The Pinnacle of Glory: Undefeated Lady Bulldogs Claim State Title
Correspondent Carter Moore traveled to watch Bearden end its historic run with a second-straight Tennessee title. Brought to you by Onrise Care.
So many of us—especially in the South—are desperately entangled in a vicious love affair with sports. Most of us (myself included) couldn’t care less what sport we watch or who’s on the field, we just want to see the competition. Do you ever wonder why we care so much? Bearden knows it. And this year they’ve shown off one of the best reasons to invest in sports: family.
The Bearden Lady Bulldogs came into the 2022 season with nothing left to prove. They finished 2021 with a state title and a single blemish to their record: a weather-shortened tie against Knoxville Catholic. They were nationally ranked and produced a wealth of collegiate talent. It looked like they had found a ceiling.
So why not do it all again?
In a year when much of Knoxville has rightfully rallied around the Tennessee Volunteers football team, these Lady Bulldogs have mirrored the Vols’ successes and formed the center of their own vibrant community. Over the course of 24 games, families and friends of current and former players alike have amassed around this group with zeal.
But Bearden’s fanbase is far more than a community. It is a family in the greatest sense of the term. Many of these girls have played together since their earliest club days, and some are nearing a decade alongside one another. There is nothing but friendship and camaraderie across the board for these players. They are family both by choice and by happenstance.
Take Red Barton. His daughter started playing in 2006 (on a team that won its own back-to-back state championships), and he decided to help manage the press box at that time. He was drawn in and hasn’t left. More than 15 years on, he still attends every Lady Bulldog match and shares his own writing on them with a loyal collection of a hundred-odd fellow Bearden supporters.
“It’s our way of giving back to something special.” That’s how Barton’s fellow press box member Jerry Gianeselli describes it. As he says, “we could go home and make sure our yards are perfect, or we could be a part of something like this. It’s not just about volunteering; it’s about the experience.”
When we recorded our mid-season recap podcast episode, Brian remarked how much more meaningful the badge of his high school was as a player than any team’s since. Here’s the prime example of the truth in that sentiment.
With all respect to every club or professional soccer player, hardly any other level of competition can arouse the passion that comes out of playing for your school. None of these girls chose to be Bearden students. They were brought together by the luck of where they lived and created something to take pride in.
Some of the Bearden family has been more literal. Sisters Nyla and Jayla Blue donned the Bearden uniform together for the first time this season. Junior Nyla and freshman Jayla were brutal attacking forces throughout the season. Off the pitch, their sisterhood displays itself in their commitment to supporting each other. “It’s crazy because I just know her as my little sister, and it’s been awesome to watch her excel and help our team get to where we are now,” Nyla explained. Next year, the duo is sure to continue exciting crowds and growing as players and as part of several special families.
Saturday’s championship match marked the end of one chapter for many seniors, including star forward Brinley Murphy. Next year she’ll don the garnet-and-black of the South Carolina Gamecocks. So this wasn’t goodbye to soccer for her. But it was the end of an important era—one that coincidentally started off in South Carolina.
In looking back at her career, her parents noted the challenge Murphy’s freshman year had been, and how much they’d all grown since then. “We were traveling to Greenville, South Carolina, twice a week, three hours one way,” recalled Brendan Murphy, her father. “It was just the right thing for her at the time. We sucked it up and figured out a way for it to happen.”
Learning from an early age to push through those grueling hours probably contributed to Murphy’s ability to continue striving for success through this season. Lee, her mother, assessed that “she’s just got that inner drive. You have to have it to keep that success.” Now that they’ve made it here, Murphy and her classmates have had the opportunity to guide the next generation of Lady Bulldogs to greatness.
“They’ve been waiting since their freshman year to be the leaders,” she said. “This year they were able to step up and take that role.”
Murphy, who became Bearden’s all-time leading goalscorer this season, scored the second goal of the 3-1 win over Houston. In doing so tied the school record for single-season goals at 41. But she wasn’t miffed to miss out on the outright record. “That doesn’t really matter to me,” she said. “We just won State. I’m just happy for our team.” That’s what family means here.
No moment better encapsulated the connection between the stands and the pitch than the minute leading up to Bearden’s first goal. The tandem swing in energy in the stands and momentum on the field was crucial. Houston had a shot all but made off a corner until a foul was called. Their stands erupted in cheers then quickly quieted, while Bearden’s sat in tense consternation. Alivia Stott took the ball and passed her way downfield, sending it off the Murphy, Jayla, and Bre Mendoza. The trio rocketed down the right side, breaking the Mustang back line for one of the first times in the match. Murphy took a foul in the box. The referee pointed to the spot, and Rylie Lucas stepped up to take the penalty kick. When her shot sailed left and the keeper dropped right, the entire house shook with joy.
From where I sit now, I feel confident saying this result felt like a foregone conclusion. From Day 1, it seemed this Lady Bulldogs team just had to win it. There was too much talent and confidence for any other result.
Head Coach Ryan Radcliffe doesn’t agree. In fact, he never did—and thank goodness he didn’t. Because he was able to drive his team not to rest on its laurels. “Soccer can be cruel sometimes,” he said. And remembering that helped him keep his focus on preparing for success.
“It’s not always the best team that wins or even the best team that shows up. Every game had that added pressure. Being able to hold everything we had coming into the season, it’s surreal.”
Bearden head coach Ryan Radcliffe
Often, the great teams are the ones that win. Sometimes, though, it’s the ones playing for the most. Once in a blue moon, both come together in a maroon-and-white Bearden Lady Bulldogs-shaped package.
Knox Soccer Podcast’s coverage of the fall girls’ soccer season was brought to you by Onrise Care:
Onrise Care takes a team-based approach to delivering high-quality, compassionate mental health and athlete player care. Learn more at onrisecare.com or call 865-288-8970 to learn about their tele-psychiatry and other services."
Listen for our podcast interview with Carter recapping how the season ended for Knoxville’s girls’ soccer programs. Enjoyed our high school coverage? Want us to bring this segment back for the boys’ spring season? Share a comment or email us a note.
Good stuff Carter!