We conclude our look at the West Tennessee girls’ soccer
districts today with District 15 A-AA. With North Side dropping from Class AAA
to A-AA, there are no AAA girls’ soccer teams in our coverage area.
District 15 A-AA is made up of 11 teams, but just like in
years past there doesn’t look to be enough girls’ soccer teams in Memphis, so
the district will go straight into a region tournament in postseason play.
Jackson Christian moves back to Division I after four
years in II-A.
This district also has the third team from West Tennessee
that made the Class A-AA state tournament last season – Liberty.
Teams:
East
Adamsville
JCM
Liberty
Madison
North Side
Scotts Hill
West
Covington
Haywood
Jackson Christian
Ripley
TCA
Adamsville
The Lady Cardinals return seven of the 11 starters from
last year’s squad.
Anna Johnson was named the 2012 South Division Defensive
MVP, and she returns for her senior season.
Adamsville also returns goalkeeper Olivia Wright, so the
Lady Cardinals should be sound defensively.
Also watch out for the play of Olivia Johnson and Kelsee
Berryman.
JCM
The Lady Cougars have struggled recently, but the team is
looking to try and pick up a few wins this season.
Riece Stone and Morgan Tucker lead JCM on attack.
Liberty
The Lady Crusaders made their first-ever trip to the
state tournament last season.
Liberty loses some key components from last year’s team
including Dahona Leasure and head coach Julie Carter.
Alana Byrd, The Jackson Sun’s 2013 Defensive Player of
the Year, returns for her senior year.
The Lady Crusaders also had some young freshman that
stepped up to help the run to state last season, but will they be able to keep
the momentum going?
Madison
The Lady Mustangs made a run to the region semifinals
before falling to Sacred Heart. Madison is again under a new head coach in
Jacob Long.
Long does have many skill players back for this season.
Paige Castleman and Rebekah Guthrie return for their senior year and will be
two of the go-to players on attack.
Madison McKnight will be a junior this year and another
player to watch on attack.
The Lady Mustangs should battle for the top spot in the
district.
North Side
The Lady Indians are under a new head coach in The
Jackson Sun’s 2012 Coach of the Year Julie Carter, who moves over from Liberty.
North Side drops down from Class AAA to A-AA this season
and should be more competitive in the district.
Carter will try to mold the Lady Indians into her style
that uses speed as a big asset.
Scotts Hill
The Lady Lions stay in the same district as last year,
but the district is full of new teams. That could be good for Scotts Hill as
they try to consistently be competitive in every game.
Covington
The Lady Chargers reached the Region 7 A-AA semifinals
before falling to Westview 3-1. Covington is in a new district and region this
fall.
Head coach Robert Luttrell returns seven starters from
last year’s squad including defender J’La Brandon and midfielder Ann Marie Van
Cleve.
The biggest returner though is last year’s region
defensive MVP Callie McDaniel, Covington’s goalkeeper.
Haywood
The Lady Tomcats enter their second year under coach
Mixon Moore. Haywood finished the season with a win over Trenton Peabody in the
region tournament.
The Lady Tomcats are in a new district and region also
and look to continue to improve.
Jackson Christian
The Lady Eagles are back under coach Jeff Lean. They also
made the move from Division II-A to Division I.
Jackson Christian won back-to-back district titles in
2007 and ’08 before making the move to Division II. The Lady Eagles hope to
find their way back to the district title.
Jackson Christian lost five starters from last season,
but return talent in junior Georgia Hopkins and sophomores Amelia Grizzell and
JuliaAnne Landsdale.
Ripley
The Lady Tigers have struggled to find wins. Ripley is
still young though with great potential to find ways to start winning.
A new region and district might help the Lady Tigers to
do just that.
TCA
The Lady Lions went through a rebuilding year last
season, and only three senior graduated last season.
TCA played some young players that have matured into
their roles on varsity.
Senior Phalon Jones leads the team offensively, and
senior Kayce Stovall is solid in the goal.
Look for players like senior Caroline Priddy and
sophomore Jennifer Briley to have strong seasons.
Predicted order of finish:
East
1. Liberty
2. Madison
3. Adamsville
4. Scotts Hill
5. North Side
6. JCM
West
1. Jackson Christian
2. TCA
3. Covington
4. Haywood
5. Ripley
Region semifinals: Liberty vs. TCA; Jackson Christian vs.
Madison
Region championship: Liberty vs. Jackson Christian
Region champion: Jackson Christian
Sectionals: JCS vs. Dyersburg; Chester County vs. Liberty