Celebrating the Wins: Athletic Milestones and Charger Pride

The 2025–26 school year was marked by historic milestones, championship performances, record-setting achievements, and opportunities for Chattanooga Christian School student-athletes to compete on some of sport's biggest stages. From state championships and national honors to collegiate signings and international competition, CCS athletes represented Chattanooga Christian School with excellence, perseverance, and pride.

While no single article can capture every accomplishment from the year, the highlights that follow celebrate the achievements of our student-athletes, coaches, and teams and the impact they made both on and off the field of competition.

2025–26 Program-Wide Wins

From state tournament appearances to program-defining milestones, CCS teams continued to compete at a high level across every division and age group. Several programs achieved historic firsts, while others built upon traditions of sustained success.

• High School Boys Baseball advanced to the state tournament for the second consecutive season.
• High School Boys & Girls Soccer each earned their third consecutive state tournament appearance.
• High School Volleyball made its first-ever state tournament appearance at the Division II-AA level.
• High School Girls Tennis made its first-ever state appearance at the Division II-AA level and finished second at the Chattanooga Rotary Tournament.
• High School Boys Tennis finished fourth at the Chattanooga Rotary Tournament.
• Middle School Girls Tennis scored a second-place finish in the ISC Tournament.
• Middle School Girls Cross Country took second in the state with the best finish in Middle School Cross Country history.
• Middle School Girls Cross Country also captured the ISC Championship, and the Boys finished as ISC Runner-Up, with Ella Day Piersant claiming the individual ISC Championship.
• Middle School Boys and Girls Track teams were crowned ISC Champions.
• Lower School Girls Track won the ISC Championship, while the Boys Track finished as runners-up.
• Middle School Baseball finished as ISC Runner-Up.
• CCS's first-year 6th Grade Baseball program captured a tournament championship.
• CCS Varsity Cheerleaders placed fourth in the state at the TSSAA Cheer State Championship.
• MS Girls Basketball were Regular Season ISC Champions.

Additionally, 15 CCS senior student-athletes signed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Softball: A Championship Standard

The Chargers once again demonstrated why they remain one of the premier programs in Division II-AA competition.

• Back-to-back TSSAA, DII-AA State Championships (2025 and 2026) East Region Champions (2026) and advanced to the state championship game for the fourth consecutive season.
• Kylie Black was named Division II-AA Pitcher of the Year. Hannah Smith was named Division II-AA Player of the Year.
• Head Coach Steven Rogers was named the Chattanooga Times Free Press Coach of the Year.

Track & Field Success

Across sprints, relays, field events, and distance races, CCS athletes continued to elevate the standard for Track & Field success. State qualifiers, podium finishes, and school records highlighted another outstanding season.

Fourteen CCS athletes qualified for the state track and field championships. The Boys 4x400 relay team placed third in the state and established a new school record.

CCS Athletes also recorded:

• Troy Brown placed fourth in the state in the 200-meter dash, setting a new school record.
• The Boys 4x800-meter relay team placed fourth in the state.
• The Girls 4x800-meter relay team placed seventh in the state.
• The Boys 4x200-meter relay team placed sixth in the state.
• Claire Clark placed seventh in the state in the discus.
• Shelby Bertram placed seventh in the state in the pole vault.

Golf Excellence

The golf program celebrated a historic year marked by breakthrough team accomplishments and individual success at both the high school and middle school levels.

• High School Boys Golf defeated McCallie in regional competition to advance to the state tournament for the first time in program history.
• Brycen Blake earned two individual tournament titles and finished tied for 10th at the state tournament.
• Oliver Bean captured an individual title and signed to continue his golf career at Covenant College.
• Both Brycen Blake and Oliver Bean were recognized by the Chattanooga Times Free Press "Best of Preps" selections.
• Nora Strain advanced to the state tournament as an individual qualifier for the second time.
• Middle School Girls Golf finished third as a team in the ISC Championship, with Tsali Vice and Nova Shoemaker earning Top-10 individual finishes.
• Drew Blake finished the season ranked sixth in the Chattanooga region by the Tennessee Middle School Golf Association.

Cheer: State Recognition and National Honors

• CCS Cheer continued to gain recognition both in competition and through individual honors, demonstrating excellence in performance, leadership, and team culture.
• CCS Varsity Cheerleaders placed fourth in the state at the TSSAA Cheer State Championship.
• At NCA Cheer Camp at Vanderbilt University, Varsity Cheer earned:
  • First Place in the Dance Routine
  • Second Place in the Game Day Routine
  • The Spirit Award, voted on by camp participants
  • Runner-Up for the Leadership Award, recognizing Christ-like leadership

Individual cheerleaders also received significant recognition:

• Julia Rose Kyle, Nya Christie, and Bailey Choate were named All-American Cheerleaders, earning the opportunity to perform in New York City's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
• Bailey Choate earned Top All-American honors, receiving the highest score among all participants at camp.
• Nya Christie, Xylar Horton, Lauren Helton, and Bailey Choate received invitations to join the NCA Staff.
• Ellie Niedergall, Anna Kaylor, and Catherine Fowler were recognized as Top Jumpers for their grade level.
• Harper Lewis, Anna Kaylor, and Anna Kate Swinney were recognized as Top Tumblers for their grade level.

State and National Wrestling Success

Wrestling continued to be one of CCS's most decorated programs, with athletes earning recognition at the state and national levels.

Ryder Smith continued to establish himself as one of the premier wrestlers in the nation, earning:

• Three-time State Champion
• US Open All-American
• NHSCA National Champion
• Three-time All-American

The wrestling program also celebrated All-State honors for Ryder Smith, Tyre Brown, Donnis Boochie, and Joe Kennedy following appearances at the state championships.

Individual Honors and Recognition

Beyond team accomplishments, CCS athletes distinguished themselves on regional, national, and international stages. Their achievements reflect both exceptional talent and years of dedicated training.

• Lucy Heald represented CCS on the international stage, competing at the U.S. Open, Australian Open, and French Open while achieving a world ranking of No. 3 and a U.S. ranking of No. 1, and finishing as a doubles finalist.
• Jack Fox earned All-State honors in basketball and was named a Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps selection.

Honoring Excellence

CCS was proud to introduce the inaugural Charger Athlete of the Year and Student-Athlete of the Year awards this year. These honors recognize students who exemplify athletic excellence, leadership, character, and a commitment to glorifying God through their pursuits.

The first-ever Charger Athlete of the Year recipients were Ryder Smith and Hannah Smith, while Reese Shields was named the Student-Athlete of the Year.

"While championships and awards are worth celebrating, the true success of CCS Athletics extends beyond the scoreboard” said Eric Preszler, Athletics Director.

More Than Wins

While championships, state appearances, and awards are worth celebrating, the true success of CCS Athletics extends beyond the scoreboard. Every practice, competition, and team experience provides opportunities for students to develop discipline, resilience, leadership, humility, and faith. These qualities prepare students not only for athletic success, but for lives of purpose and service.

This commitment reflects the mission of Chattanooga Christian School: to prepare students to lead and serve with distinction while representing Christ and seeking His Kingdom in all areas of the home, church, society, and culture.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate all of these student-athletes and the past year's accomplishments, we remain grateful for the coaches, families, and supporters who invest in our students and help make these experiences possible.

Congratulations to all of our student-athletes on an outstanding year.We look forward with excitement and anticipation to what lies ahead for CCS Athletics.