VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S HOGAN HEADLINES SUPER 7 AS 'COACH OF THE SPRING' (2022-06-17)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - Waverly advanced 10 athletes to the New York State Division 2 Track & Field Championships, including three relays, and their coach, Dave Hogan, is the 2022 Valley Sports Report "Coach of the Spring."

While the boys accounted for four of the five events the Wolverines qualified for States, it was the girls team that accounted for most of the team accolades this season, winning the IAC South Large School Division title, finishing second at the IAC Championships, and fourth at the Section IV Class C Championships.

The Waverly boys were runners-up at the divisional meet, third at the IAC Championships, and fifth at the Class C meet.

The 400-meter relay team cruised through the postseason, winning every meet, but Hogan was forced to make a critical decision prior to the 1,600-meter relay finals at the Section IV State Qualifier. With senior Sam VanDyke battling a tight hamstring, Hogan substituted junior Jerrell Sackett into the anchor leg at the last minute. The relay won Division 2 gold and advanced to States.

Waverly was the only team in the Valley to send an athlete to a state competition.

2022 Super 7 Coaches of the Spring
Dave Hogan, track & field, Waverly: See above.

Jamie VanDuzer, baseball, Sayre: VanDuzer, who piloted the Redskins to District 4 titles in 2019 and ’21, led Sayre to an NTL Small School title, a 19-3 record, and a trip to the District 4, Class AA semifinals.

The Redskins dropped their season-opener at South Williamsport, but ripped off 16 straight wins on their way to a 18-2 regular-season mark.

Kyle McDuffee, baseball, Waverly: The Wolverines finished 10-9 in the regular season, thanks in large part due to a brutal schedule set up by longtime coach Kyle McDuffee. Eight of the team’s nine losses were to teams that qualified for the postseason, and five of their losses were by one or two runs.

The rugged regular-season schedule seemed to serve its purpose as Waverly won a pair of Class B playoff games to advance to the Section IV finals, where it dropped a wild 12-10 decision to Oneonta.

Stephanie Hills, softball, Tioga: Hills directed the Lady Tigers to a 14-6 record, and an IAC South Small School Division title.

Tioga lost the overall IAC Small School championship game to Union Springs, but earned a bit of revenge in the Section IV, Class C quarterfinals, before falling to Notre Dame in the semifinals.

Kevin Evanek, baseball, Tioga: The Tigers lost their two most productive players from the 2021 season to transfers, but coach Kevin Evanek still directed the team into the postseason.

The Tigers, who finished the season at 12-7, also won the IAC Small School Division title, and then beat Union Springs to win the overall IAC Small School title. They avenged a regular-season loss with a win over Moravia in the Class C opening round before falling to eventual Section IV champ Lansing in the quarterfinals.

Mike Bronson, girls track & field, Athens: Bronson led the Lady Wildcats to an unbeaten dual season, and another division title.

Moving up the Class AAA in 2022, the Lady Wildcats earned a fifth-place finish in the District 4 Championships.

David Sickler, boys golf, Tioga: Sickler piloted the Tigers to a 7-2 record on the season, and a runner-up finish at the IAC Championships.

Tioga finished third at Class D Championships.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly’s Dave Hogan.

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