Clinton’s Grant Hannah studies the line of a putt during a tri-match against Anderson County and Campbell County at Deerfield Country Club during the 2025 season. Hannah is one of the Dragon’s leading returners for the 2026 season, which will begin with a home tri-match against Anderson County and Kingston. - Dwane Wilder
As the 2026 high school golf season approaches, Clinton High School Coach Matt Cain has a problem most area coaches would gladly welcome — depth.
“We have 15 players, and that’s the biggest team that we’ve ever had,” Cain said. “That’s a good problem to have.
“Only five can score, but this has made practice more competitive already. We have a decent work ethic, and we’re trying to make that a little better.”
The Dragons are coming off their best season in several years, and return a veteran roster led by senior Grant Hannah, who earned low-medalist honors at the District 4-AA tournament last season.
“I’m excited for Grant, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do,” Cain said. “He’s a leader, and he’s playing better than he’s ever played.”
Other returning players for the Dragons include seniors J.P. Robbins, Aden Golden, Isaiah Williams and Beau Mauri, along with sophomores Finn Pridemore, Zander Ford, Cal Kirkpatrick and Parker Douglas.
Former Anderson County standout Emma Leander returns to the pitch for Roane State Community College’s Lady Raiders this season. Leander is one of three former Lady Mavericks on the 2026 roster, and all are expected to make an impact on the program. - Tony Cox
As the Roane State Community College women’s soccer team prepares for the 2026 season, several local standouts are expected to play key roles for the Lady Raiders.
Roane State, coached by former Grace Christian Academy and Oak Ridge High School Coach Donnie Green, features five players with ties to Anderson County, including three sophomores and two freshmen.
Three former Anderson County standouts return for their sophomore seasons. Forward/midfielder Zoey Rose is back after her freshman campaign, while forward Emma Leander also returns. Clinton High graduate Maddy Lindsay is back and will anchor the Lady Raiders’ back line.
Two recent high school graduates also join the program this fall. Clinton graduate Riley Sharp, one of the Lady Dragons’ top players last season, is expected to see time at both forward and defender.
Former Anderson County defender Bralee Hall also joins the Lady Raiders after a successful career with the Lady Mavericks.
Green said he expects all of the local players to make an impact.
“We have a talented group of freshmen coming in, and I expect these girls to contribute, and I expect some of them to start this season,” Green said.
Coal Creek’s Hayden Ault prepares to throw a pitch in the team’s 8-1 victory over William Blount in the recent East Tennessee Baseball District tournament. - Tony Cox
After a brief hiatus, the Coal Creek 18-U baseball team returned to the diamond last week for the East Tennessee Baseball District Tournament.
Coal Creek won four games during the event, which was played in Sweetwater and North Knoxville at Larry Cox Field on the campus of Christenberry Elementary School.
The tournament’s No. 6 seed opened play with an 8-1 victory over William Blount in Sweetwater on Tuesday, July 7.
William Blount grabbed an early lead with a run in the bottom of the third inning and carried a 1-0 advantage into the fifth.
Coal Creek pulled even when Eli Ledford delivered an RBI single that scored Lee Goins.
The team then broke the game open with seven runs in the sixth inning.
Jackson Harris went 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Landry Sharp collected two hits, including a double, drove in two runs and scored once. Ledford finished with two hits, two RBIs and a stolen base, while Goins doubled and scored.
Clinton football Coach Jake Dawson, center, accepts a ceremonial check from JD’s Realty and Auction owners Jason Deel, right, and Natalie Deel on Tuesday, July 7. The presentation marked the company’s new title sponsorship of the Dragons football program for the 2026 season. - Dwane Wilder
The Clinton High School football team will have a title sponsor for the 2026 season.
The Dragons have partnered with JD’s Realty and Auction, which will sponsor the program and host promotions during each home football game this season.
Owner Jason Deel said he was eager to partner with the Dragons after the school’s football booster club created new sponsorship packages.
“I met with the booster club, and we were looking for some things because we were finishing up the quarter,” Deel said.
“What better way to invest in the community than to invest in young people?
“I’m a football fan, and I go to the games in Clinton,” Deel said. “The community has been very good to us since we moved our business here. But it’s about more than just football.”
Clinton second-year Coach Jake Dawson welcomed the partnership with Deel and his company.
“Jason Deel wants to be a part of everything that we do,” Dawson said. “I’m extremely grateful for that. We’re extremely grateful to him for all that he’s done and for all that he will continue to do.
“I’m fired up about it, and this was a no-brainer for us. We have good people in the community.”
Oak Ridge High School golf Coach Scott Hinton likes what he sees as the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats prepare to open the 2026 season.
With experienced returners, promising newcomers and strong competition for lineup spots, Hinton believes both teams have the pieces to enjoy successful campaigns.
The Wildcats will open the season at the prestigious 5Star Preps Tournament at Three Ridges Golf Course in Knox County. The two-day, 36-hole event is scheduled for July 28-29.
Oak Ridge features a young but experienced roster.
“We’ll have some newcomers who will be playing for a spot, and that’s good for competition on the team,” Hinton said. “We can be really competitive, and I think we’ll be really good in our district.”
The 2026 high school girls soccer season will unofficially kick off Saturday, July 25, with the 27th Annual KIL Girls Soccer Jamboree at West High School and the University of Tennessee Intramural Field in Knoxville.
Anderson County is the lone area team scheduled to participate in the annual preseason event.
The Lady Mavericks will play a pair of 30-minute varsity matches, while Anderson County’s junior varsity squad will also see action in two contests.
The Lady Mavericks’ JV team opens the day against host West at 8:30 a.m. on Bill Wilson Field on the West High campus. Anderson County’s varsity team will face the Lady Rebels at 9 a.m.
The Lady Mavericks’ junior varsity squad will then take on Webb School of Knoxville at 9:30 a.m. on the UT Intramural Field. The varsity teams from Anderson County and Webb will follow with a 10 a.m. scrimmage at the same site.
The jamboree concludes with a skills competition at 11 a.m., where players will compete in the 40-yard dash, juggling, punting for goalkeepers, throw-ins and placement kicks.
