FROM THE PRESS BOX: A GLIMPSE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2022-23 WRESTLING SEASON (2022-03-25)
It was an incredible wrestling season in the Valley.
Athens senior Gavin Bradley achieved a longtime goal of winning PIAA gold, while Tioga had seven state medalists, including a pair of state champs in sophomores Gianni Silvestri and Ousmane Duncanson, a pair of runners-up in sophomore Caden Bellis, and junior Donovan Smith, and a third-place finisher in 8th-grader Jayden Duncanson.
A pair of Valley girls — Tioga junior Emily Sindoni and freshman Mackenzie Laforest — got in on the act, winning Section IV titles at the first-ever girls championships. Sindoni went on to win an Intersection title, and a New York State Girls Folkstyle style.
In all, there were 13 Valley wrestlers in action at their respective state tournaments, and eight of them brought home hardware.
On the team front, Tioga won its third straight Section IV Duals crown, and finally got over the hump and convincingly won the N.Y. State Duals title. The Tigers also won their fifth consecutive Section IV, Division 2 title, and their third straight team title at the N.Y. State Division 2 Championships.
Waverly’s rebuild can be considered complete. The Wolverines qualified for the Section IV Duals, and recorded a win over Windsor. They also advanced two wrestlers to States.
Athens was competitive in the NTL wrestling wars, and sent four wrestlers to Regionals, with two advancing on to States.
As for Sayre, let’s hope the Redskins hit rock bottom, as it finished the season with just one wrestler in action at the North Section Tournament.
The 2022-23 wrestling season is still 8-plus months away, and the crystal ball is a bit murky in some areas, but I can see that Tioga’s dominance in Section IV, and in the entire state could continue. I also see Waverly could increase its presence in Albany, while Athens may struggle to keep its streak of sending wrestlers to Hershey alive, and Sayre’s rebuild could begin.
Athens Wildcats: The Wildcats lose six starters, and a seventh who saw a handful of starts, from a team that posted an 8-4 duals record, including a 7-2 mark in the NTL.
Athens has sent at least one wrestler to Hershey since 2014, and junior Jake Courtney is the program’s most likely option to keep that streak alive in 2023. Sophomore heavyweight Josh Nittinger, and freshman 215-pounder Caleb Nason are also legitimate candidates to reach Chocolate Town.
To complete as a team, the Wildcats will need sophomore Mason Vanderpool and freshman Keaton Sinsabaugh to take the next step, and freshmen Landen Kizer and Keegan Congdon, who saw occasional action this season, to be regular contributors.
Athens will also need a few junior high grads to contribute immediately. Cooper Robinson and Matthias Welles are the most likely candidates.
Prediction: The next wave of wrestlers will hit the Athens program over the next two seasons, so the Wildcats will be young. Towanda and Canton should once again sit atop the NTL Duals standings in 2023, but Athens should still be in the next grouping. … As for Hershey, I like Courtney’s chances, and think NIttinger could make the trip as well.
Sayre Redskins: The Redskins were winless during the Duals season, thanks in large part to having just seven grapplers wrestle a match. Of those, only four wrestled more than 10.
However, of the seven who wrestled this season, four are seniors. The Redskins actually had 11 or 12 on the roster prior to the season, but injuries and academics quickly trimmed it to six.
Kendrick Ross could surprise people next season, but injuries have limited him to five matches in his first two varsity season. There are a handful of other wrestlers who have wrestled a few matches the last couple year that could return next year, but it’s hard to say if they will.
Prediction: There are four or five junior high wrestlers who will graduate to the varsity ranks next year. If everyone returns to the program for the 2022-23 season, the Redskins could have 12 to 14 on its roster. There are too many unknowns to even venture a guess on results, but I do believe the numbers will be improved, and the rebuild will be underway.
Tioga Tigers: The Tigers won every dual they wrestled in 2021-22, and every tournament they entered — and they only graduate three starters.
Tioga returns seven state qualifiers, including six medalists, as well as 8th-grader Logan Bellis (30-13), sophomores Trent Browne (29-15), Deakon Bailey (22-6), and Levi Bellis (14-6), and freshman Tate Macauley (16-16).
If 102 remains a weight class, 8th-grader-to-be Declan McKee could earn a starting spot, but if New York shifts to the weight classes used in Pa., and 106 is the lightest weight, there won’t be any new faces in the line-up.
Prediction: Considering the Tigers will likely advance at least nine to States again next year, there’s no reason to think they won’t enjoy the same postseason success. They weren’t challenged in the Section IV or N.Y. State Duals, and I doubt they will be next year. … Individually, I could see Tioga challenging Hilton’s record of four state champs in a single season. And, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention senior-to-be Emily Sindoni, who will be an overwhelming favorite to win her second Section IV title in as many tries.
Waverly Wolverines: One of coach Devan Witman’s first goals when he set out to rebuild the Waverly wrestling program was to qualify for the Section IV Duals. This year’s team not only qualified, but beat Windsor in the opening round.
The Wolverines also qualified two wrestlers — freshman Kam Hills and junior Ty Beeman — for States, and had two more — juniors Gage Tedesco and Conner Stotler — narrowly miss. All four are back in 2023.
Waverly graduates just two seniors, and has a wave of wrestlers from the youth ranks coming into the program over the next few years. Numbers won’t be a problem, and continued success should follow.
Prediction: The stark truth is Waverly, likely every other team not named Tioga, is playing for second in Section IV, but I could definitely see the Wolverines in the finals of the Section IV Duals. … Individually, there’s a good chance Waverly could send at least four wrestlers to Albany. And, sophomore-to-be Mackenzie LaForest will be a heavy favorite to win another Section IV girls title.
