DeKalb Cross Country Boys Team and VanVranken qualify for State

October 29, 2021
By:

The DeKalb County High School Cross Country Boys team made history Wednesday at Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. DeKalb County High School first formed a cross country team in 2013. Over the course of the eight years, DeKalb has had some exceptional runners individually qualify for state, like Mya Ruch in 2016, but the program has never had a team qualify for state. That is until Wednesday! DeKalb County captured it’s first ever berth to state with a fourth place finish in the TSSAA Region 4A/AA Men’s Race against 23 other high school teams. The rigorous 3.1 mile course featuring hills, asphalt, and off road paths was the challenge for 116 athletes all vying for the same limited spots to the state meet and the title of regional champion. Aaron Gottlied led the Tigers finishing 10th with a time of 17:55. Cooper Brown had a 23rd place finish with a time of 19:09 followed by Ian Colwell (28th, 19:21), Caleb Gay (35th, 19:58) Andrew Tramel (40th, 20:16), Kaleb Spears (49th, 20:36), and Cale Brown (79th, 22:36). Blake Yuenger of Central Magnet High School (Murfreesboro) won the regional championship with a time of 16:19.

Ella VanVranken also earned a berth to state, taking second place behind Samantha Ouellette (Central Magnet, 18:38) with a time of 18:51.. The DeKalb County girls team was unable to clinch a berth finishing 7th in the field of 14 teams. Running for the Tigers was VanVranken (2nd, 18:51), Mylie Phillips (34th, 23:47), Madeline Martin (51st, 25:18), Emily Young (61st, 25:49), and Cadee Griffith (74th, 27:12).

Region 4A/AA includes Central Magnet High School, Fred J. Page High School, Macon County High School, Watertown High School, Lincoln County High School, Westmoreland High School, Tullahoma High School, Cannon County High School, Cascade High School, Alvin C. York Institute, Smith County High School, Fayetteville High School, Eagleville High School, Forrest High School, Community High School and DeKalb County High School.

The TSSAA State Championship will take place on Friday, November 5th in Hendersonville, TN.

October 29, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

The regular season comes to a close tonight for the DCHS Tigers at Stone Memorial in Crossville but win or lose DeKalb County will begin its state football play-off run next week on the road in the Chattanooga area.

https://www.wjle.com/tiger-talk/

The game between the Tigers (5-4) and the Panthers (6-3) kicks off at 7 p.m. and WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

After riding a four game winning streak through the middle of the season, the Tigers have lost the last two games to Upperman and Goodpature. A win tonight would secure third place in the region for DC and send the Tigers off on a good note in preparation for the post-season.

DeKalb County has defeated Stone Memorial the last two years. Tiger Coach Steve Trapp says the Panthers this year are much improved.

“The last two years they have been a younger football team but those guys are now older but they still don’t have a ton of seniors out there I don’t think. There are still some sophomores on the field and a lot of juniors but they have changed their defensive scheme and it really fits what they have on the field. They are a very aggressive defense. Offensively they are still what they have been. They are a lot like us. They will spread it out. Their quarterback is dangerous. He can throw it. We will have to contain him. That is something we have not done a really good job of. In the Livingston game their quarterback scrambled around a little bit. Last week’s quarterback for Goodpasture had a few scrambles on us so we really need to make sure we keep him in the pocket. They mix it up in the run game as well. It’s a challenging week but we like challenges,” said Coach Trapp.

Stone Memorial has beaten East Ridge 47-21, Livingston Academy 49-12, Monterey 7-6, York Institute 29-0, Cumberland County 21-9, and Kingston 34-33. Their losses have been to Lenoir City 42-28, Upperman 27-9, and Macon County 21-19.

DeKalb County’s wins have been over Smith County 33-14, Cumberland County 35-10, Cannon County 49-7, Livingston Academy 45-15, and Warren County 28-0 . Their losses have been to Macon County 32-29, Watertown 38-20, Upperman 24-14, and Goodpasture 21-13.

WJLE’s pre-game shows begin with “Murphy’s Matchups” at 6 p.m. featuring the Guru of Tennessee High School Football Murphy Fair.

“Tiger Talk” begins at 6:30 p.m. featuring DCHS Coach Steve Trapp and Tiger Football Players Isaac Knowles, Brady Hale, and Isaiah Harrington.

WJLE’s “LIVE” play by play coverage starts at 7 p.m. with the Voice of the Tigers John Pryor and Luke Willoughby.

Region Standings:
Upperman: 9-1 (5-0)
Macon County: 6-3 (3-1)
DeKalb County: 5-4 (2-2)
Stone Memorial: 6-3 (2-2)
Cumberland County: 5-4 (1-3)
Livingston Academy: 0-10 (0-5)

October 29, 2021
By: Dwayne Page

State Representative Terri Lynn Weaver visited with 5th graders at Northside Elementary School Wednesday as part of her biennial tour of every school in the 40th District to emphasis engagement in education. The district includes about 27 schools in Smith, Trousdale and parts of DeKalb and Sumner counties.

Representative Weaver brought along her guitar to entertain the students while giving them a lesson on American History.

“The tour is about getting engaged in the classroom,” said Representative Weaver. “ I feel very welcome in the classrooms in the schools in my district and I have been doing this since I have been elected. I go in and tell the kids stories of our heritage and history which is rich with amazing stories of people who were ordinary that did extraordinary things. By bringing my guitar I can sing a song and tell them the history of the song. I tell them about legislation I carried about the Star Spangled Banner Day September 14. I tell them what it is when we say we are a Republic. Its “We the People” and the people give the consent to the representatives to be their voice in Nashville in state government and it’s the same principle with the US government. I enjoy doing this. Its fun, I also hand out constitutions to the larger grades in the government classes and then we have a Q and A at the end where they can ask questions,” said Representative Weaver.