The Advocate & Democrat presents 13 storylines to be ready for in the 2024-25 school year.
What do we see from Sweetwater football in 2024
One thing is clear around Sweetwater, last season is over.
The Wildcats move into a new season with a coach who has had success in this area already. Seeing the product on the field this fall will cement the new direction as the program hopes to improve on two wins in 2023 and maybe even return to competing for a top-side of the region finish.
The Bears’ redemption tour
Tellico Plains football started 2023 off to a flying start with seven touchdowns and over 500 yards in a 47-18 win.
Things quickly soured and the program lost nine in a row to end the season. With a team heavy on returning talent across the field and an embattled senior class, Tellico’s self-proclaimed victory tour will be the final shot for much of the current roster to play high school football and to advance the school past three wins in the last two seasons.
Where does Sequoyah go now?
This is the first time the Chiefs begin a season since 2020 where a losing streak is not weighing over them all summer.
After snapping the 45-game skid and winning twice in 2023, Sequoyah hopes to continue in a positive direction. Adding more wins to the program’s account and checking off a win in the region is the next step in Madisonville.
Experienced runners eager for 2024
There will be plenty of cross country athletes eager to compete this fall.
Sixteen area runners competed at last year’s state championship, 14 of those will return. Sweetwater sent a boys team that returns all seven of last year’s state runners — Luke Dalton, McCade Frye, Bill Goforth, Josh Hawkins, Aiden McKenzie, Nicky Pierce and Parker Willett — that finished 27th of 32. The Lady Wildcats return Katie Goforth, Lauren Lyon, Lexi McBride, Hailey Pandoff and Lorelai Zillick, all a part of the team that placed 19th of 31. Darrah Wiseman also returns after finishing 42nd as a junior.
What do we see on the golf course in 2024?
The new season will be fun to see how area golfers have taken their game to the next level.
No golfer reached the state tournament in 2023, but Lake Sewell won a District 4-A championship after a lengthy playoff with teammate Clint Moser. The duo will return to the course with high hopes.
Brooklyn Sewell had a good season, ending as District 4-A runner-up. Caroline Britton will look to shine again after having the best average amongst area girl golfers.
Ryan Hall was two strokes away from reaching the Region 3-AA championship, how does the senior do this fall? Cy Prince will hope for another return to the region tournament. Kali Compton will try to do the same on the girls’ side.
How does Sweetwater volleyball follow last fall?
Sweetwater exceeded expectations in its inaugural volleyball season.
The next will show how the program progresses with experience and competing in District 5-AA. Year two will be a look at what the team has learned and how they adapt to no longer being the new face on the block. But last season has set a solid foundation under the hopeful program.
What do we see in Sweetwater Lady Wildcat basketball?
Things should be looking up for girls’ basketball in Sweetwater after a rough pair of seasons.
Sweetwater returns four All-County players from last season, including rising sophomore and Player of the Year Lilly Woodruff. Kylie Baylog, Brooklyn Gibby and Kendall Tyler also return.
A new face will be over the program though. Former player with years of coaching experience Robin Bowden will get to put her stamp and add experience to a Sweetwater team that hopes to take a step forward.
The next step for Tellico Plains boys’ basketball
The Bears made a tremendous step last season.
The program competed in the top half of the competitive district, beat teams they had not beaten in a while and returned to the region tournament. With year two under Don Swanson on the horizon as well as more growth and development for players like Chadwick Davis, KT Hamilton and Rylan Woods, the Bears are poised for another step in the right direction.
A more experienced group for the Sequoyah Lady Chiefs
By only having four seniors last season, Sequoyah turned to quite a few underclassmen in the winter.
With another year of experience at the varsity level under their belt, the younger class in Madisonville will hope to have a strong run at things. Look for players like Savannah Kirkland and Emily Hunt to be heavily involved in Sequoyah.
Continuing the direction of Monroe County softball
Things will be looking up for area softball in the spring.
Both Sweetwater and Tellico Plains made strides with younger rosters while the Lady Bears and Sequoyah will return to aces in Kadence Moses and Kaleigh Atchley. The sport has always been a competitive one for the community and the new season could see the teams back at district championship and region tournament level.
Sweetwater baseball in a new season
Coach Travis Watson spoke about how expectations for the program changed in 2024 after 2023’s success. What does the success of 2024 mean for the team in 2025? The Wildcats defend a second straight District 3-2A championship and are on the heels of a second consecutive trip to the Class 2A state tournament. Sweetwater once again graduates four influential players, but the rising sophomore class quickly burst on the scene as freshmen and had success.
Chris Hollinghead returns to coach Bears’ baseball
Tellico Plains will have a familiar and successful face in the dugout this spring.
Chris Hollinghead returns to coach the Bears. The winningest coach in Tellico baseball history, based on available records, Hollinghead will get to work with a younger Bears team that was coming into their own towards the end of 2023. It may take a couple of years to see what the second stint offers, but Tellico baseball will be worth watching this season.
Darrah Wiseman, McCade Frye and track and field
Darrah Wiseman will enter her senior season with six gold medals and aim to add more.
McCade Frye will look to improve on his finish at the state championship after making his debut in 2024. With one of the final sporting outings of the school year, area athletes will hope to write their next chapter at the top level in Tennessee.
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