Sparta Overwhelms Rival Upperman: Tennis Courts Become Latest Battleground in Heated Class 1A Competition

SPARTA (4/10/26) — In the Upper Cumberland, whenever the colors of White County and Upperman High School meet, the records often take a backseat to the intensity of the rivalry. Whether it is on the hardwood, the gridiron, or the soccer pitch, the "Sparta vs. Baxter" matchup is a calendar-circle event for fans in both communities. On Friday night, that storied heat moved to the tennis courts, and for the White County faithful, the results were as sweet as they were dominant.

The Warriorettes delivered a clinical 9-0 sweep, while the short-handed Warriors showcased the depth of their program with an 8-1 victory. For White County fans, this wasn't just another notch in the win column; it was a statement of supremacy over a rival that rarely gives an inch.

Warriorettes Achieve Flawless Improvement

After a hard-fought 8-1 win against the Lady Bees last month, the Warriorettes entered tonight’s match looking for perfection—and they found it. The 9-0 sweep was a testament to the team’s growth, particularly in their "all-court" transition game and aggressive net play.

The night began with grit at the top of the bracket. Senior Lorelei Bouldin, playing through a physical injury at the #1 spot, embodied the Warrior spirit by battling to an 8-4 win. Her resilience sparked a fire down the lineup, as Katelyn Howard and Ainslee Goff both delivered "bagels" (8-0), and Tegan Rittenberry and Sadie Benningfield followed with "breadsticks" (8-1). Even the JV call-ups felt the weight of the rivalry; Claire Hawkins and Emmie Benningfield stepped into the #3 Varsity doubles spot and didn't miss a beat, securing an 8-1 victory.

Short-Handed Warriors Keep Perfect Season Intact

The Warriors faced a daunting challenge, taking the court without their normally ranked #1, #3, and #5 seeds. In a rivalry match where momentum is everything, the absence of three starters could have been a disaster. Instead, the depth of the Sparta roster took center stage.

Led by junior Ethan Wiles, the Warriors improved to a perfect 12-0 on the season. Wiles dominated his singles match 8-1, while senior Ben Brogden kept the momentum swinging with an 8-0 shutout at #2.

The highlight of the evening—and perhaps the most "Upperman-White County" moment of the night—came from Jett Drouillard. Trailing 0-5 early due to an injury, Drouillard refused to fold. With the coaching staff shifting his strategy to a high-pressure net attack, Jett turned the match into a marathon. As the clock hit 8:30 PM, fans from both sides crowded the fence to cheer on their respective combatants. Though Drouillard narrowly lost 7-9 in the end, his "epic comeback" attempt became the talk of the night.

Adding to the excitement, 6th grader Micah Wiles was called up for an exhibition match against an Upperman 7th seed and won 8-0, proving that the future of this rivalry remains bright in Sparta.

Match Results

Warriorette Singles Scores:

1. Lorelei Bouldin (8-4)

2. Tegan Rittenberry (8-1)

3. Sadie Benningfield (8-1)

4. Olivia Flaminio (8-3)

5. Katelyn Howard (8-0)

6. Ainslee Goff (8-0)

Warrior Singles Scores:

1. Ethan Wiles (8-1)

2. Ben Brogden (8-0)

3. Jagger Osborne (8-4)

4. Seth Smith (8-2)

5. Jett Drouillard (7-9)

6. Gabe Sweeney (8-4)

7. Exhibition: Micah Wiles (8-0)

Doubles Scores:

Warriorettes: 

1. Bouldin/S. Benningfield (8-2)

2. Rittenberry/Flaminio (8-2)

3. E. Benningfield/Hawkins (8-1)

Warriors:

1. E. Wiles/Brogden (8-3)

2. Osborne/Smith (8-2)

3. Drouillard/Sweeney (8-2).

With the wins, the Warriorettes move to 8-1 (3-0 in District) and the Warriors remain undefeated at 12-0 (5-0 in District). Both teams will look to carry this momentum into a massive away match against class 2A Cookeville High School on Monday, April 13th, at 3:30 PM.