The Leader

02/14/2025

02/12/2025

Maddie McBride makes history with co****le signing
By Jeff Ireland
It’s very rare to be able to say you’re the first one in the world to do something. Maddie McBride can say that.
McBride, a 17-year-old Brighton High School senior, signed a co****le scholarship with Winthrop University last Friday in the BHS gym lobby. With the flick a pen, McBride became the first girl ever to sign a Division I co****le scholarship.
Granted, co****le is a new college sport. In fact, it’s a hybrid club-NCAA sport.
But still, it’s possible McBride could be the answer to a Jeopardy question one day: The person who signed the first D-I girls co****le scholarship. Who is Maddie McBride?
McBride, one of the best amateur co****le players in the country who has been featured on ESPN multiple times, is modest about the whole thing. When asked about her scholarship signing, she didn’t even mention making history. “I thought it would be a good choice for me,” she said. “I competing in college will be very similar, but I’ll be myself without my family.”
Speaking of family, it’s been a huge part of her journey. In 2020 when Maddie was 12, the family played a lot of co****le in the backyard for fun.
“It started out as a way to spend family time together during COVID,” said Becky McBride, Maddie’s mother and the sponsor of the Brighton co****le team. “Then she went to one tournament. She didn’t win one game, but on the way home she said, ‘Mom, I’m going to quit softball and play co****le.’”
The rest, as they say, is history. Maddie has been to 30 states and Canada during her five years of competitive co****le. She has multiple sponsors to help fund the endeavor and has never had a personal coach.
“She’s had mentors, but she’s basically self-taught,” Becky said. “You can play every night of the week around here; That’s where she gets better … Co****le is just a big family that supports everybody.”
Even though there has been a lot of press about Maddie’s success, lots of people still don’t quite grasp that one of the best co****le players in the country walks the halls of Brighton High School. Some were surprised scholarships were available.
“They’re like, I didn’t know that was a real thing,” Maddie says with a laugh.
Well, it is a real thing and Maddie McBride is real good.

02/12/2025

Who will the new Covington High School football coach be?
By Jeff Ireland

During the offseason, there’s always a lot of talk among members of the high school football coaching community in Tipton County and West Tennessee. What coaches are going where? What players are on the move? What teams will take a step forward and which ones will do the opposite?
It’s probably not conjecture to say the number one question this offseason is this: Who will be the next Covington High School football coach?
Covington has been one of the most successful football programs in the state the last 30 years. The Chargers have made the playoffs 25 times since 1996, made the state title game five times during that span and won a ton of region titles.
A couple of longtime assistant Covington coaches – Blake Goforth and Johnny Katrosh – initially seemed like logical replacements for J.R. Kirby, who recently took the head coaching job at Henry County. Considering there’s been no announcement of them taking the job, it appears as though somebody from outside of Charger nation will be hired.
It was recently announced via Facebook the application process is over, so Covington principal Carlin McGlown was recently asked for an update.
Q: When do you hope/expect to name a coach?
A: Our goal throughout this whole process has been to have the new head coach named and functioning inside the building by spring practice.
Q: Is there a hiring committee? If so, what kind of people are on it?
A: Yes, there is a hiring a committee who all are lifelong Chargers and want nothing more than the best for Covington High School's kids and the community.
Q: Broadly speaking, what kind of person are you looking for to fill the position?
A: I would venture to say we are looking for a winner; a leader of men who is well respected throughout the coaching world and will be well respected throughout the Covington community. Is there a possibility we strike out? Absolutely, just as there is a possibility in all things you do in life. With that being said, I feel the effort and things within our control of the coaching search has gone as well, if not better than expected.
Q: What has it been like trying to hire somebody to lead one of the most successful football programs in the state?
A: It has been an adventure, to say the least. Word travels fast and it is abundantly clear Covington High School is a well-respected and tradition-rich winning program.
Q: How many applications have been submitted? Have they come from all the across the state, country?
A: There has been a plethora of impressive resumes sent in from all across the country, some as far as Arizona and Florida. However, we are looking for the man that understands the Charger culture and what it takes to fill the vacant role here at Covington.
Q: Additional comments?A: I would like to personally thank Interim Head Coach Blake Goforth, Coach Tom White, Coach Katrosh and Andrew Harris, our school's Athletic Trainer, for filling in the cracks during this transitional period. There is no better group of individuals to lead our men into the future of Covington football.

02/11/2025

Six officers — five of them from Tipton County — were indicted Monday following an investigation into the way they handled the arrest of murder suspect Jackson Hopper in October. Read more: https://covingtonleader.com/news/six-officers-indicted-by-tbi-for-assault-on-murder-suspect/

02/10/2025

Round one of several rounds of rain begins tonight. Here is a look at how much rain you can expect through the first and second rounds. ☔☔

02/08/2025

02/01/2025

Welcome to Black History Month! We begin with a story about the late, great Mrs. Hattye Yarbrough and the scrapbook she sent to the Smithsonian.

Mrs. Hattye lived an incredible life and passed away late last year at age 103.

“This shows participation and shows we were there, we were part of this, too. We have played a role in every segment of America’s history and we made a difference. It’s not to glorify one group over another, it’s just to say we were there, too.”

We're kicking off Black History Month in Tipton County with a story from our local queen of Black History, Ms. Hattye Yarbrough. In 2016, we talked with her about the scrapbook she kept during WWII, which later went to the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. Read it here: https://buff.ly/3WUskUX

01/30/2025

The Weinermobile? Auditions for Legally Blonde? Robotics tournament? Sean of the South? We've got all of that and more happening in Tipton County this weekend! Check out the list: https://covingtonleader.com/news/whats-happening-in-tipton-county-jan-31-feb-2-2025/

01/30/2025

Ready for the Chocolate Tour? It's coming quickly and you need tickets! Find out more here: https://covingtonleader.com/news/indulge-in-covingtons-sweetest-event-the-13th-annual-chocolate-tour/

01/26/2025

A stabbing incident that left two people wounded is currently under investigation in Atoka. Read more here: https://covingtonleader.com/news/atoka-police-investigating-stabbing-that-left-two-people-wounded/

01/23/2025

❤️ Want to celebrate Galentines Day with your besties? ❤️ Here's what's happening in Tipton County: https://covingtonleader.com/news/looking-to-celebrate-galentines-heres-whats-happening-in-tipton-county/

01/22/2025

TVA has removed the power supply alert and electric power consumers may resume normal use of electricity. Thank you for your assistance!

01/22/2025

01/22/2025

Covington head football coach J.R. Kirby is leaving the Chargers for a new job. Details: https://covingtonleader.com/sports/covington-football-coach-j-r-kirby-leaving-to-take-head-job-at-henry-county/

01/21/2025

Ready for the return of the February garden series? The Tipton County Museum announced this year's series lineup and it's a good one! See more here: https://covingtonleader.com/news/museum-announces-february-gardening-series/

01/21/2025

🥶 Crestview's interim schools will remain closed on Wednesday. For more: https://covingtonleader.com/news/still-too-cool-for-school-crestview-interim-schools-remain-closed-on-wednesday/

01/21/2025

TVA, our electricity supplier, says the available power supply is tightening. Please use the tips below to conserve energy:

* Lower your thermostat to 68°F degrees or a temperature that is both comfortable and safe.

*Open window coverings on the sunny side of your home. Close them overnight to retain that heat.

*Delay using washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and other large appliances until the warmest part of the day when overall heating demand is lower.