VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' ELLIS TOPS SUPER 7 AS 2020-21 MALE 'ATHLETE OF THE YEAR' (2021-08-16)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY -
Athens senior Asher Ellis enjoyed a stellar senior season in three sports, making a trip to the PIAA Track & Field Championships in two events in the spring, and starring on the soccer pitch in the fall. He is the 2020-21
Valley Sports Report Male "Athlete of the Year."
The award is not exclusive to three-sport athletes, but is weighted toward student-athletes who participate in three sports. This year's Super 7 includes just one senior, Ellis, and features two juniors, three sophomores, and one freshman.
This season, the New York state student-athletes were hindered a bit by the fact that all three seasons were shortened, and fewer games / competitions were held.
This spring, Ellis won District 4 gold in the javelin and discus, and narrowly missed qualifying for States in a third event with a third-place finish in the shot put. At States, He finished 15th in the javelin, and 16th in the discus.
Ellis won gold in the shot put, discus, and javelin - all by comfortable margins - at the NTL Coaches Invite. He consistently won all three throwing events during the regular season to help the Wildcats to an unbeaten duals season, and their second consecutive NTL title.
He was the Track & Field "Athlete of the Year."
On the soccer pitch, Ellis was a key component in Athens' 11-3 season, and run to the District 4, Class AAA semifinals.
Ellis, who was the VSR "Goalkeeper of the Year," was in net for seven shutouts, and allowed just 10 goals in the 14 games.
In his first year in the pool, Ellis finished third in the 100-yard breaststroke at the NTL Championships. He also swam on the gold medal-winning 200-yard medley relay team, which finished sixth the District 4 Championships.
2020-21 Super 7 Male Athletes of the Year:
Asher Ellis, senior, Athens: See above.
Emmett Wood, junior, Tioga: The VSR Football "Player of the Year," Wood has a rare mixture of size, speed, and power for Class D football. He ran for 1,280 yards and 13 TDs. Wood also led the Tigers in tackles on the other side of the ball.
On the mats, Wood posted an 9-0 record on the truncated season, and is 124-55 for his career.
Wood played sparingly during the baseball season - his first, stroking one single, and scoring three runs.
Karter Rude, junior, Athens: On the baseball diamond, Rude hit .364 with a team-high 24 hits in 66 at-bats. He led Athens with nine doubles, 25 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases without being caught. He also had one triple, 12 RBI, and drew 12 walks for a .462 on-base percentage, and a .992 OPS.
On the mats, Rude forged a 24-9 record this season, finishing third at the North Section Tournament to qualify for Districts. He was 19-11 as a sophomore, and has a 63-33 career mark.
On the gridiron, Rude snared 26 receptions for 356 yards. He was seventh on the team with two tackles per game, and one interception on the season.
Lucas Horton, sophomore, Sayre: This spring, Horton was dominant on the mound. He posted an 8-1 record with a 1.51 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He struck out 64 and walked just 17 in 46 1/3 innings, while allowing just 32 hits.
At the plate, Lucas Horton hit .389 (28 hits in 72 ABs), and walked 20 times for a .516 on-base percentage. He also had a .597 slugging percentage, thanks to a team-high 10 doubles, one triple and one home run, for a 1.113 OPS. He also had 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and three stolen bases.
He was the VSR "Pitcher of the Year," and Baseball "Newcomer of the Year."
On the gridiron, the Redskins played just three games. In Sayre's only win, Horton completed 15 of 21 passes for 188 yards and one TD. He also ran for 45 yards and two TDs in the game.
On the hardwoods, Horton averaged 6.5 points and 3 rebounds per game on the season.
Mason Lister, sophomore, Athens: On the gridiron, Lister completed 52 percent (70 of 135) of his passes for 786 yards and three TDs, while being intercepted just once in seven games. He also ran for five TDs.
Lister posted a 5-4 record with a 2.59 ERA. He struck out 60 and walked 33 in 43 1/3 innings, while allowing only 30 hits. He hit .242 (15 hits in 62 ABs) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 11 RBI, and 17 runs scored.
At 6-4, Lister was a standout on both ends of the basketball court for the Wildcats. He led the team in assists (4 per game), steals (49), and 3-pointers (30). He was second on the team at 10.8 points per game, and averaged 4.8 rebounds per game.
Ty Beeman, sophomore, Waverly: This spring, Beeman hit .344 (22 hits in 64 ABs) with three doubles, one home run, a team-high 26 RBI, 22 runs scored, and six stolen bases. He also worked 10 walks for an on-base percentage of .442.
Beeman made just two errors in 95 defensive chances for a .979 fielding percentage. He also gunned down seven would-be base stealers.
On the gridiron. Beeman anchored the offensive line at center, and also ranking among the team leaders in tackles at linebacker. He will be a force on both sides of the ball for Waverly the next two seasons.
During the winter season, Beeman posted a 10-4 record in his first varsity wrestling action. All four of his losses were to returning Section IV place-winners, and one of his wins came against Newark Valley's Joey Woodmansee, who finished fourth at the Division 2 championships.
He was the VSR Football "Newcomer of the Year," and the 2020-21 VSR "Newcomer of the Year."
Joey Tomasso, freshman, Waverly: On the hardwoods, Tomasso is composed beyond his years, is strong with the ball, and can flat-out score. He scored a freshman school-record 15.3 points per game, and led Waverly with 23 3-pointers in 12 games. He also averaged 2.5 rebounds, 18 steals, and 1.5 assists per game.
On the baseball diamond, Tomasso hit .357 (25 hits in 70 ABs) with six doubles, two triples, 21 RBI, 29 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. On the mound, he had a 3.50 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings.
On the gridiron, the sophomore signal-caller had an up-and-down season against a tough schedule. In his best outing of the year, a 55-12 win over Dryden, Tomasso completed 15 of 19 passes for 232 yard and four TDs, and ran for a score.
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IN PHOTO: Athens' Asher Ellis (orange).
