VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S DUNCANSON, BELLIS SHARE BOYS 'WRESTLER OF YEAR' HONORS, SINDONI NAMED GIRLS 'WRESTLER OF YEAR;' WAVERLY'S WELLES, BEEMAN, TIOGA'S HARRINGTON ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2023-03-20)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Tioga junior Ousmane Duncanson closed out a perfect season with his second state title, and his classmate Caden Bellis battled through injuries to win his first state gold. They share the 2022-23 Valley Sports Report “Wrestler of the Year” honors.

Tioga senior Emily Sindoni, the top-ranked 132-pounder in the nation, won her second state title and is the Girls “Wrestler of the Year,” while Waverly 8th-grader Matthias Welles is the “Newcomer of the Year,” Waverly freshman Troy Beeman is the “Most Improved Wrestler,” and Tioga’s Kris Harrington is the “Coach of the Year.”

Duncanson ran the table with a 37-0 record on the season to become just the third two-time champ in the storied history of the Tioga program.

During the postseason, Duncanson was 10-0 with eight pins and one technical fall. His closest match was an 8-1 win over Windsor’s Mason McCombs in the state semifinals.

He was also 4-0 at the State Duals, including three first-period falls.

Bellis suffered a broken bone in his hand during his only loss of the season, a 14-5 setback against nationally-ranked Eligh Rivera in the semifinals of the Southern Tier Memorial on Jan. 13.

After sitting out for 15 days, Bellis went 4-0, including three falls and a major decision at the State Duals, then went 10-0 in the individual postseason, with seven pins and a major decision.

He finished the season at 33-1.

Sindoni pinned her way through the 2022-23 season.

At the first-ever New York State Championships, Sindoni was 4-0, including three first-period falls. In the finals, she pinned nationally-ranked Zoe Griffith of Gouverneur.

At the Section IV Championships, Sindoni defended her crown and notched three falls in a combined 2 minutes and 20 seconds. She also scored a pair of first-period pins to win an IAC title.

Sindoni went 4-0 at the Jarvis Tournament in Athens, and 3-0 at the Southern Tier Memorial. Of those seven wins — all by fall — six came in the first period.

Sindoni only went the distance once all season, a 12-2 win over Oneonta’s Sophia Churchill on her way to a title at the Oneonta Rotary Tournament.

Welles worked his way into the Waverly lineup at the outset of the season, and put together a 29-12 campaign in his first varsity season.

Welles won an IAC title, finished second at the Section IV, B Qualifier, and was second at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships after upsetting state-ranked Hunter Page of Oxford-Greene in the semifinals. He was 1-2 at States.

After posting an 8-9 record as an 8th-grader, Troy Beeman posted a 27-11 and qualified for States as a freshman.

Beeman wrestled at 215 for the majority of the season, but bumped up to 285 pounds for the postseason. He went 6-4 in the postseason, with three of his losses coming to teammate, sophomore Kam Hills, who finished seventh at States. He was 1-2 at States, including a loss to Hills.

Harrington has kept the Tioga juggernaut rolling. The Tigers won their sixth consecutive Section IV title, and their fourth straight team title at the New York State Division 2 Championships.

Tioga won its fourth consecutive Section IV Duals title, and second straight New York State Division 2 title.

The Tigers also advanced eight wrestlers to the state championships, and brought home seven medals, including a pair of state champs, two runners-up, and a third-place finisher.

Honorable Mention: Waverly coach Devan Witman has been at the helm of a re-building project with the Waverly wrestling program. That project is officially complete after this season, which saw the Wolverines finish second at the Section IV Duals, and advance five wrestlers to the Division 2 Championships.

2023 All-Valley Boys Wrestling Super 7
Ousmane Duncanson, junior, Tioga: See above.

Caden Bellis, junior, Tioga: See above.

Gianni Silvestri, junior, Tioga: Silvestri was stunned in the state finals, and was denied his third state title. He finished the season at 43-2.

Logan Bellis, freshman, Tioga: Logan Bellis got better and better as the year progressed. He finished third at the Section IV Championships, but ended up in the state finals, where he dropped a 3-0 decision to unbeaten Tommy Aiello of John Glenn. He finished the season at 35-9.

Jayden Duncanson, freshman, Tioga: Jayden Duncanson finished third at States the hard way, losing in the opening round, and battling back through the consolation bracket. He was 42-5 on the season.

Kam Hills, sophomore, Waverly: Hills lost his first match of the season (to fellow Super 7 member John Nittinger of Athens), then reeled off 20 straight wins, including titles at the Southern Tier Memorial, the IACs, Section IV Qualifier, and the Section IV Championships.

His next loss was in the round-of-16 at States. He ultimately finished seventh at States, and had a 22-3 record on the season.

Josh NIttinger, junior, Athens: Nittinger was one win away from States after winning his first two matches at the Northeast Regionals. He ended up finishing sixth.

Nittinger was also sixth at Districts, and second at the North Section Championships. He was 30-14 on the season.

“The All-Valley Second Team:”
Matthias Welles, 8th-grader, Waverly: See above.

Ty Beeman, senior, Waverly: Beeman was on a roll late in the season with first-place finishes at the IACs, and the Section IV, Qualifier B, which he won by beating state-ranked Garrett Bidwell of Windsor in the finals.

Beeman became ill the night before for the Section IV Championships, won his first match, but lost in the semifinals, and defaulted out of the rest of the tournament to finish sixth — missing out on a return trip to States.. He finished 38-7 on the season.

Jake Courtney, senior, Athens: Perhaps the Wildcats best wrestler during the regular season, Courtney won a North Section title, but went 0-2 the following week at Districts. He was 25-10 on the season.

Deakon Bailey, junior, Tioga: Bailey was the epitome of resiliency in 2022-23. He finished fourth at the Section IV, Qualifier A, and third at the Section IV Championships to punch his ticket to Staes.

At States, he lost in the round-of-16, but bounced back with four straight wins on his way to a sixth-place finish. He was 29-16 on the season.

Drew Macumber, junior, Tioga: Macumber won the IACs, Section IV, Qualifier A, and the Section IV Division 2 title. He reached the state semifinals on his way to a sixth-place finish. He was 35-8 on the season.

Connor Stotler, senior, Waverly: Stotler broke his collar bone at the Southern Tier Memorial on Jan. 14. Four weeks later, after receiving a medical exemption into the Section IV, Division 2 Championships, Stotler won two matches via first-period fall (then injury defaulted in the finals) to punch his ticket to States.

At States, Stotler went 3-2, losing in the blood round, to finish his season at 25-11.

Tyler Roe, junior, Tioga: Roe won the IACs, Section IV, Qualifier A, and the Section IV Division 2 title. He won his first two matches at States to reach the quarterfinals, but lost a pair of close decisions to end his run. He was 39-8 on the season.

Braeden Hills, senior, Waverly: Braeden Hills finished the season at 30-15, with nine of his losses coming to wrestlers seeded in the top-6 in at 152 or 160 at the State championships. He finished second at the IAC Championships, and third at the Section IV, Qualifier B, and the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Troy Beeman, freshman, Waverly: See above.

Levi Bellis, junior, Tioga: Bellis was third on his team at 126 pounds, so he ended up bumping up to 152 pounds for the postseason. He finished fourth at 152 pounds at the Section IV Championships. He was 33-11 on the season.

Cooper Robinson, freshman, Athens: Robinson battled injuries late in the season, and still finished his initial varsity campaign with a 28-12 record. He finished third at the North Section championships, and seventh at the District 4 Championships.

2022-23 All-Valley Girls Wrestling Super 7
Emily Sindoni, senior, Tioga: See above.

Mackenzie LaForest, junior, Waverly: LaForest, who claimed titles at the Southern Tier Memorial and the Oneonta Tournament this season, was a Section IV runner-up and won a state title.

Anaiah Kolesar, freshman, Athens: Kolesar had a strong season with a first-place finish at the Honesdale Tournament, and a third-place finish at the Coal Cracker Invite.

She finished second at the Northeast Regionals, and then was seventh at the Pa. Championships.

Hanna Rathbun, freshman, Athens: Rathbun had a strong season for the Lady Wildcats, including a first-place finish at the Honesdale Tournament, and runner-up finishes at the Coal Cracker Invite, and Jarvis Tournament.

Rathbun finished third at the Northeast Regionals, and was one win short of reaching the podium at States.

Leah Nason, freshman, Athens: Nason played basketball this season, and was a late addition to the wrestling team.  She placed second at then Northeast Regionals, and was one win short of reaching the podium at States.

Elona Holmes, freshman, Waverly: Holmes battled some injuries this season, but finished third at the Southern Tier Memorial, and sixth at the New York State Championships.

Kyah Nelson, 7th-grader, Tioga: Nelson was dominant during the regular season, winning titles at the Southern Tier Memorial, the Oneonta Tournament, the Jarvis Tournament. She also won a Section IV title, but went 1-2 at States.

2022-23 Super 7 Newcomers
Matthias Welles, 8th-grader, Waverly: See above.

Cooper Robinson, freshman Athens: See above.

Drayton DeKay, 7th-grader, Waverly: DeKay finished third at the IAC Championships, and won the Section IV, Qualifier B. DeKay finished the season at 25-10, and finished fourth at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships — one win shy of a trip to States.

Karson Sipley, freshman, Athens: Sipley earned a couple big wins for the Wildcats this season. He finished the season at 11-10, and wrestled at the District 4 Championships.

Caden Bradley, 8th-grader, Waverly: Bradley had a solid season — at 12-12 — in his first varsity campaign for the Wolverines.

Brayden McWhinnie, freshman, Tioga: MacWhinnie joined team the Tigers late in the season after moving back into school district. He went 2-0 at the State Duals, and was 5-5 on the season.

Nate Peters, sophomore, Waverly: Peters finished his first year wrestling at 11-13 after swimming as a freshman.

Wrestlers to Watch in 2023-24
This year’s top newcomers are not the only young wrestlers to keep an eye on next year.

Declan McKee, 7th-grader, Tioga: A highly-decorated youth wrestler, McKee will look to crack the tough Tioga line-up next year.

Connor Davidson, 8th-grader: An NTL junior high champion, Davidson should make an immediate impact for the Wildcats next year.

Rhylee Stotler, 8th-grader, Waverly: Stotler was 8-4 this year before being sidelined by season-ending surgery.

Kadin Cole, freshman, Tioga: After posting a 9-11 record as a 8th-grader, Cole was 22-13 this season. If he can crack Tioga’s line-up next year, he could make waves.

Landon Layman, 8th-grader Athens: An NTL junior high champ, Layman will contend for a starting spot for the Wildcats.

Jordan Brown, 8th-grade, Sayre: A two-time NTL junior high champ, Brown will step into the line-up for the Redskins next year.

Brendan Cooke, 8th-grader, Sayre: Coming off a very good junior high career, Cooke will also step into the Redskin line-up next season.

Jake Browne, sophomore, Tioga: Jake Browne missed the entire season after breaking his collar bone early in the 2021-22 season (he finished and won the match). He’s athletic, and tough — he could open a lot of eyes.

Parker Larson, 8th-grader, Waverly: Larson was competitive all season, up a weight class against older kids. He could take a big step forward in the next year.

Brennan Sindoni, sophomore, Tioga: Again, if Sindoni can work his way into the line-up, he could be a big contributor.

•  Aside from Davidson and Layman, Athens also has four more 8th-graders that could make an impact next year in Zaine Campbell, Lucas Persun, Wyatt Clink, and Hayden Mercer. All three had strong junior high seasons, and could work their way into the starting line-up for the Wildcats.