FROM THE PRESS BOX: A GLIMPSE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2022 SOCCER SEASONS (2021-12-01)

The soccer scene in the Valley was a little barren with Sayre not able to field a boys or girls team in 2021. It could have been worse, however, if the Tioga boys hadn't pieced a team together to play a non-league schedule.

Both of the Athens and Waverly teams qualified for the postseason, but the only team to register a win was the Lady Wolverines. The Waverly boys, making their first postseason appearance since 2016, dropped a 1-0 OT decision to Susquehanna Valley.

Looking ahead to 2022, we should see at least four teams in the postseason.

The season is still nine months away, so the crystal ball is a bit murky, but we should be able to get a glimpse of what next season holds

BOYS
Athens Wildcats: Athens is coming off a 12-7 season, but six of those losses - Danville, Midd-West, Selinsgrove, Corning, Maine-Endwell, and Horseheads - came against a brutal non-league schedule.

The Wildcats lose seven starters to graduation, but return several players with a lot of experience, led by Levent VanHelden, Brayden Post, Alex Campbell, Korey Miller, Dash Bishop, Mitch Hamilton, and Jake Eyer.

Coach Jake Lezak has built the program to the point where he can replace large senior classes, and still be competitive, like he has the last few years.

Athens has a big freshman class that will help fill in the losses next season, and should also pick up more depth from its junior high program. The Wildcats could also pick up extra help from the Sayre junior high program.

Prediction: Lezak is dedicated to strengthening his non-league schedule to make up for the lack of consistent competition in the NTL, so their record at the end of the season may not be what fans are accustom to, but the Wildcats should repeat as NTL champs, although Wellsboro is likely to challenge. ... 2022 Record: 12-6.

Waverly Wolverines: Coach Eric Ryck needed just four years to take a program that didn't have enough numbers to play in 2017 to a winning season (7-6) and a berth in the Section IV playoffs this year.

The Wolverines graduate just four seniors, but one of them is a four-year starter at keeper, Cameron McIsaac, who will not be easy to replace.

Waverly returns a number of starters, including Griff Schillmoeller, Charlie Larrabee, Sam Knight, and Carter George, who will all be juniors next season. The Wolverines also have big numbers in their modified program, so that pipeline will continue to feed the varsity.

Prediction:  With a wealth of talent returning, there's no reason to believe the upward trajectory won't continue for the Wolverines, who could challenge SVEC for an IAC South Large School title in 2022. ... 2022 Record: 10-5.

Tioga Tigers: Tioga had a bit of an under-the-radar return to the soccer pitch, after not having a varsity team for two years due to a lack of numbers.

It was a bit of an inauspicious start for coach Adam Layman, who had just five players for his first few practices. At that point, I assumed (never a good thing to do), the program was dead in the water for at least another year, but Layman was undeterred.

He managed to piece a team together, and even won one game against IAC competition, with all their matches counting as non-league games.

I won't offer up a prediction for 2022, but I remember Layman as a smart player. I'm sure if given numbers, he'll do a good job.

GIRLS
Athens Lady Wildcats: Athens is coming off an atypical 9-9 season, but a closer look shows the majority of losses coming against a brutal non-league schedule: Vestal, Fayetteville-Manlius, New Hartford, Bloomsburg, Hughesville, Shikellamy, and Mifflinburg. Losses to Troy and Wyalusing, however, kept them from the NTL title for the second year in a row.

Athens has just a couple of starters to replace, so the vast majority of this team will return with a great deal of experience, and the majority of them will be juniors.

The Lady Wildcats will have a handful of seniors, led by Alli Thoman and Taegan Williams, but next year's juniors - Mya Thompson, Emma Yohe, Meltem VanHelden, Abbie Panek, Kendra Merrill, and Norah Reid  - will likely be the driving force.

Toss in this year's "Newcomer of the Year," Addy Wheeler, who will be a sophomore, and several of her classmates, as well as help from the Athens and Sayre junior high teams, and the Lady Wildcats should have big numbers, and an influx of new talent.

Prediction: Replacing Hannah Walker won't be easy, but the Lady Wildcats have several players capable of stepping up - chiefly Thoman and Wheeler. ... I expect Athens to return to the top of the NTL heap, but if it plays the same type of non-league schedule ... 2022 record: 12-6.

Waverly Lady Wolverines: The Lady Wolverines are coming off a 10-3-3 season, and graduate just one starter - defender Bella Romano.

Waverly returns its offensive firepower in Kennedy Westbrook, Lea VanAllen, Kiley Stillman and Addison Westbrook, as well as most of its top defenders in Paige Robinson, Olivia Robinson, and Claire Clonch, and keeper Lea Cole, who as a freshman this season was one of the best newcomers in the region.

Waverly could also get a bit more help from its modified team as well.

Prediction: Like Waverly, Notre Dame returns the majority of its team in 2022, so the battle for the IAC South Large School title should be a good one again. ... I expect Waverly to at least match this year's appearance in the Class B semifinals, possibly make an appearance in the championship game. ... 2022 record: 14-3.

Tioga Lady Tigers: When you have low numbers like Tioga always seems to battle, there is little room for error. Toss in injuries to two of your best players and a 1-10-1 season is what you get.

Tioga graduates several seniors, but a heathy return from Elyse and Sophia Haney, and the return of Erica Bradley, Taliah Speer, and Emma Jaye is a nice place to start for coach Jim Walsh.

Tioga will also get some help from its modified team, so the numbers issue may not be quite as glaring as in recent years.

Prediction: If the Lady Tigers can stay healthy, and find a replacement for Gabby Foley in the net, they should easily improve on this year's record. ... 2022 record: 5-7.