When medals are on the line, expect the Pioneers to bring back a collection. Warren County saw plenty of its athletes standing atop the podium Saturday in Murfreesboro when the group competed in the Tennessee Special Olympics.

For years, local athletes have been building up their reputations as some of the best in the state and they once again proved it over the weekend. 

Kian McReynolds and Anslee Crick teamed up to win the inaugural cornhole tournament held in Murfreesboro, while Dalton Jewell and Kaiden Heathcock helped power the Pioneers to gold medals in the fitness competitions. 

Warren County also saw its unified football team take bronze. Isaiah Young and Liyah Johnson also brought home bronze in cornhole, as did and Faith Coates and Taylor in unified cornhole.

"It was another tremendous day for our athletes. They work so hard and have so much fun," said Jason DeAarmond, who helps coach the football team. "Everybody seemed to really competing in cornhole for the first time at the state event and our football team is always making highlight plays. It was a great day for Warren County athletics."

The local unified football team has been a fixture in the Special Olympics for several years and showed it could still deliver on the biggest stage in top matchups last week.

Skyler Hillis may have been small in stature on the field, but was gigantic for the team pulling flags. Rudy DeArmond provided assistance with a pair of interceptions and Evan Cary was another stopper on the defensive side.

Offensively, all eyes were on signal caller Taven Black and he made sure to drop some pinpoint passes to his receivers throughout the competition. Cary and Jake Fann rotated at center for Black, though Fann showed he could also make plays through the air as he hauled in a touchdown.

Hillis added a 2-point conversion run after Fann's score.

"It was quite a celebration when they scored. They also really get after it on defense. I was so proud of their effort," said DeArmond.

Warren County will start shifting its attention to winter and spring sports in the coming months. It won't be long before the group is battling for more medals in the Winter Olympics.

Standing at the top of podiums is what the Pioneers love to do the most.