Lady Wildcats reload for run
As Trenna Underwood prepares to begin her third season as Oak Ridge High School’s girls soccer coach, some may think she’ll be facing a rebuilding campaign.
After all, the Lady Wildcats lost 14 seniors, including eight starters, from a team that went 10-6-3 last year.
But to Underwood, there’s no such thing as a rebuild.
“Rebuilding, I don’t like that term, and I think it’s just an excuse,” she said. “No matter what our roster looks like, my expectation is always to win a district championship.
“That’s the expectation at Oak Ridge High School, and that’s always my expectation.”
The Lady Wildcats came close to capturing the District 3-AAA tournament championship in 2025, but they lost to Powell on penalty kicks after playing the Lady Panthers to a 2-2 draw through regulation and overtime.
Oak Ridge reached the Region 2-AAA tournament by virtue of its runner-up finish in the district tournament, but its stay there was short as it lost 4-0 to eventual Class AAA state champion Bearden in the semifinals.
“We obviously want to get through the region and have a chance to play in the state tournament,” Underwood said.
Oak Ridge lost much of its scoring from last year, and its returning players must step up to fill the void left by graduation.
“We have talent,” Underwood said. “But we lost 14 seniors and eight starters. We also had a couple of superstar players that people could hide behind. They can’t hide this year, and we’re going to have to work hard.
“I’m not saying that our superstars didn’t work hard last year. But this year, we’re going to have to work hard because we just don’t have as much talent as we’ve had in past years.”
The Lady Wildcats’ biggest returning star is goalkeeper Marleigh Frazier.
An all-state goalkeeper, Frazier returns for her senior season between the posts and will provide leadership from the back.
Frazier is one of the team’s three senior captains, along with forward Hannah Morris and midfielder Lynsee Penninton, who is in the final stages of rehabbing a knee injury.
“Marleigh will provide leadership from the back, and Hannah will be a leader, and getting Lynsee back in the midfield will be huge for us,” Underwood said. “Our strength will be in our goalkeeping, and we have good team chemistry.
“Our team chemistry is a little better than it has been in the past, and we have a good sophomore class.”
Other top returners for the Lady Wildcats include sophomore defender Madelyn Frazier, Marleigh’s younger sister; sophomore midfielder/forward Madeline Wilburn; and sophomore defender Layla Wells.
Freshman forward/midfielder Aurora Morris will also look to make an immediate impact for the Lady Wildcats in 2026.
Oak Ridge opens its season Aug. 18 at Rhea County. The Lady Wildcats will then host defending Class AAA state champion Bearden on Aug. 20.
