RIVER ROAD MEDIA GROUP TO LAUNCH FOURTH SITE — NOTHERN TIER WEST SPORTS REPORT — MARCH 15 (2021-02-21)

Valley Sports Report
River Road Media Group, parent-company of Valley Sports Report and Northern Tier Sports Report, is set to launch its fourth Web site - Northern Tier West Sports Report, which will cover high school and youth sports in the three school districts in Tioga County, Pa.

NT-West Sports Report's (www.NTWSportsReport.com) coverage area will encompass the Northern Tioga School District, which includes Williamson and Cowanesque Valley, the Southern Tioga School District, which includes Mansfield and Liberty, and the Wellsboro Area School District.

"I'm excited to be able to complete our coverage of the Northern Tier League by adding Northern Tier West Sports Report," said River Road Media Group founder and owner Tim Birney. "I'm sure history will repeat itself, and this site will quickly become the go-to source for high school sports coverage in Tioga County, Pa."

Lance Larcom, a frequent contributor to Northern Tier Sports Report and Valley Sports Report, will be the managing editor of NT-West Sports Report.

"Lance is a great people-person, is good with a camera, and is a good writer, especially considering how little time he's devoted to the craft in recent years," said Birney.

"I look forward to watching him grow as a sports journalist, as well as watching him grow this site in the years to come," added Birney.

Larcom, who was born and raised in Canton, is a 1991 graduate of Canton High School, where he was a member of the basketball, track & field and football teams, as well as Canton's high school newspaper - "The Crimson Echo."

Larcom was a communications / journalism major at Clarion University, where he was a member of the Golden Eagles football team. During his time at college, he spent one summer covering the Florida Marlins short-season single-A club, the Elmira Pioneers, for the now-defunct Endless Mountain Weekend News.

Following college, Larcom changed paths and spent 17 years in law enforcement, while also coaching numerous sports at various levels - including four years as Canton's varsity basketball coach.

Larcom is now returning to what he's always wanted to do - write sports, and he couldn't be happier.

"I have wanted to be a sportswriter since I was 8 years old," said Larcom. "Sports have always been at the center of my life, my parents' and brothers' lives, and my children's lives. As a young kid, when I wasn't playing, I was reading about sports.

"During and after college, I got side-tracked from my dream," he noted. "I filled my sports fix by doing a lot of coaching. I gave that up when I changed careers, from being a police officer to working in the gas industry.

"Now, 40 years after I'd spend hours reading Sports Illustrated in the basement of the Green Free Library, where my Mom was the librarian, I'm at a point in my life that I can try to make my last career as a sports writer," added Larcom.

This won't be Larcom's first crack at online sports coverage. He ran the now-defunct "CanTro Sports" in 2012-13.

"I was attempting to duplicate the successes in providing local athletes increased coverage and recognition that Tim (Birney) had achieved with his site - Valley Sports Report," said Larcom.

"It feel amazing to have another chance," added Larcom. "I'm aware of the cliche that says, "find a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I truly feel blessed for this opportunity."

Larcom's aim is to help student-athletes receive their due recognition.

"I truly want it to serve as a tool, a resource, to get our local athletes the recognition and coverage they deserve," he said. "Whether that be from the next level, resulting in expanded scholarship opportunities, or simply the chance for their loved ones to see their accomplishments.


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IN PHOTO: Lance Larcom.