VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: AIELLO, HARRINGTON HEADLINE SUPER 7; SHARE 2021-22 'COACH OF YEAR' HONORS (2022-06-21)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — A pair of Tioga coaches led their teams to the pinnacle of their sports — state titles. Nick Aiello directed the Tiger football team to a 12-0 record and the second state title in program history, while Kris Harrington piloted the wrestling team to its first-ever N.Y. State Duals title, and its third straight team title at the N.Y. State Division 2 Championships.

Aiello and Harrington share the honor as Valley Sports Report’s 2021-22 “Coach of the Year.”

Aiello coached the Tigers to a 12-0 season — the first unbeaten season in his career — and the second state title in his 12 years on the Tioga sidelines.

The Tigers outscored their opponents by an average of 47 to 8.4 points per game, including a 42-6 margin in the three state playoff games.

Aiello has amassed a 108-23 career coaching record,  He has nine Section IV titles titles to his credit, and has a postseason record of 37-9, including a 24-2 mark in the Section IV playoffs.

Harrington directed the Tioga wrestling team to a perfect 16-0 duals record, their third straight Section IV Duals title, and the New York State Duals title.

Tioga also won its fifth consecutive Section IV, Division 2 championship, and third straight New York State Division 2 championship.

The Tigers qualified nine wrestlers for States, and seven of them medaled, including two state champs, two runners-up, and a third-place finisher.

The 2021-22 Valley Sports Report Super 7 “Coaches of the Year”
Nick Aiello, football, Tioga: See above.

Kris Harrington, wrestling, Tioga: See above.

Dave Hogan, track & field, Waverly: Hogan led a Waverly track & team that advanced 10 athletes to the New York State Division 2 Track & Field Championships, including three relays.

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.

Jason Miller, football, Waverly: Miller directed the Wolverines to an historic season - the first time a Waverly team has been 10-0.

Waverly opened the win with a decisive win over Class A East Syracuse-Minoa, then won a division title, and beat Norwich in the Class C semifinals to advance to its first Section IV title game since 2015.

Miller has a career record of 111-70, and three Section IV titles.

Jim Lister, boys basketball, Athens: Lister directed Athens to a 21-8 record, and a berth in the PIAA Class 4A “Sweet 16.” Athens split the regular-season series with NTL Large School champ Troy, then beat the Trojans in the rubber match to win the NTL Showdown.

The Wildcats made their first appearance in a District 4 Championship game since 2000. They also won their first state playoff game in 66 years.

Mike Bronson, boys cross country and girls track & field, Athens: Bronson is the only coach on the list to make the Super 7 in two different seasons.

In the fall, Bronson was the repeat recipient of the cross country  "Coach of the Year,” leading the Wildcats to a one-loss duals season.

They missed missed repeating as Large School champs by 1 point, but avenged the loss to Cowanesque Valley with a Large School team title at the NTL Coaches Invite.

This spring, 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.

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.