FROM THE PRESS BOX: TIOGA, WAVERLY FOOTBALL TOP SUPER 7 'STORYLINES OF THE FALL' (2021-12-03)
I've talked about storylines in the past and how they normally come in one of four realms: the start of a storyline, the continuation of one, the likely culmination of one, or a storyline totally out of the blue.
The 2021 fall season is a different. Despite the disruptions caused by Covid in 2020, all seven of our storylines are rooted in existing storylines.
Without any further ado, I give you, from No. 7 to No. 1, the "Super 7 storylines" of the fall:
Bonus: It's not really a storyline, actually it's just a story, but one worth mentioning.
Waverly 8th-grader Mira Kittle set a new school record in the 1-meter diving competition in a meet against Dryden this fall. The remarkable aspect of setting the record is that it was Kittle's first time ever diving.
She scored 199.35 points in the six-dive competition, eclipsing a Waverly record that was set in 1994.
7. Athens boys return to top of NTL soccer hierarchy: It wasn't easy, but Athens won its seventh NTL title in eight years this fall.
After Wellsboro snapped the Wildcats' six-year run as league champs in 2020, the Green Hornets put themselves in position to make it two in a row with an early-season, 5-3, win at Athens.
The Wildcats rebounded, however, to win their last seven league matches, including a 2-1 win at Wellsboro to win the NTL crown.
Don't be surprised if Athens adds another chapter to this storyline next fall.
6: A banner year for Valley cross country runners: Five Valley cross country runners qualified for their respective state meets this fall, including three from Athens, and Tioga's first harrier at the New York State meet since 2012.
Of the five, four were underclassmen "” Athens junior Emma Bronson and freshman Sara Bronson, Waverly freshman Harper Minaker, and junior Thomas Hurd "” while Athens' Matt Gorsline was the lone senior.
Hurd was the first Tioga runner to qualify for State since Brenden Walker made back-to-back appearances in 2011 and '12.
This is a storyline that is likely to continue.
5. Waverly boys soccer rebuild complete: At some point, a rebuild has to move into the next phase, and Waverly qualifying for the postseason just four years after not having a program due to a lack of numbers in the 2017 season appears to be that moment.
Coach Eric Ryck has rebuilt the numbers from the junior high ranks through the varsity, and the results have followed.
After a 1-11 season in 2018's return to the field, Waverly finished at 2-10-1 in 2019 with both wins coming against Notre Dame - the program's first wins over Notre Dame since 2009.
The Wolverines went 3-5 in the truncated 2021 spring season, then finished the 2021 fall regular season at 7-5 to earn a trip to the Section IV playoffs - the program's first berth since 2016. The season ended with a 1-0 overtime loss at Susquehanna Valley.
Ryck has done a fantastic job, and this storyline is sure to have more chapters written.
4. The Waverly-Notre Dame girls soccer rivalry continues to reach new heights: There have been some tremendous matches played between these two IAC South Large School divisional rivals, but this rivalry may have reached new heights in 2021.
The two rivals played to a pair of double-overtime scoreless ties during the regular season, and won their remaining league match-ups to force a divisional playoff.
In the playoff game, Ava Mustico's goal in overtime snapped a scoreless stretch of 287 minutes and lifted the Lady Crusaders to a1-0 win.
Both teams return a ton of talent next year. Stay tuned for more chapters in this rivalry storyline.
3. Tioga-Candor volleyball rivalry reaches epic proportions: All roads to the Section IV, Class D volleyball have run through Tioga and Candor for the last dozen years or so, with the two teams combining for nine titles in the last 12 tournaments.
This season, the two longtime rivals squared off four times, with all four going five sets.
The Lady Tigers won the first meeting, but Candor evened the scored in their second meeting, which ultimately forced an IAC South Small School divisional playoffs, which the Lady Indians won.
The final meeting of the season came in the Section IV, Class D championship match, and Candor rallied from a 2-1 deficit to advance to the state tournament.
I'm sure this rivalry has more stories to be written.
2. Waverly football puts together historic season: Jason Miller's Waverly Wolverines accomplished something no other team in program history, which dates back to 1892, has accomplished - forging a 10-0 record.
The Wolverines opened eyes right off the bat with a 31-7 Week Zero win over Class A East-Syracuse Minoa, and survived close calls against Chenango Valley, Watkins Glen / O-M, and Susquehanna Valley to close out the regular season at 9-0.
After a 35-8 win over Norwich in the Class C semifinals, the Wolverines saw their season end in the Class C title game with a 34-6 loss at Chenango Forks, which went on to win its seventh state title.
Waverly returns a host of underclassmen in 2022, so this storyline is sure to continue on one form or another.
1. Tioga football wins second state title in program history: The Tigers capped a dominant season with a 27-0 win over Moriah in the Class D championship game - the program's first state title since 2015.
Tioga opened the season with a 56-3 win at Sidney, and followed it up with a 27-14 home win over Watkins Glen / O-M in Week 2, which would turn out to be the closest game the Tigers would play all season. The closest game the remainder of the season was the 27-point win in the state championship game.
Emmett Wood finished his senior season with 2,135 yards and 34 TDs. He capped an illustrious career with 7,367 yards, which places him fifth all-time in New York State, and 99 rushing TDs.
This season marked the first unbeaten season for coach Nick Aiello, who has amassed a 108-23 record in 12 years, with nine Section IV titles, and two state titles.
With a talented junior class returning, there will surely be more chapters written in this storyline.
