THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON HISTORIC DAY FOR WAVERLY SWIMMING, AND A FEW HOOP STORYLINES (2022-02-01)
I’ve long said there are two sports — wrestling and swimming.— that require total dedication in order to be the best.
I’ll have to admit, I’m not a swimming guy. I don’t know the intricacies involved in making a turn, or the mechanics involved in different strokes, or how coaches train their swimmers to peak at the right time.
One of the things I do know is that it’s difficult to qualify for States by hitting a cut time, especially for relays.
Waverly, one of the best swim programs in Section IV over the last 20-plus years, has not sent a relay to States since 2012.
Another thing I know is if you knock a Fell out of the Waverly boys swim record book, you’ve accomplished something special.
So, what the foursome of senior Kaden Wheeler, and juniors Jerrell Sackett, Oscar Williams, and Ryan Clark did last week at the Wolverine Invite was extraordinary.
The foursome hit the state cut in all three relays. They broke all three relay school records, erasing Ben Fell’s name from the record books in two of the relays, and Pat Fell’s from one. Those relay records had stood since 1999. The other record had been on the books since 2012.
The foursome also established new IAC records in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.
On top of that, Sackett hit the state cut for the 100-yard freestyle.
If you were to construct a Mount Rushmore of Waverly swimmers Pat Fell, who still holds four school records (100 fly, 200 IM, 200 free, and 500 free) would be the most prominent figure.
Ben Fell, Jeff and Josh Mastrantuono, Mike Atanasoff, and Josh Hogan would also be involved in the final cut.
This foursome, especially the three juniors, still has some time to make that conversation even more interesting.
———————
There are some interesting storylines being written on the basketball hardwoods this winter.
The only teams still realistically in the hunt for division titles are the Athens and Waverly boys.
The Wildcats trail Troy and Wellsboro by 1 game in the NTL Large School standings, and get both of them again in the final two weeks of the season, so they hold their destiny in their own hands.
The Wildcats held serve with its win at home against Troy last week. Friday, weather permitting, they’ll get a chance to pull even with the Trojans in the standings at Troy. Next week, they’ll get a chance to avenge their loss at Wellsboro.
Waverly is in an even better spot, being tied atop the IAC South Large School standings with Watkins Glen. If the Wolverines get past Notre Dame tonight, they will travel to Watkins Glen Friday night — weather permitting — for a chance to take control of the title chase.
The Senecas, playing without talented big man Adam Pastore, edged Notre Dame by 1 point Friday night.
The Wolverines are in a good spot, but winning at Watkins Glen is never easy.
——————
The Tioga boys started the season at 0-3, and weren’t competitive in losses to Owego, Marcellus, and Waverly.
Of course, a big reason was the fact the season started the day after half its roster played in the state championship football game.
Tioga was 1-4 after a loss to division-leading Newfield on Dec. 18. Since then, the Tigers are 8-3, and have secured a postseason berth.
Sophomore Evan Sickler has continued his consistent play, while sophomore Ethan Perry has come on strong of late, and sophomore Gavin Fisher has emerged as a legitimate scoring option.
They’ve also been getting solid play from seniors Casey Stoughton, Gavin Godfrey, and Josh Reis, and sophomore Ethan Landmesser.
If Sickler takes the next step and gets a bit more aggressive looking for his shots … if Perry gets a little more consistent with his outside shot … and if Fisher continues to progress and continues to score from the perimeter and in the low post, this team could be very dangerous in the postseason.
——————
The Final Word returns tomorrow. Get out an support a Valley team tonight!
