SUMMIT SAGA

The Summit Saga is back! Thanks for your patience to start the year. Due to some unforseen platform change needs, it took some time to adjust and prepare the newsletter and website setups. The Summit Saga will now be on the Smore platform which does include translation options now. Also, a new athletic website is in development now. Stay tuned for more information regard that change as well.

After missing the playoffs for a second time in three seasons, the Summit High School football team is poised to string together more success in 2025. The Spartans rallied to win two of their final three games last season to finish 3-7 overall.

Summit coach Brian Coleman, who is entering his 12th season, said he’s looking to his dozen seniors to keep that late season momentum going into a fresh campaign. “This year, we are depending on these seniors, because we have a smaller upper class than normal,” Coleman said. “We are going to have a younger team, so it is important for these guys to lead by example and show them how to play on Friday nights.”

The Spartans will take on Williamson County rivals Brentwood, Franklin, Ravenwood, Independence to go with Coffee County and Shelbyville Central in a newly established Region 6-6A. Summit has had previous experience facing Shelbyville Central winning the last four meetings and six of nine overall. Their last matchup came in 2022 – a 47-0 victory. Summit will face Coffee County for the first time in program history on Oct. 17 in a region clash.

Coleman, who began his head coaching tenure at Forrest, said he believes grinding it out at one of the lower levels of high school football has helped him build a solid foundation playing in Class 6A locally. He and the Spartans reached three consecutive championship games including winning the 2020 Class 5A title. “I have learned a lot since then,” Coleman said. “That was my hometown, so I got to coach in my hometown. When I got to Summit, I took that opportunity to try to build this program on a larger scale and be more consistent.”

The current staff contains former Franklin head coach Alex Melton, former Nolensville head coach Paul Derrick as well as former Tennessee Titan Kerry Collins, a 17-year NFL veteran who leads the quarterbacks at Summit. “It helps to have coach Collins,” Coleman said. “You know the quarterbacks are getting coached by a true NFL coach. The guys really respect him a lot.” He added that there’s “a lot of football knowledge” with Melton, Derrick and former Spartans on staff like Tai Carter and Cooper Koch as well.

Summit will have a new quarterback with the graduation of gritty senior Mason McElhaney, a dual-threat QB who rushed for 413 yards and eight touchdowns, and passed for 894 yards and four scores. The Spartans have Paxton Pierce, Davis Smith and Alex Byrd ready to fill in at quarterback position. All three are looking at their first varsity starts. One of the 12 seniors on the team is dual athlete Michael Crutcher. Crutcher played basketball in his freshman and sophomore years and now competes in track and field events. He believes this has contributed to him becoming a more versatile athlete. “It helps me with the workouts,” the senior leader said. “Running and jumping definitely correlates to the football field.” Crutcher racked up 65 tackles with three pass breakups and an interception while also handling kick and punt returns last season. Crutcher is one of the seniors who has embraced the leadership role saying he is trying to be a more vocal leader this season.

“We need to walk them through certain things,” he said of the younger players. “Coach has coached us to the point where we know what to do, but it is all about execution.” Junior running back Jackson Krenke will be one of the many ground game threats in the Spartans offense, known for their smashmouth football. Krenke flashed in a 48-7 region win over Overton last year turning two of his eight touches into touchdowns. He’ll also be leaned on at linebacker for the Spartans. A deep threat to keep an eye on is junior wide receiver Ryan Jones, who Coleman said can stretch the field and can catch the defense napping if they cheat up to stop the run. He caught one of the four passing touchdowns last year for Summit. Coleman said Jones will help replace graduated senior Dillon Pierce, a do-all player who collected 255 yards rushing with two touchdowns and 58 receiving yards.

Summit returns one of their big time players in the secondary in senior Carter Korcinsky. Korcinsky is a guy that will be one of the key leaders on defense and a mainstay at safety, Coleman said.

Spartans senior lineman Jake Campbell will be someone to watch in the trenches as he looks to bring a major impact on both sides of the ball. He will step into the leadership role left by graduated senior Ian McCarthy, Coleman said.

SUMMIT ADDITION:

Summit opened with a win over Spring Hill 13-0 and battled into the final minute of the Nolensville game, losing on a field goal in the final minute, 23-21. Next up is a region tilt against Brentwood at their house. Then the Spartans will play a series of home games against Ravenwood, Lincoln County and Shelbyville Central. And be sure to put the Independence game on your calendar now. The Spartans will take on the Eagles on a THURSDAY NIGHT, October 30th at 7:00pm in the final game of the regular season.

Watch the Video on MaxPreps

Friday, August 29th at Summit HS

The girls traveled to Indy to take on the rival Eagles. A quick three game set was all it took for the Spartans to walk away with the win. Summit was led in Kills by Junor Emery Estep (10) and Senior Maggie Kailsz (9). Senior Amanda Shanahan has 32 Assists and Maggie Kailsz led the team with 3 Serving Aces. The girls travel to Brentwood tonight to take on the Bruins at 6:00pm.

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The Girls Soccer team played a tough pre-league season schedule to prepare for the always strong Region 5, District 10 League. The girls went 3-1 in those games, taking wins over Oakland (4-1), Lipscomb Academy (4-2) and Pope John Paul II (6-0).

The league schedule is tough as well. After opening at home vs Centennial on Sept. 4th., the girls will travel to arguably their toughest opponent of the year, Franklin High on Sept. 9th. The girls will also travel to Independence, Ravenwood and Brentwood. They will close out the league season with Nolensville and Page before closeout of the regular season with Gallatin at home on October 2nd.

The team is led by the returning Willco Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Junior Summer Riley. Her goal scoring and ability to completely take over a game, makes the Lady Spartans a contender in every game they play. Complementing Summer Riley are a quintet of seniors, Lillian Williams, Alexis Chandler, Emma Kate Simpson, Gracie Dooley and Alana Floyd.

The Cross Country teams competed at the Firehawks Invitational at UT Southern last weekend. Both the Boys and Girls teams won their respective divisions. Sophomores Lorelai Whitten (18:26) and Kaden Pease (16:10) took home the gold in their races. Next up is the Voyles Classic this weekend.The majority of WCS schools will be competing at this race and it will give a good gauge on where the Spartans stand locally. Good luck all.

After a year which saw multiple golfers sign to play at the next level and a girls team that contended at the league and state levels, both teams are poised to improve upon last year's recognitions. The girls golf team is off to a great start in district play with no losses! They have wins over Franklin and Brentwood and ended in a tie with Nolensville! Scoring golfers are Camryn Porior, Addison Smith, and Zoe Porior. The boys team continues to improve with Kyler Sperber leading the way!

As you develop into a more premier athlete, taking care of you body is important to maximize your ability to perform at the highest level. This video includes some tips on how to stay in the best form to meet your goals.