The Clinton Sharks swim team is beginning its summer swim season.
“Come join a competitive swim team focused on having fun and learning about the sport,” an announcement stated.
Johnathan Leninsky, city of Clinton aquatics coordinator, said the team can include athletes from ages 5 to 18.
The only other requirement is that the athlete must be able to swim 25 yards independently and without stopping.
There is no deadline, but the Sharks team requires all paperwork to be filled out and fees paid at least 48 hours before to each swimmer’s first competition.
The summer swim-team session officially begins in May and runs through August.
Beginning May 26, the Sharks will begin practicing Monday through Thursday beginning at 3:45 p.m.
Competition dates have been set and are available when an athlete registers.
“We focus on having fun and learning about the sport of swimming,” Leninsky said.
“Any improvement week to week, competition to competition, is improvement,” he said.
Contact Leninsky at jleninsky@clintontn.net or 865-259-1164 for more details.
Anderson County earns regional spot behind clutch sixth-inning rally
by Ken Lay
Anderson County third-baseman Clay Fletcher leaves his feet after stepping on the base for a force-out as a Union County runner dives back to the bag during district tournament play Thursday night. The Mavericks blanked the Patriots 12-0 and topped them again 7-4 on Saturday to advance to the district championship game against Gibbs. - Tony Cox
Anderson County High School has qualified for the Region 2-AAA baseball tournament.
The Mavericks punched their ticket to the region field Saturday with a 7-4 victory over Union County at home.
In that game, designated hitter Levi Skeen broke a 4-4 tie with a double that brought home three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Nolan Benson, the Mavericks’ leadoff hitter, went 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI. Daniel Unthank had two hits and scored two runs against the Patriots.
Anderson County, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, concluded a busy weekend of baseball with a doubleheader Sunday.
The Mavericks took the field early Sunday afternoon to play Gibbs in the district championship round.
Because of their 2-0 loss to the Eagles in the second round Friday night at ACHS, the Mavericks had to win twice to be crowned champions.
Anderson County senior catcher Alli McKamey drives the ball during a district doubleheader against Scott on Tuesday, April 28. McKamey went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in the opener as the Lady Mavericks swept the Lady Highlanders 23-0 and 15-0. - Tony Cox
Anderson County High School’s softball team entered the 2026 postseason still searching for its best form after an up-and-down regular season.
The Lady Mavericks finished 16-14 overall and 4-4 in District 4-AAA, earning the No. 3 seed in the tournament, which opened Monday at ACHS.
Despite some inconsistency, the Lady Mavericks built momentum late, winning three of their final four games and carrying a three-game winning streak into tournament play.
Coach Lindsey Verner said her team must elevate its play to extend its season.
“We haven’t played our best ball this season,” she said. “We’ll have to play our best ball now or we’ll get beat and we’ll be going home.
“You have four teams who could absolutely win this thing.”
Anderson County’s Chloe Freeman powers toward the goal line for a touchdown as she slips past a Knoxville Halls defender during the Lady Mavericks’ 35-33 victory Thursday night at home. - Tony Cox
The regular season came to a close last week for the Anderson County High School flag football team.
The Lady Mavericks (9-6 overall, 6-2 in league play) ended the campaign with a narrow 35-33 victory over Knoxville Halls at home Thursday night.
Anderson County opened postseason play Tuesday night at Fulton High School in North Knoxville. Results were not available at press time.
“We have to be playing our best ball right now; if we don’t, we’re going to get beat,” Coach Jonathan Cotton said. “It’s survive and advance. It’s win or go home.”
Quarterback Keiana Gillum amassed 305 passing yards against the Lady Devils, but she also threw three interceptions. She went 24-of-46 through the air. Gillum was also Anderson County’s leading rusher, running for 77 yards on nine carries.
Four different receivers caught touchdown passes for the Lady Mavericks.
Anaya Witkowski finished with nine receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. She also had an interception.
Chloe Freeman had seven catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Jocelyn Amos had two receptions for 72 yards and a score. She also had an interception.
Clinton senior Addi Gamble rises above the defense to haul in a touchdown pass during the Lady Dragons’ 47-6 region playoff victory over Knoxville Central. Gamble accounted for 36 points in the win. - Tony Cox
Clinton High School’s flag football team won its first-ever regional playoff game Monday night, routing Knoxville Central 47-6 at Dragon Stadium.
The Lady Dragons (11-2) will host Bearden on Friday night in the Region 1-AA championship game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Clinton edged the Lady Bulldogs 13-7 in the regular-season meeting between the teams, as Bearden held CHS to its lowest point total of the season. The Lady Bulldogs advanced with a semifinal win over rival Farragut on Monday night in West Knoxville.
The Lady Dragons dominated Central after defeating the Lady Bobcats 53-6 during the regular season.
The 2026 season has ended for the Clinton High School baseball team.
The Dragons, who finished the year 10-20, were eliminated from the District 4-AAA tournament with an 8-1 loss to Union County on Saturday at Anderson County High School.
Jaxon Young drove in Clinton’s lone run. Peyton Douglas singled and scored for the Dragons, while Jake Rittenberry doubled against the Patriots.
Will Brooks, Brennan Tipton, Jackson Webb and Douglas all had hits in the season finale for Clinton, which opened the tournament with a 3-2 loss to Gibbs.
The Eagles won that game on Lincoln Ruth’s walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Brooks took the mound for the Dragons and was tagged with the loss, but he went the distance, pitching 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs, two earned, eight hits and one walk while striking out five.
Brooks also singled.
JP Robbins drove in both of Clinton’s runs with a sacrifice fly and a sacrifice bunt. Douglas singled and scored twice.
Young singled and walked twice, while Webb went 1-for-3.
The final week of the 2026 regular softball season brought mixed results for Clinton High School, and a loss to Powell on Tuesday, April 29, in Northwest Knox County left Coach Leonard Sams with concerns.
“We had some pitching problems and I think we gave up 10 walks,” Sams said after the Lady Dragons dropped a 9-4 decision to the Lady Panthers. “Our pitching really struggled.
“I was a little concerned about our pitching after that game.”
Despite the struggles in the circle, Clinton had a good shoowing at the plate.
“We hit the ball very well against Powell,” Sams said. “We just had problems pitching.”
In its first season in District 4-4A baseball, Oak Ridge will play for the district tournament championship.
The Wildcats were slated to play for the title Tuesday at Farragut High School’s John Heatherly Field.
They earned their berth with a 10-5 victory over four-time defending Class 4A state champion and host Farragut in a winner’s bracket game Saturday.
After being retired in order in the top of the first inning, Oak Ridge erupted for eight runs in the second to seize an 8-0 lead, with just three hits.
The Wildcats finished with six hits against the Admirals. Warren East, the leadoff hitter, went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Parker Free was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI.
Oak Ridge High School’s softball team closed its 2026 season with a glimpse of its potential, highlighted by a dominant 21-2 home victory over McMinn County in a District 4-4A tournament play-in game.
The Lady Wildcats (11-18-1) didn’t advance as far as they hoped, but still posted their best season record in more than a decade. Their postseason run ended Friday night with a 9-5 loss to Bearden at Kim Hazelwood Field.
Oak Ridge opened tournament play in emphatic fashion Tuesday, April 27, overwhelming McMinn County with a 15-run third inning in the five-inning victory. The Lady Wildcats defeated the Lady Cherokees four times during the season.
Bay Hensley went 2-for-5 with a double, five runs scored and an RBI, while Hadley Gardner drove in seven runs. Anslee Douglas doubled three times and added an RBI.
Amiyah King pitched a complete game, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out eight. She also had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
The St. Mary’s Middle School boys golf team captured the region championship early last week at Lakeside Golf Course in Kingston.
Britton Luttrell continued his dominant 2026 run, earning low medalist honors with a 2-over-par 37.
“Britton is undefeated this year,” Coach Shaun Parton said. “He’s won every tournament that he’s played in this year.”
The team is made up of players from St. Mary’s, Jefferson Middle School and Robertsville Middle School. Linden Elementary School fourth-grader Charlie Hay also played for the team this season.
The District 4-AAA baseball coaches recently released their postseason award winners, and Anderson County and Clinton both had multiple players recognized.
The Mavericks’ Josh Boynton was named Coach of the Year after guiding Anderson County to the regular-season district championship.
Anderson County’s Wil Ridenour was named Pitcher of the Year. Nolan Benson earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Reese Young was named Newcomer of the Year.
Blake Lowe and Daniel Unthank earned first-team all-district honors for the Mavericks. Clay Fletcher, Jeremiah Owens and Kris Pelliccio were named to the second team. Owens was also named to the league’s all-academic team.
Clinton’s Jackson Webb was named Offensive Player of the Year. The Dragons’ first-team selections were Will Brooks and Aden Golden. Clinton was represented on the second team by Jaxon Young, while Gideon Follett made the all-academic team.
In District 4-4A, Oak Ridge’s Mikee Teasley was named Pitcher of the Year, while Parker Free was named Offensive Player of the Year.
Teasley, Free, Joe Webb, Warren East, Carson Feagan, Jaiden Cheaverton and Kam Welch were named to the all-district team.
Brooks Poteet received honorable mention honors, while Tryce Sharp and Dylan Skeens were named to the all-academic team.
Clinton Football Club closed out the regular-season portion of its schedule with a pair of victories last week.
The soccer team outlasted Knoxville’s First Apostolic 7-4 Thursday on the road.
Samuel McMurray had a hat trick for Clinton FC, while Jordan Cuevas and Juan Zorro each added two goals in the regular-season finale.
Clinton led the league in scoring as it found the back of the net 57 times in 10 games this season. CFC finished the 2026 regular season 8-2 and won six league matches.
Clinton’s only losses came to regular-season champion Oak Ridge and league runner-up Gibbs.
Clinton multisport standout Lanee Carmichael recently signed to continue her academic and athletic career at Maryville College. Celebrating with her are, from left, Wes Carmichael, Lanee Carmichael, Nikki Carmichael and (back row) Anslee Carmichael. - Tony Cox
One of Clinton High School’s most-decorated athletes will move on to pursue collegiate basketball.
Lady Dragons senior Lanee Carmichael will play basketball at Maryville College. She is a three-sport athlete at CHS, excelling in volleyball, basketball and the newly added sport of flag football.
Carmichael is one of the area’s top high school athletes. She won several postseason awards in both volleyball and basketball. She also is the quarterback for Clinton’s flag football team, which was in the midst of a postseason run at press time after winning a regular-season region title.
Her road to Maryville College wasn’t an easy one. She missed approximately half of her junior basketball season because of a season-ending knee injury. She also missed her entire senior season on the volleyball court.
But Carmichael persevered through a long and grueling rehabilitation process with the help of Lady Dragons Head Coach Alicia Daugherty and former Assistant Coach Lecia Watson.
“The thing that’s special about Lanee is her heart,” Daugherty said at Carmichael’s signing ceremony last week. “When you look at Lanee, Addi Gamble, Josie Moody and the other members of this class, they’re such good role models.
Clinton Middle School’s track and field program continues to build something special, and the Hawks proved it once again at the TMSAA Class AAA Region 1 championships at Science Hill High School in Johnson City.
Facing some of the top competition in East Tennessee, Clinton athletes turned in a series of podium finishes and breakthrough performances, with multiple Hawks earning medals and advancing to the sectional round. The top four finishers in each event qualified, moving one step closer to a potential state berth.
Leading the way was eighth-grader Levi Braden, who placed second in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 19 feet, 1.75 inches. Braden also added a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter dash, securing two sectional appearances and continuing a standout season.
