VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S MILLER TOPS SUPER 7 AS 2023-24 'COACH OF THE YEAR' (2024-06-22)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - In a year full of tremendous coaching performances, longtime Waverly football coach Jason Miller topped the charts, bringing home that elusive state title to his alma mater. He is the 2023-24 Valley Sports Report “Coach of the Year.”

The Wolverines finished 13-1 on the season (the most wins in a single season in school history) — their only loss coming to Class D state champ Tioga in overtime — and played its best football in the postseason, beating perennial power Chenango Forks in the Section IV, Class C championship game for the second year in a row.

The Wolverines averaged 44.4 points per game in their five postseason games, and beat their three foes in the state playoffs by an average of 45.7 to 11.3.

In the last three seasons, Waverly is 33-4 with two Section IV titles, and one runner-up finish.

Miller, now in his 21st season, has won five Section IV titles in his career, and has a record of 134-74.

2023-24 All-Valley Super 7 Coaches of the Year
Jason Miller, Waverly football: See above.

Nick Aiello, Tioga football: It seems a bit odd that a coach coming off his third straight title would be an honorable mention, but Tioga’s Nick Aiello is kind of a victim of his own success.

Tioga went 14-0, is currently riding a 41-game win streak, and only had one game decided by less than 28 points — a 23-17 overtime win over Waverly.
 
The Tigers outscored their five postseason opponents by an average of 60 to 13.

Aiello now has 11 Section IV titles, four state titles, and a career record of 136-23 in 14 seasons. He has a 28-2 record in Section IV playoffs, and a 19-7 mark in the state playoffs.

Kris Harrington, Tioga wrestling: Harrington has taken Tioga wrestling to new heights, including two more state titles this season.

The Tigers have now won five consecutive Section IV Duals titles, and three straight State Duals title. They are currently riding a 41-match win streak.

Tioga has also won seven straight Section IV, Division 2 Championships, and five straight team title at the New York State Championships.

This year, Tioga sent 10 wrestlers to States, and all 10 brought home medals — one state champ, three runners-up, three third-place finishers, two fourth-place finishers, and a sixth-place finisher.

Lou Judson, Waverly boys basketball:  Judson directed the Wolverines to an 18-4 record, and the program’s first Section IV title since 1996.

The Wolverines also won the Valley Christmas Tournament, and did not lose a game to a Class B opponent until the state playoffs.

Waverly's only losses came to Class AA Binghamton, Class A Owego and Seton Catholic, and Class B state runner-up Marcellus.

Jay White, Athens girls wrestling: White has been instrumental in the growth of girls wrestling in the Northern Tier, with Northeast Bradford’s team this year, and Towanda’s next year off-shoots of the Athens girls program.

This season, White’s Lady Wildcats were 3-1 in Duals, won a team title at the first-ever District 4 Championships, and finished third at the PIAA Central Regionals, qualifying four girls for States.

During the season, Athens won the WIlliamsport Showcase, and finished second at the Jarvis Tournament, Southern Tier Memorial, and the Coal Cracker.

Derek Bowman, Waverly boys bowling: The Wolverines finished second to Owego in their division, thanks to a pair of losses to the River Hawks during the regular season, but bounced back in the postseason.

After winning a Section IV, Class C Championship, Waverly won the Division 2 State Qualifier to punch its ticket to States.

At the State Championships, the Wolverines finished second — the best finish in program history.

Dave Sickler, Tioga boys golf: Dave Sickler directed Tioga to its first Section IV boys golf title since 2019— and just the second in program history.

The Tigers also won an IAC South Small School Division title with a 10-2 regular-season duals record, then finished second at the IAC Championships.

Tioga won it Section IV title this year, in spite of stepping up a class to Class C. Sickler directed Tioga to its first-even Section IV title in 2019, piloted his team to a third-place finish in Class D in 2022, and a second-place finish in Class D last year.

Sickler also coached two of his players into the Section IV Medalist Tournament, with one — his son Evan — advancing to the New York State Championships.

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