Cayuga Health Simmons-RockwellTioga State Bank Dandy Mini Marts Valley Sports ReportGUTHRIE SPORTS MED Gannon Associates Williams Auto GroupI-R FCU




Knolles.gifcoachesPizza.jpgWSC.jpgSmithBrothers.jpgBodineMotor.jpgBX.jpg
THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON THE WINTER SEASON — PART I (2019-12-19)

If Tioga wrestling fans were concerned after the graduation of state champion John Worthing, Austin Lamb, and Stephen Taylor, who combined for more than 500 wins and eight state place-finishes, there's no need to worry.

The Tigers have won both tournaments they've entered with 13 champs and six runners-up. Saturday, they hosted four of the top 12 Small Schools in New York State, and won the team title convincingly.

It's even more impressive when you consider several of their football players are still working their way into wrestling shape.

One football player who hasn't missed a beat is returning state champ Brady Worthing, who is 11-0 with nine pins - six in the first period, one second-period technical fall and a forfeit. Not one of his match has gone a full six minutes.

Worthing has been much more aggressive this season, and is wrestling with ultimate confidence.

It's early, very early, but Tioga could be very well-represented again in Albany this year. Eighth-grader Giannni Silvestri is the top-ranked 99-pounder in the State, and has twice manhandled the second-ranked 99-pounder (BGAH's Darren Florence) in Section IV. Silvestri has been extremely impressive in the early-going.

Eighth-grader Caden Bellis and Owego's Matt Laubach will likely battle it out for the Section IV title at 106 pounds, and the automatic bid to States. Bellis has looked strong and more confident this season.

If freshman Donovan Smith gets down to 113 pounds as planned, he's likely battle BGAH's Joey Florence for the top spot. Smith is slick and athletic, a lot of fun to watch.

The Tigers have a few other candidates - senior Jacob Welch, senior David MacWhinnie, sophomores Emmett Wood and Mason Welch, but they'll face a tougher road to get there.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

Waverly is much-improved this season, with a pair of "surprises" among those leading the surge.

Senior Ethan Stotler appears to be on a mission to get to Albany. He is 14-1, with his only loss to returning state runner-up Cooper Kropman of Penfield. He has been a machine in the early-going.

Sophomore Garrett Skeens is another one with postseason aspirations and potential, but 126 and 132 are tough weight classes.

Junior Trevor Meyers has taken his lumps since the 8th-grade, but it's paying off this season. He's currently 14-1 and ranked fourth in Section IV at 182 pounds. It's a tough weight class, and we'll have a better gauge of where he's at after the Windsor Tournament.

Freshman Gage Tedesco has also been a major surprise. After a brief glimpse of him last season, it was easy to see he was going to be good, but for a freshman to post a 13-2 record at 195 and 220 pounds is eye-opening.  Again, 195 is a tough weight class, and he could run into a couple of the guys ranked ahead of him at the Windsor Tournament, so we may have a better handle on him after that.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

Last year, Gavin Bradley became just the second Athens freshman to win a PIAA medal, joining Brian Courtney in the elite club.

Bradley looks even better at the start of his sophomore season. He wrestled more than 70 matches over the summer, and it appears he's improved in every facet of his game, especially getting off bottom, which was his only big weakness last year.

He has a motor that just doesn't stop, and often wears down his opponent with his in-your-face style.

Junior Kyler Setzer is off to the best start of his career, while sophomores Karter Rude and Kaden Setzer, and seniors Alex West ad Keegan Braund are off to good starts as well.

One wrestler to keep an eye on is freshman Aidan Garcia.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

With their second win of the dual season, the Redskins have already topped last year's win total.

There have been a couple more holes in the Sayre line-up than first-year coach Ralph Warner expected due to academic issues, but the Redskins have shown some glimpses of a promising future and should have a close-to-full line-up after the New Year.

Sophomore Jacob Bennett was Sayre's lone representative at Districts this year, and appears poised to take the next step to Regionals.

The next step for the Redskins is to get more wrestlers to Districts this season.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

The Waverly indoor track & field team has had just two meets this season, but already seniors Sheridan Talada and Isaac Chandler, and junior Collin Wright are re-writing the record book.

Talada broke hew own record in the 3,000-meter run in the first meet by 3 1/2 seconds, then smashed it by more than 15 seconds at the second meet.

Wright's record-breaking performance weren't quite as dramatic, but still impressive. He broke his record by nearly 1 1/2-seconds in the first meet, and by nearly 2 1/2 seconds in the second meet.

Chandler just keeps soaring to new heights. He broke his own indoor pole vault record of 14-feet, 6-inches by six inches, clearing the bar at 15-feet. He's also among the top 55-meter hurdlers in Section IV.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

The Final Word returns tomorrow with a look at the remainder of winter season sports.

You've asked about helping ...
here's your chance. Click HERE