After the new TSSAA classifications for next season were announced, it was revealed that Watertown High School’s boys’ and girls’ soccer teams would be moving into district 6AA, forming what will be the new 7AA.
District 6AA in soccer currently consists of Cumberland County, DeKalb County, Livingston Academy, Stone Memorial, Upperman, and White County.
“I think that Watertown moving into the district just adds another quality team into a district that is already full of them,” boys’ head coach Drew Haston said. “I think that if you look outside of the Chattanooga district, we have the toughest soccer district in the state (in AA).”
District 6AA teams have become familiar opponents at the state tournament on both the girls’ and boys’ sides, with Livingston Academy’s girls’ team ending their run this season in the state semifinals.
“When you look at the girls’ side, I think that our district has had someone in the state tournament the last four years in a row,” Haston said. “On our [the boys’] side, both teams in the region championship match have been from our district something like the last three or four years also. So. when you look at it, you’ve got a district that sends girls’ teams yearly to the state tournament and two boys’ teams to the sub-state level every year. It’s an incredible challenge.”
Last season, Watertown’s boys went 9-5-1, with a loss in the region tournament ending their season. Likewise, the Purple Tiger girls also went 9-5 this season, with a loss in the region tournament ending their run.
“Watertown had a big year last year,” head coach for girls’ soccer Mixon Moore said. “They will be a strong addition to an already powerful district.”
With the addition of Watertown, there are now seven teams in district 7AA. This move appears to signal a quick end to the twodivision system that was put in place for this season.
Moore said, “Their addition will add a seventh team to our district. The seven-team schedule will see the district leave the pod system and instead play round robin.”
District 7AA will also square off in the region tournament against teams like Franklin County, Tullahoma, and Murfreesboro Central Magnet.
“This gives us a brand new set of teams to play in District 8,” Moore said.
Haston feels this lays down a true challenge for those who want to compete.
“I’m comfortable with saying we have the second toughest, if not the toughest, soccer district in AA, and we are paired up with probably the third toughest district.”
The White County High School boys will play one more season in 6AA this upcoming spring. Their first game is March 13, 2023, at York.
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