The Tullahoma boys’ soccer team is offi cially in the postseason, and opened up their district tournament play with a win. They recently defeated Battle Creek High School by a score of 6-1.

The same confidence and poise that the 2026 Wildcats held during their regular season, where they ended with an overall record of 12-1-2, were present in round one of the district tourney against the opposing Grizzlies. When an opportunity presented itself in the final third of Battle Creek’s side of the field, the Wildcats often got off a good shot or got corner kicks off the pressure they created. In these corners, the Wildcat set-pieces were run to perfection a few times, especially in the first half.

Junior Kaiden Grau was a key part of these successful corner kicks in the opening 40 minutes. Tullahoma generated a 3–0 lead in the first half, and all three goals were scored by Grau, and all of them came from crosses—one on a breakaway cross and the two others were on crosses from corner kicks. He scored two of these goals off headers, and scored the other with a well-placed shot with his right foot into the right side of Battle Creek’s net.

Grau’s hat trick was his first of the 2026 season and his third multi-goal game of the season. He now has the third most goals on Tullahoma’s roster with 11.

Following the 3-0 advantage Tullahoma built in the first half, their offense continued to play at a high level in the second. They scored three more goals, all of which were scored by three different Wildcat players: senior Jayden Sarabia, sophomore Jake Bethea, and junior Aiden Walker.

Another notable performer in the Wildcats’ big opening round win against the Grizzlies was junior Gage Allen. He played a part in many of the goal-threatening attacks for Tullahoma, though he was often the player passing to set up the promising shots that were put on Battle Creek’s net. He had a game-high and personal season high of three assists.

With the win, the Wildcats advance to a district semi-final match on Monday, May 4, where they will take on Lawrence County High School. Lawrence comes into the match-up in good form, winning three games in a row, two of which were shutout wins. Tullahoma and Lawrence played once in the regular season, and the Wildcats ended up winning that matchup 2-0.

The winner of the semi-final bout between Tullahoma and Lawrence will secure a spot in the district championship game, which will be played on May 7 or 8.