Rhea Middle 8th Graders; Back row: Coach Mark Palmer, Coach Audrey Norman, Jazz Richardson, Harmony Raymer, Izzy Prescott, Ruby Varner, Lola Bamber, Brandi Roddy, Kelby Anderson, Blakleigh Watson, Bryn Fitzgerald, Collyns Stinson, Veta Newman, Brooke Reeves, Talitha McKinney, Coach Allison Sekura
Front row: Leah Daniels, Millie Darnell, Addie Hughes, Maggie Vickers, McKenna Ryan, Ana Matias, Viv Cranfill, Sky Dixon.(Picture:RheaMiddleSoccer)
Varsity and Junior Varsity Gets Wins in Final Home Game of Regular Season
Evensville, TN -- Friday, Sept. 12th, saw beautiful field conditions for the Eagles to host JV & Varsity games at home and to honor the 21- 8th graders on their roster. JV started the activities off first by playing Loftis Middle School. The team came out looking to rectify the previous loss they experienced against this team, and they worked hard to set the tone for the whole night of games. The first half saw Vivian Cranfill put the Eagles first on the board by winning a Loftis goal kick, driving it down and finishing it in the net. Ruby Varner added the 2nd goal of the night off a Macy Rae Smith corner kick, halftime score 2-0. The 2nd half once again saw the Eagles continue to drive up and score with 3 more goals added by Ana Matias, Lauren Dyer (assist Smith corner kick again), and Sky Dixon (assist Varner). Final score 5-0 and JV record now at 5-3.
RMS Varsity Wins 1-0
The Varsity kicked off next, feeding on the energy and hunger and looking for redemption for their earlier loss to Sweetwater in the season. The Eagles came out winning most of the 50/50 balls throughout the game and adjusting to the physicality of Sweetwater. Millie Darnell received a pass from Addie Hughes in the first half and soared it over the goalie’s head to put the Eagles on the board first, 1-0. Sweetwater kept trying to win the ball back and unfortunately, a foul was called against an Eagle on a 50/50 ball, so a PK was rewarded. Lola Bamber had a diving save on the PK, making the Eagle’s stadium fans roar with life and applause, halftime score 1-0 remained. The second half saw the Eagles settle down into their passing game better and once again, continue to dominate the field of play. Sweetwater’s aggression picked up with a yellow card finally being given out to them halfway through the 2nd half. The Eagles kept their composure and their dominance of the ball, even drawing a foul inside of the box as well, but unfortunately, the Eagle player kicked too high and the ball went soaring over the net. The Eagles didn’t let this get them down and kept the ball on the Sweetwater side of the field with their passing and physical presence, final score 1-0 district win, a redemption of the last loss vs. this team.
Head Coach Audrey Norman had this to say following the game, "I am extremely proud of the effort given by both of our teams tonight. They both carried losses from playing these teams earlier in the season, so they knew going in that in order to redeem themselves, they had to carry a fire in their belly that made them win every ball and fight for every possession. They both did just that. Every girl out there had a fire inside of them, and all 21 of our 8th graders showed up and showed out. Ruby with her first ever goal that she has been fighting for all season, Macy Rae with 2 corner kick assists that she has been working on all season, Bamber with an amazing save on that PK, and all of our Varsity girls winning the 50/50 balls and settling into our passing game in the 2nd half while battling through some dirty physicality of the other team. I am so proud of each and every single girl, but especially our 8th graders that continue to show our younger players what it is to fight and battle and come out every game taking nothing for granted, but working for it all!
These 8th graders are so precious to Coach Allison, Coach Mark, and myself, and we will miss them tremendously next year, but so excited to cheer them on through high school!" Varsity district record now stands at 7-2. Rhea Middle Varsity faces off at Lake Forest at Bradley Central High School turf field on Thursday, 9-18-25, for their last district game of the season. The Eagles will host home playoff games starting Monday, 9-22, and possibly Tuesday, 9-23, at 6:30pm (who they play TBD).
List of 8th Graders Honored for Rhea:
#2 Talitha McKinney- homeschool
#6 Kelby Anderson - RMS
#7 Harmony Raymer -DCS
#8 Izzy Prescott - RMS
#9 Ana Villatora Matias- DCS
#11 Millie Darnell- homeschool
#12 Collyns Stinson - DCS
#14 Leah Daniel - DCS
#15 Sky Dixon - homeschool
#17 Maggie Vickers - RMS
#22 Vivian Cranfill - SCMS
#23 McKenna Ryan - DCS
#24 Jazz Richardson - DCS
#25 Brooke Reeves - RMS
#28 Addie Hughes - DCS
#30 Blakleigh Watson - SCMS
#32 Lola Bamber - DCS
#34 Veta Newman - RMS
#35 Brandi Roddy - RMS
#37 Ruby Varner - SCMS
#48 Brynlee Fitzgerald - SCMS