Lady Rebels Ready for Tougher District 1-AA
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
District 1-A/AA soccer teams had no success going through Greeneville in recent years.
Now those remaining in the new District 1-AA will have the Lady Greene Devils to contend with in regular season play.
Greeneville joins holdovers Sullivan South, Unicoi County and Elizabethton with Volunteer and Sullivan Central dropping in from Class AAA in the new three-classification soccer system implemented by the TSSAA. Hampton, Happy Valley and University High were placed in newly formed District 1-A.
“It’ll be a tough league,” said Sullivan South coach Keith Parker. “You have to bring your best every game because we only play each other once. You don’t have too many chances.”
Greeneville won the last two state championships in Class A/AA and went 51-3 the last two seasons. The Lady Greene Devils have advanced to the sectional round for at least ten years in a row.
“Everybody is chasing them,” admitted Parker. “I hate to say that, but we just are. They’ve earned that respect.”
Parker believes the Lady Rebels can compete for a finish near the top of the new district.
“I think this year, having three people back on defense is a plus and I think we can score goals,” said Parker. “We just have to keep our shape and stay disciplined.”
Returning a center back are Tristen Mintz and Molly Topping with Riley Sarginger back at outside back. Michaela Graham moves from outside mid to the other outside back position where Emily Maxwell and others are pushing the issue.
Back-up keeper Katerina Johnson steps into a starting role.
“Katerina is getting some training on the side, greatly trying to improve her craft,” noted Parker. “We have a couple of new keepers, Madison Horn and Erika Greene, coming in, but right now, it’s Kat’s job to lose.”
The midfield effort is led by defensive mid Amber Bentley. Rachel Phillips and Brenna Henderson will be at center mid.
“Rachel can play striker as well and Brenna could also play out wide or up top,” said Parker.
Abby Clark moves from defensive mid to wing with Julianna Henderson returning after a year off to the other wing. Maddie Topping is back at striker, but could be interchanged with Henderson and Phillips.
“There are a couple of spots not yet solidified,” added Parker. “We’ve got a good nucleus of girls returning, but we’ll have some inexperience at other positions.”
The Lady Rebels opened with an 8-2 non-district result Tuesday over Unicoi County. The district fixture will come later in the season in Erwin.
“Will play some district teams twice, but only one will count as a conference game,” Parker explained. “When you only have six teams, you only get five games out of that. We get 16 games and we go to one tournament (Smoky Mountain Cup) that counts as two games, so we have to find nine more and that’s hard to do.”
Parker says the key to the season involves something the Lady Rebels have been unable to do recently – stay healthy.
“With our girls, since we have a lot of inexperience, we need to stay healthy and bring those other girls along at our pace, instead of having to throw them in the fire when they’re not ready.”
2017 Sullivan South Lady Rebels
1 – Katerina Johnson
2 – Madison Horn
3 – Abby Clark
4 – Chenoa Cox
5 – Amber Bentley
6 – Tristen Mintz
7 – Maura Nicholson
9 – Brenna Henderson
11 – Rachel Phillips
12 – Michaela Graham
13 – Lauren Bennett
14 – Erika Greene
15 – Emily Maxwell
16 – Mattie Topping
17 – Riley Sarginger
18 – Olivia Frazier
19 – Molly Topping
21 –Claudia McDavid
22 – Julianna Henderson
24 – Kendall Fair
25 – Abby Lee
2017 Sullivan South Lady Rebels
August
15 – Unicoi County, 5:30 p.m.
17 – Grainger, 5:30 p.m.
22 – *Sullivan Central, 5:30 p.m.
Smoky Mountain Cup
25 – Morristown East, 5:00 p.m.
26 – Northview Academy, 6:10 p.m.
27 – Ooltewah, 10:50 a.m.
29 – *Greeneville, 5:30 p.m.
31 – Volunteer, 5:30 p.m.
September
5 – at Daniel Boone, 5:30 p.m.
7 – at University High, 6:30 p.m.
12 – *Elizabethton, 5:30 p.m.
14 – at Sullivan Central, 6:00 p.m.
19 – *at Unicoi County, 6:00 p.m.
26 – *at Volunteer, 6:00 p.m.
28 – Chuckey-Doak, 5:00 p.m.
October
3 – Dobyns-Bennett, 5:00 p.m.
5 – Happy Valley (Senior Night), 5:00 p.m.