Madison Mason can’t wait to get the 2026 soccer season underway. After guiding her White County girls program to its best season ever last year, Mason wants to know whether the Warriorettes have what it takes to do it again.
Mason’s squad finished 10-6-1, while reaching the district tournament final and the first round of the region. It was a really good year for the maroon and white.
“We reached the regional tournament for the first time in program history,” said Mason, who is a counselor at the White County Middle School. “We had only three wins the previous season, and we pushed that to 10 last year.
“The success is based on the effort the girls put forth every day. I also think part of it is we have some stability after having several coaches come in and leave after a few years. We’ve shifted the culture. These girls have come together.”
Mason will get a good look at her 2026 squad next month when they come to Crossville to compete in the 1886 Crossville Chronicle Soccer Classic. The annual event, sponsored by the Crossville Chronicle, will be Aug. 8 at the Duer Soccer Complex.
The competition, one of the largest tournaments in the state, will feature some of the best girls soccer programs in east Tennessee. The field includes Rockwood, Cumberland County, Stone Memorial, Cannon County, Bradley Central, Sequatchie County, Jackson County, Oliver Springs, Grace Christian Academy and White County.
There will also be four teams competing in the junior varsity tournament.
The matches, shortened to 40 minutes, will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and run through 4 p.m. Teams will receive three points for a win and one point for a tie. Any ties in the final standings will be broken by goal differential.
White County heads into the 2026 season without three impact players from last season. Mason said she has one senior this year, but she’s got some experienced younger players she’s expecting to contribute.
“We have a good freshman class coming in this year and a few of them should see the field for varsity action,” the coach said. “We are looking to fill a big spot on the backline was a senior last year. We have some young ones back there so we’re going to have to make sure they’re prepared.
“I do believe we have some good attackers on the offensive side. We’re going to go into this year trying to show people that we weren’t lucky last year. We want to show we were winning last year for a reason.”
White County is scheduled to open the regular season Aug. 11 with a visit from Monterey. The Warriorettes will also have to battle Cannon County, Jackson County and Harriman before heading into a tough district ledger. They will battle the likes of Stone Memorial, Cumberland County, Livingston Academy and Watertown.
“I think we’re gonna be more defensive minded this year,” Mason said. “The senior we lost on the backline was Defensive Player of the Year in the district. She was a key part of things for us.”
White County will be heading to camp at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro this week for a final tuneup as the season approaches.
Mason pointed out the high expectations she has for her three captains – Maddie Austin, Anna Jolliff and Cadence Redmond.
“Maddie is a returning defender for us. He’s already committed to Roane State and she’s going to be a huge leader for us,” the coach said. “Anna is returning in the midfield and we call her our unsung hero. Cadence is a junior and she will be our center forward. She was injured part of last year, but she’s ready to make a statement this year.”
Mason said she likes the one-day format of the Chronicle Soccer Classic. She said it helps her team get ready for the season.
“I love coming to the tournament in Crossville and getting see the teams we’re going to see in the district,” Mason said. “It gives us a good idea of what our opponents are going to look like, not just what we look like.
“Also, playing at least three games in one day shows us where our conditioning is at and are we fighting the mental toughness in that third match. How are we going to handle that.”