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The 10 best Robertson sports moments from the 2019-20 school year




Springfield players smile after their 17-14 overtime victory over Haywood in the 4A semifinals on Nov. 29.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

Springfield players smile after their 17-14 overtime victory over Haywood in the 4A semifinals on Nov. 29.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

The 2019-20 school year was shorter than expected yet still full of memorable sports moments.

Robertson County produced its share of sports highlights, sending basketball, cross country, football, golf and wrestling teams to TSSAA state tournaments.

Sophomore phenoms like Taylor Groves and Molly Smith earned impressive individual achievements, while a long-standing soccer losing streak was broken and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies brought back fond memories of years past.

Here are 10 of the best Robertson County sports moments from the last nine months:

1. Springfield football playoff run

November-December 2019

The Yellow Jackets gave us the most exciting sports moments this school year. After starting the season 4-3, Springfield football reeled off seven straight wins to capture the Region 5-4A regular-season title and advance to the TSSAA Class 4A BlueCross Bowl at Tennessee Tech, where it lost to Elizabethton 30-6.

East Robertson players celebrate their 50-43 victory over West Carroll on March 9.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

East Robertson players celebrate their 50-43 victory over West Carroll on March 9.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

Springfield used a stingy defense (19.6 points allowed per game) and a run-heavy offense (2,983 yards, 40 TDs) to earn playoff wins over Jackson South Side, Lexington, Hardin County and Haywood in November.

The team’s nine-member senior class, including Kevontay White, Cale Jones, Christian Del Rio, Yonel Rodriguez, Mikie Neal, Christian Trujillo, Austin Stiltner, Nate Kendrick and Nathen Griffith, won 13 playoff games and finished 40-17 overall during their careers.

2. East Robertson basketball makes state

March 9, 2020

Although the Indians never had a chance to play in the state basketball tournament because of the pandemic, they still cemented themselves as one of the best Tennessee Class A teams this season.

East Robertson beat West Carroll 50-43 on March 9 to advance to Murfreesboro for the first time since 2006. Taylor Groves, the 2019-20 Robertson County Boys Basketball Player of the Year, led all scorers with 31 points despite coming down with a stomach bug that morning.

Jo Byrns girls basketball coach Jessica Holt breaks down the huddle with her team during a game against Merrol Hyde.FILE/JOHN DECKER

Jo Byrns girls basketball coach Jessica Holt breaks down the huddle with her team during a game against Merrol Hyde.FILE/JOHN DECKER

Groves had help from a talented backcourt that also included seniors Daltyn Hammonds and Darion Shannon, who both earned All-County honors.

3. WH Heritage football turnaround

Fall 2019

It took coach Stetson Dickerson just two seasons to get the Patriots heading in the right direction. After a dismal 1-9 finish in 2018, White House Heritage went 7-4 last fall and earned its first TSSAA Class 4A playoff bid in four years.

The Patriots clinched a playoff berth with a thrilling 20-13 win at Montgomery Central to close the regular season on Nov. 1. Eventual University of the Cumberlands signee Trenton Tuttle scored all three touchdowns, including the go-ahead score on a 43-yard fumble return with 5:57 remaining. Heritage fell to Lexington 35-27 in the first round one week later.

4. Jo Byrns girls basketball returns to sectionals

March 2020

WH Heritage senior Trenton Tuttle recovers a fumble and returns it for the winning touchdown against Montgomery Central.FILE/ROBERT SMITH

WH Heritage senior Trenton Tuttle recovers a fumble and returns it for the winning touchdown against Montgomery Central.FILE/ROBERT SMITH

The Lady Red Devils had a banner season for the second straight year, finishing 20-7 and advancing to a TSSAA Class A Sectional. But Jo Byrns ran into Loretto again and lost to the Mustangs 81-54 with a spot in the state tournament on the line.

Sophomore Brooke Dowlen earned Robertson County Girls Basketball Player of the Year for averaging 17 points and eight rebounds per game. Ashlen Bryant, Grayson Bryant, Evy Helm, Jaya Herring rounded out the balanced lineup.

5. WH Heritage finally soccer beats White House

October 3, 2019

It took 21 tries, but the White House Heritage girls soccer team dispatched the bane of its existence: the White House Lady Blue Devils.

The Lady Patriots got six goals from five different players, including two by senior Alex Green, in the 6-1 rout at White House. Heritage was previously 0-18-2 against its crosstown rival.

Heritage went on to beat White House two more times – 8-2 in the District 9-AA championship on Oct. 17 and 6-0 in the Region 5-AA championship on Oct. 24.

White House Heritage seniors Abby Tolbert (left) and Eimy Esparza (right) embrace after a goal against White House on Oct. 3.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

White House Heritage seniors Abby Tolbert (left) and Eimy Esparza (right) embrace after a goal against White House on Oct. 3.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

6. Taylor Groves gets All-State in two sports

January, April 2020

East Robertson sophomore Taylor Groves garnered All-State honors in both of his sports, arguably pitting him as the best athlete in Robertson County and one of the best in Middle Tennessee.

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) named Groves to its Class 2A All-State football team as a wide receiver in January and its Class A All-State basketball team in April. Rockwood senior Nate Brackett and McCallie junior Eric Rivers were the only other athletes that made both lists.

247Sports lists Groves as a four-star prospect with seven football offers from Power 5 schools. On the hardwood, he hit 1,000 points for his career on Jan. 28 and finished the season averaging 21 points, nine rebounds and 3.7 assists.

7. Molly Smith delivers another 40 goals

Fall 2019

East Robertson dual-sport athlete Taylor Groves earned multiple All-State recognitions.FILE/RUSSELL VANNOZZI

East Robertson dual-sport athlete Taylor Groves earned multiple All-State recognitions.FILE/RUSSELL VANNOZZI

Springfield forward Molly Smith broke the school’s single-season record with 41 goals as a freshman in 2018. She somehow managed to top that with 46 more last fall, leading to her second selection as the Robertson County Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

The sophomore scored 10 goals in a single game against Kenwood in September. Just as Groves dominates the basketball court and the football field, Smith owns the soccer pitch. Both still have two years of high school eligibility remaining.

8. ER, Springfield create Halls of Fame

January 2020

East Robertson and Springfield both introduced Athletic Halls of Fame this school year.

The Springfield High School Athletic Association sought nominations from the community last summer and eventually settled on 12 inductees for the initial group, including legends like former football coach Boyce Smith and basketball star John Darden. Greg Bell, Sheena Bowling Chapman, Robert Farmer, Louis Jamison, Travis Kirby, Larry Mayhugh, Roy Meneese, Horace Murphy, Esther Stubblefield Hubbard and Lawrence Thaxton were also inducted.

Springfield forward Molly Smith scored 46 goals as a sophomore.FILE/RUSSELL VANNOZZI

Springfield forward Molly Smith scored 46 goals as a sophomore.FILE/RUSSELL VANNOZZI

The East Robertson ceremony was especially touching. Melvin Scharklet, who volunteered in various capacities for four-plus decades, was honored as the school’s inaugural inductee on Jan. 24. “Big M” served as an assistant basketball coach for his entire stint at East Robertson and spent time as a PA announcer, booster club president, concession stand renovator, football program saver and more.

Scharklet passed away on April 6 at age 64.

9. Other sport successes

All year

Traditional team sports drew most of the headlines, but individuals in other various sports also shined.

East Robertson, Greenbrier and White House Heritage each sent runners to the TSSAA state cross country championships. Greenbrier junior Gabrianna Bass finished 102nd in the D-I Large School girls race, while East Robertson junior Caitlin Enck placed 35th in the D-I Small School girls race.

East Robertson AD Neil Murphy (right) hands Melvin Scharklet the first-ever ERHS Athletic Hall of Fame plaque on Jan. 24.FILE/KEN HERNDON

East Robertson AD Neil Murphy (right) hands Melvin Scharklet the first-ever ERHS Athletic Hall of Fame plaque on Jan. 24.FILE/KEN HERNDON

The White House Heritage girls placed third out of 23 teams – their best finish since taking runner-up in 2017. The Patriots were led by Bella Richardson (22:33), Emily Roque (22:41), Abby Page (22:57) and Mackenzie Bennett (22:58). In a joint signing ceremony in February, Richardson, Roque and Bennett all inked with Bethel to continue their running careers.

The White House Heritage boys golf team earned a fifth-place finish in the TSSAA Small Class championship at WillowBrook Golf Club in October. Gavin Holland, the team’s only senior, shot a 159 to tie for No. 16 overall

Two local bowlers – Greenbrier senior Hunter Hardaway and White House junior Kyleigh Husted – took runner-up finishes in their respective state tournaments in January.

Senior wrestlers Cole McCartney (Greenbrier) and Cooper Richards (Springfield) took third place in their respective weight classes at the TSSAA individual state wrestling championships. Greenbrier also sent its team to the TSSAA state duals but lost to Hixson 46-24 in the opening round.

WH Heritage seniors Bella Richardson, Emily Roque and Mackenzie Bennett all signed with Bethel on Feb. 10 to continue their running careers.FILE/RUSSELL VANNOZZI

WH Heritage seniors Bella Richardson, Emily Roque and Mackenzie Bennett all signed with Bethel on Feb. 10 to continue their running careers.FILE/RUSSELL VANNOZZI

10. Peyton Smith commits to Vanderbilt

September 6, 2019

While most eyes were fixed on football, East Robertson junior Peyton Smith dropped the news that he would be continuing the pitching pipeline from Cross Plains to West End.

The 6-foot-3 Smith was nearly untouchable in 2019. He held a 0.83 ERA in 67.1 innings pitched and struck out 116 hitters while walking just 18. He also batted .359 with three home runs and 22 RBI.

Smith will be the fourth Indian to sign with the Commodores, following in the footsteps of Blake Owen (2003), Will Clinard (2008) and Luke Murphy (2018).

East Robertson junior RHP Peyton Smith committed to Vanderbilt last September.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

East Robertson junior RHP Peyton Smith committed to Vanderbilt last September.FILE/PHIL STAUDER

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