High School Sports Roundup | October 19–25, 2026
October is winding down, but the excitement surrounding Knoxville-area high school athletics is far from over. Girls soccer teams are heading into state championship competition, volleyball programs have completed their postseason runs, and cross-country athletes are preparing for the final races of the fall.
This week’s spotlight belongs to the soccer field, where several area teams have earned the opportunity to compete for Tennessee championships.
Girls soccer: Bearden and West both headed to state
Bearden Lady Bulldogs
Bearden put together an impressive week when it mattered most, winning three postseason games to advance to the TSSAA Class AAA state tournament in Chattanooga.
The Lady Bulldogs defeated Knoxville Central 4-2 on October 20, followed by a 3-0 shutout of West in the regional championship on October 22. Two days later, Bearden secured its state tournament berth with a convincing 6-0 sectional victory over Morristown West.
Bearden entered the state tournament with a 16-3-1 record and a quarterfinal matchup against Ravenwood scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.
- Bearden 4, Knoxville Central 2
- Bearden 3, West 0
- Bearden 6, Morristown West 0
West Lady Rebels
A regional championship loss did not end West’s season.
After defeating Powell 2-1 in the regional semifinals, West fell to Bearden but rebounded with a 2-1 victory over Science Hill in Saturday’s sectional round.
That win earned the Lady Rebels a place alongside Bearden in the Class AAA state tournament.
West, entering with an 11-5-2 record, drew Collierville in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round.
- West 2, Powell 1
- Bearden 3, West 0
- West 2, Science Hill 1
Anderson County Mavericks
Anderson County also earned a state tournament berth, advancing to the Class AA field.
The Lady Mavericks entered tournament competition with a 15-5-1 record and were scheduled to face Sycamore in Tuesday’s quarterfinals at Baylor School in Chattanooga.
Their advancement gives Anderson County an opportunity to compete against some of Tennessee’s strongest Class AA programs.
Webb School of Knoxville
Webb continues to be a familiar name in postseason girls soccer.
The Lady Spartans reached the Division II-AA state semifinals with a 14-1-1 record. Webb was scheduled to meet Christ Presbyterian Academy on Wednesday, October 28, at Boyd-Buchanan School.
A victory would send Webb into Thursday’s state championship match at Finley Stadium.
Volleyball: Catholic and Webb conclude their seasons
Knoxville Catholic Lady Irish
Knoxville Catholic’s volleyball season ended in the Division II-AA East Region tournament with a 3-1 loss to Briarcrest Christian on October 17.
Although the Lady Irish did not advance to the state tournament, the program competed in one of Tennessee’s challenging private-school classifications.
Webb Lady Spartans
Webb also completed its volleyball campaign after a competitive fall season. The Lady Spartans finished with a 25-9 record, and sophomores Isla Adams and Arabella Keith earned All-East Region recognition.
Cross-country: Runners turn attention to championship meets
The focus shifts from regular-season competition to postseason racing for Knoxville-area cross-country teams.
Knoxville Catholic’s boys and Hardin Valley Academy’s girls entered the final stretch with momentum from their October 17 Knoxville Interscholastic League championships.
Catholic won the boys team title, while Hardin Valley captured the girls championship.
Among the individual standouts, Catholic’s Cade Duncanson won the boys 5K in 15:24.40, and Hardin Valley’s Alexandra Vesser took the girls title in 18:15.70.
Webb sophomore Bennie Diddle also delivered a notable performance, finishing fifth in the girls race with a personal-best time of 18:49.
The coming championship meets offer another opportunity for area runners to finish their seasons among Tennessee’s best.
Golf: State championship success worth celebrating
While golf competition wrapped up earlier in October, local programs have plenty of accomplishments to carry into the offseason.
Christian Academy of Knoxville’s boys and Grace Christian Academy’s girls captured state team championships.
Hardin Valley Academy’s girls earned third place in Division I-AA, while Knoxville Catholic’s girls finished third in Division II-AA.
Individually, Hardin Valley’s Addisyn Newman placed third, and West’s Reese McMahan finished fifth.
Performance of the Week: Bearden girls soccer
The Bearden Lady Bulldogs earn this week’s KnoxTNToday Performance of the Week recognition for three postseason victories, including consecutive shutouts against West and Morristown West.
The Lady Bulldogs outscored those three opponents 13-2 while earning their place in the state tournament.
West deserves recognition as well for bouncing back from its regional loss to secure a state tournament berth of its own.
Looking ahead
The TSSAA girls soccer state championships take place October 27–30 in Chattanooga, with several Knoxville-area teams competing for titles.
Fans can follow official brackets, schedules and results through the TSSAA girls soccer championship page.
Coaches, athletic directors and parents are encouraged to share scores, athlete accomplishments and championship results with news@knoxtntoday.com for future High School Sports Roundups.
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