Lé Tour dé Tullahoma:Trio cycles to WCHS game to show support

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Warren County High School SRO Bobby Pennington, left, and Southern Standard news reporter Duane Sherrill head off from the WCHS parking lot on their cycling trip to Tullahoma Friday afternoon. (Dale Stubblefield photo)

Warren County Pioneer football fans have shown their support for the Pioneer football team in many different ways this season.

First, it started with a huge turnout for the Pioneers season opener against Bradley Central. Then “Red Friday” against DeKalb County set the stage for Pioneer fans to wear red shirts to all of the Pioneer games.

Fans took their support even further when Warren County traveled to White County by meeting the Pioneer busses to form a large caravan to Sparta. Hundreds of people gathered before the game and tailgated as spirits ran high in hopes of another Pioneer victory.

Fans continued to support the team as they hit the road for a match up against Cookeville.

Friday night three local fans took things one step farther as they road their bicycles to Tullahoma. Southern Standard reporter Duane Sherrill, WCHS resource officer Bobby Pennington and WCHS student Russell Hictchcock peddled their way to the Tullahoma game to show their support for the Pioneers efforts on the field this season.

“It started out as kind of a dare,” Pennington stated, “but the more I thought about it the more I felt it would be a great way to show these kids how much Warren County fans appreciate all their hard work. I know all of these kids and it was just a for me to show my support for the program.”

The trio left the parking lot of the Warren County High School and made their way down Hwy. 55 to Tullahoma in 1:45. Averaging 22 mph, the trip wasn’t without a couple of setbacks, but they didn’t stop the three from continuing their journey.

“We were making good time, but when we hit the county line I got a flat,” said Sherrill. “Russell is a very experienced rider, though, and his experience in competitive races helped us out. He took the tire off by bike and had it changed out in five minutes, so we really didn’t lose much time. It would have taken me 15-20 minutes to change it out.

“I do most of my riding at night, so I wasn’t too sure how hard this would be. It was pretty hot out there, but we maintained a good pace and it turned out to be a very pleasant ride. We just wanted to do something a little different hoping it would give the Pioneers a little extra boost against the Wildcats.”