Summit High School coach Greg Manuel kept telling his baseball players they were going to make it a seven-inning game. Turns out, it was eight. The Spartans rallied for a 3-2 come-from-behind win over Centennial in eight innings at Vanderbilt’s Hawkins Field on Monday night. Summit (7-7) trailed 1-0 before tying the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Lacrosse: Ravenwood girls, Brentwood boys win at Summit
SPRING HILL – The Ravenwood High School girls and Brentwood High boys both posted lopsided lacrosse victories at Summit on Thursday night. The Raptors pounded the Spartans 18-2 before Brentwood’s boys rolled to a 19-3 win over Summit in an early season meeting between the Williamson County programs. Dilyn Kiser, Olivia Sacco and Logan Lind each scored three goals, leading a balanced attack as 10 Raptors found the back of the net.
Independence Alum Jaynie Halterman Is Racking Up National Titles at Taylor University
Jaynie Halterman is only a sophomore, but she has already won two national championships in cross country at Taylor University. The former Independence runner repeated as the NAIA champion with a record time of 20 minutes, 13.2 seconds two weeks ago in Tallahassee, Fla. That was nine seconds faster than her record-setting time as a freshman. “It was just a great way to finish out the season,” Halterman says.
CPA Alum Langston Patterson Helping Fuel Vanderbilt's Historic Season
When Langston Patterson signed with Vanderbilt in 2022 out of Christ Presbyterian Academy, there were plenty of doubters. “Yeah, everyone was telling me I shouldn’t go there,” Patterson says. “ ‘What was I doing? I’m gonna ruin my career.’ ” The Commodores middle linebacker was ranked as a four-star prospect by 247Sports, but his stock dropped as soon as he committed to the Commodores. “They dropped me down to a three just because it’s Vandy,” Patterson says.
Flags foul up Columbia Central comeback hopes Original
Columbia Central quarterback Daniel Booker turns the corner on a Knoxville Central defender during Friday’s Class 5A second-round playoff matchup. Booker rushed for 227 yards and all four Lion scores, along with 138 passing yards in a 38-28 loss. ROB FLEMING Just when it seemed like Columbia Central might make a dramatic drive late in the game to keep its season alive, two penalties dictated otherwise.
Young Grizzlies overwhelmed by Pearl-Cohn in playoff debut
Chris Lemming’s 76-yard touchdown reception was Battle Creek’s only score Thursday night, as the Grizzlies fell 70-7 at Pearl-Cohn in the opening round of the Class 4A state playoffs. ANTHONY BRITTON The ending was brutally painful, but the first varsity season still felt like a success. Battle Creek suffered a 70-7 loss at Pearl-Cohn in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs Thursday night, but that didn’t diminish what the Grizzlies accomplished overall.
Give him six! Williams posts six TDs as Battle Creek edges Hickman County
Stanley Williams Jr. caught 13 passes for 193 yards and five touchdowns Friday night, along with a kickoff return for a score, as host Battle Creek edged Hickman County 43-41. MICHAEL WHITE Stanley Williams Jr. and Taylor Hutchison put up the biggest numbers in a wild shootout between Battle Creek and Hickman County. Williams scored a career-high six touchdowns for Battle Creek in a 43-41 win over visiting Hickman County in a regular-season finale Thursday night.
Late field goal pushes Brentwood past Indy, 16-14
With players from its 2015 state championship team on the sidelines, Independence had a chance for a dramatic come-from-behind Region 6-6A win Friday against visiting Brentwood. Bruins junior Turner Weber blocked Ben Chassey’s 38-yard field goal attempt with 39.7 seconds remaining, preserving a 16-14 victory. “That’s the second time this year we’ve had that very similar outcome,” Eagles quarterback Matthew Horner said, referring to a 23-21 home loss to Lincoln County in Week 2.
Taylor Burks Named Interim Centennial Football Coach
Taylor Burks has been named Centennial’s interim football coach after former coach Jay Graham was arrested Wednesday in a prostitution sting involving fictional teens. Burks was promoted from assistant coach and was Independence’s defensive coordinator last season. Twelve years ago, Burks was promoted to head coach at Hillwood after serving as interim coach. He went 1-19 in the 2013-2014 season. Centennial visits Nolensville (5-2, 2-0 Region 5-5A) tonight.
Fairview Girls Soccer Takes Near-Perfect Record Into Postseason
It’s been a near-perfect season for Fairview’s girls soccer team so far. But one thing would make it even better. “Our team’s main goal this season is to advance past the sectional tournament into the state tournament,” Fairview center midfielder Izzy Reding says.
Williamson County Soccer Alums Propel Tennessee Vols to Program-Best Start
Ally Brown feels like it’s about time Tennessee soccer got some recognition. Four former Williamson County soccer players have helped Tennessee reach unprecedented heights. Ravenwood alums Brown and Sarah Kate Rath and ex-Battle Ground Academy stars Keaton Mitchell and Kennedy Price are each playing important roles for the Lady Volunteers (6-1-1), who earned the program’s first No. 1 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll last week.
Jay Graham Era Begins at Centennial
The Jay Graham Era at Centennial began with a heartbreaking loss. Stewarts Creek’s Landon Warf kicked a 24-yard field goal with 1.4 seconds left, handing the visiting Cougars a 39-36 defeat in their season opener last week. “I asked the guys in the room the next day to raise their hand if they’d been a part of a game like that, and there were three or four guys that did,” says Graham, the former star running back at Tennessee who was hired as the Cougars' coach in March.
Ex-NHS Star Coutras Poised for High-Profile Season at Tennessee Tech
Former Nolensville star Tim Coutras is hoping for a better outcome at Tennessee Tech this season. The Golden Eagles free safety was named a preseason All-American in July for the second straight year. “I had the same preseason honor last year and I didn’t get the postseason All-American award, so that kind of ate me up,” Coutras tells the Williamson Scene.
Ravenwood, TSU Alum Rowland Wins UFL Championship With DC Defenders
Chris Rowland earned his first championship since his senior year at Ravenwood when he helped lead the DC Defenders to the United Football League title seven weeks ago. “It was pretty cool, so I was very emotional,” says Rowland, a wide receiver and return specialist.
WCS AD Joines Resigns to Take on Dual Role at Franklin Christian Academy
Darrin Joines missed coaching, so he changed jobs. The Williamson County Schools athletic director announced his resignation after six years on Friday to become Franklin Christian Academy’s head boys basketball coach and associate athletic director. “I want that daily interaction with young people,” Joines said. “I think I’m just born to work with young people.” FCA also promoted 27-year-old offensive coordinator KC Jorgensen to head football coach, replacing veteran Tim Johnson.
Independence Falls in Class 4A Quarterfinals to Top-Ranked Whitehaven
Defense fueled Independence’s third straight appearance in the state tournament and it almost got them an upset of top-ranked Whitehaven. But the Tigers pulled away in the last four minutes of a 40-36 win over the Eagles in a Class 4A quarterfinal at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center on Thursday night. Independence (23-12) held Whitehaven (31-3) to a season low in points, but the Tigers still won their 24th consecutive game. “It starts with Tylan (Lewis,)” Eagles coach Mark Wilkins said.
Former Ravenwood Star Reghan Grimes Leads Tennessee Tech Into Big Dance
Reghan Grimes and her Tennessee Tech teammates were surprised to learn they would play defending national champion South Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. “We were a little shocked that we were a 16 seed because we thought we would get, I guess maybe a 15, maybe a 14, but I think it’s still such a great opportunity to get to play in that setting,” said Grimes, a former Ravenwood star.
Independence Boys Basketball Advances to Third-Consecutive State Tournament
There were plenty of doubters when Independence graduated three starters from last year’s state champion team, including career scoring leader Jett Montgomery. There were still more when the Eagles finished third in District 10-4A regular-season standings. Even more when Indy fell behind by nine points after the third quarter of its sectional game against Beech on Monday night.
Brentwood Girls Basketball Star Ella Ryan Becomes Program's All-Time Leading Scorer
Ella Ryan didn’t set out to become Brentwood's career scoring leader. It just worked out that way. Ryan broke the record on a layup in the first quarter of a 64-33 win over Independence last week. “Honestly, it never really was one of the main goals for me,” Ryan said. “Going into Brentwood basketball, I really just wanted to win and see where I could take my game and expand upon what I already knew.” The four-year starter enters Friday’s game against Nolensville with 2,055 points.
Rock-solid Page defense runs on Dunkin'
Page defensive coordinator Sean Temple is quickly becoming one of Dunkin’ Donuts’ best customers. Temple buys his defensive players boxes of the big circle donuts every time they record a shutout and donut holes each time the Patriots hold an opponent under 200 total yards.
Scott Blade Returns to Lead Independence Football Program
Scott Blade returned to familiar territory when he was rehired as Independence’s football coach Friday. He coached the Eagles for nine seasons before resigning in 2021 after winning a state championship in 2015 and finishing second the next year. “It feels like I’m coming home to a place my family and I have loved and we cherish, and we have incredible memories and relationships there, so it’s nice to come back,” Blade said.
Pearl-Cohn keeps title defense alive, ends Marshall County’s unbeaten season in OT
Pearl-Cohn’s Donovan Higgins comes up with an interception, one of three for the Firebirds in Friday’s 27-21 overtime win at Marshall County to advance to the Class 4A state semifinals. ROB FLEMING / MAIN STREET MAURY During the regular season, Marshall County beat Pearl-Cohn in overtime to win the Region 5-4A title.
Marshall County moves to 12-0 with second-round smashing of Station Camp
Aja Jones caught a long touchdown pass as part of Marshall County’s 52-13 win against Station Camp in the Class 4A second round. Courtesy of Chris Siers/Marshall County Post Jamahl Gentry’s two touchdowns were one part of a 52-point outburst by Marshall County in the Class 4A second round against Station Camp.
Bulldogs’ early blitz paves way past The King’s Academy in DII-A playoff opener
Columbia Academy senior Harrison Brownlee, escorted by teammate Wyatt Ayers, scored his second non-offensive touchdown in as many weeks Friday as he returned an interception 44 yards to help spark the Bulldogs’ 49-8 win over The King’s Academy in the opening round of the Division II-A state playoffs. JACKSON GARY / MAIN STREET MAURY Columbia Academy turned a nearly flawless first half into a first-round win Friday night.
WillCo Sports Roundup: Indy hires former BA star Bre Jackson as head girls basketball coach
There has been one constant during Bre Jackson’s basketball career: She always plays or coaches at a school with the same nickname. It started when she was a point guard at Brentwood Academy, helping the Eagles win four state championships. Then it was onto college ball, where she was the Morehead State Eagles’ second-leading scorer (10.8 points per game) and one of the nation’s top free throw shooters (90 percent) as a senior in the 2019-20 season.
Centennial hires ex-Brentwood coach Marcel Williams to lead girls basketball program
Marcel Williams is accustomed to winning, but he faces a difficult rebuilding job in his new role as Centennial’s girls basketball coach. The Lady Cougars went 4-23 last year and they haven’t enjoyed a winning season since 2017. “I think this will probably be a good test for myself and my staff,” Williams said.
WillCo Sports Roundup: Brentwood boys soccer hires Feldhaus as new head coach
Cauldon Feldhaus steps in as Brentwood’s new boys soccer coach, replacing veteran Mike Purcell, who led the Bruins to five state championships. “Man, I mean, it’s a coach’s dream to take over an already successful program like Brentwood,” Feldhaus said. “It’s just very exciting, and I can’t wait to see what we can do with the program.” Purcell won 366 games in the previous 22 seasons. “I think it definitely is a mixed bag,” Feldhaus said.
Franklin alum AJ Russell wins College World Series ring with Tennessee
An elbow injury kept AJ Russell sidelined for most of the season, but the pitcher from Franklin left the College World Series with an unforgettable memory as Tennessee won its first national championship in baseball. It was agonizing for the 6-foot-6 sophomore not to be on the mound in Omaha, Neb. “Yeah, it sucked, obviously,” Russell said. “It’s tough to watch that kind of stuff.
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