THE SPORTS REPORTS: OWEGO'S DALTON, HORSEHEADS' RIBBLE SHARE ALL-REGION 'GIRLS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR' HONORS; TRIO OF VALLEY ATHLETES MAKE THE LIST (2024-07-08)

The Sports Reports
Owego freshman Ashlyn Dalton player was a key contributor on three teams that reached the Section IV Championship game, and Horseheads freshman Maddie Ribble made a tremendous impact in three sports as well. They are The Sports Reports’ 2023-24 All-Region “Girls Co-Newcomers of the Year.”

Dalton made an immediate impact for the River Hawks on the pitch, and finished the season with 21 goals (second on the team) and a team-high 11 assists for the Section IV, Class A champions. She dished out the game-winning assist in the championship game.

On the gridiron, she was a major two-way contributor for the Section IV Division 2 champions and state semifinalist. She caught 35 passes for 531 yards and 14 TDs, ran for another score and rushed for 90 yards on 14 carries, and scored three extra points. Defensively, she made 33 tackles, 19 sacks, 28 QB pressures and five deflections. She also returned 11 punts for 155 yards and eventually became the team’s punter. Dalton scored the game-winning TD in the Section IV championship game.

She became a key contributor off the bench both offensively and defensively as Owego basketball team worked its way to a Section IV Class A runner-up showing.

Ribble was key player on Horseheads championship basketball team. She had three 3-pointers in the STAC Championship game with 14 points. She had clutch 3-pointers in both sectional wins.

Ribble scored nine goals, tying for the team lead, and was one of the top girls soccer newcomers in the region.

This spring, Ribble was a Gold Golve quality shortstop, and hit .293 with a .379 on-base, two doubles and two triples.

(NOTE: This award is designed to honor student-athletes who participate in multiple sports, but on a rare occasion a one-sport athlete may make the list.)

The 2023-24 All-Region “Girls Newcomers of the Year:”
Ashlyn Dalton, freshman, Owego: See above.

Maddie Ribble, freshman, Horseheads: See above.

RaeAnne Feeko, sophomore, Tioga: Already an established star on the softball field, Feeko made an immediate impact for Tioga in her first seasons on the volleyball and basketball hardwoods.

A dynamic athlete, and all-around player on the volleyball court, Feeko, who saw limited action in the postseason as a freshman, recorded 148 service points, 212 setter assists, 163 digs, 29 kills and eight blocks.

Feeko, a very good defender on the basketball hardwoods, averaged 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 2.1 steals, and knocked down 10 3-pointers in 16 games.

Lauren Kosek, freshman, Wellsboro: Kosek opened her varsity running career in the fall for the Wellsboro cross country team, and collected a runner-up finish at the NTL Championships, a ninth-place finish at Districts, and a 40th-place finish at the State Championships.

This spring, Kosek finished third in both the 1600-meter and the 3200-meter runs at the NTL Championships. She won a pair of District medals, placing sixth in the 1600 and third in the 3200.

Abby Burgess, sophomore, Athens: Burgess made her mark on the Athens track & field program as a freshman, but made big impacts in cross country and basketball this year.

In the fall, Burgess finished 14th at NTL Coaches Invite, and was 43rd at District 4 Championships.

This winter, Burgess, a top-notch defender and excellent ball-handler, averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 assists. She also made 21 3-pointers on the season.

Mariah Matias, freshman, Elmira: The Sports Reports All-Region “Basketball Newcomer of the Year,” Matias had 18 double-doubles in 21 games and established school records for rebounds in a game (28) and a season (301). She averred 16 points and 14.3 rebounds a game, along with 3.1 steals and 1.2 blocks a game.

Char Starns, freshman, Corning: A standout on the basketball and volleyball hardwoods, the 6-4 Starns averaged 10.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. She already has D-I offers from Binghamton and LeMoyne.

On the volleyball hardwoods, Starns improved and saw more time as the season went, becoming a force at the net by season’s end.

Izzy Larson, freshman, Towanda: Larson qualified for states in two sports this season. She earned a state berth in cross-country during a tough Class 2A race, but couldn’t run at states due to an injury. She later made states in the mile during the track and field season.

She finished 10th at the District 4 Cross Country Championships in the fall, but didn’t run at states as she had a broken foot, which she ran on at districts.

This spring, she was fifth in the 1,600-meter run at Districts, and eight in the 800-meter run. She finished 20th in the 1,600 at the PIAA Championships.

Giana Renzi, freshman, Troy: Renzi showed out in her two sports this season. She formed a formidable trio at the top of the soccer team line-up, a team that won a 4th straight league title, and she played point guard for the league winning hoops team.

On the hardwoods, Renzi averaged 8.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 3.1 steals per game. On the pitch, she had eight goals, including a hat trick against Wellsboro.

Jaylee Ward, freshman, Canton / Troy: Ward was a big contributor across three sports this year. She helped the Troy soccer team to another league title, started on the girls’ hoops team that made districts, and was one of the best young players in the league for softball.

This spring, Ward hit .429 with five doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, and 22 runs scored for Canton.

Ward averaged 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game for the Canton hoop team. In the fall, she was a role player on the wing for the Troy

McKenna Jarvis, freshman, Athens: Jarvis made an immediate impact on the basketball hardwoods, and softball diamond in her freshman season at Athens.

This winter, Jarvis, who was most dangerous in transition, averaged 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.2 assists per game.

On the diamond, Jarvis hit .291 (16 hits in 55 ABs) with four doubles, two triples, 14 RBI, 11 runs scored, and seven stolen bases.

Emily Johns, freshman, Wyalusing: Johns showed promise in every sport she played this year. She was a hitter on a young volleyball team, in the winter she turned into one of the best post players in the league on the hard courts, and hit over .300 for the up-and-coming softball team.

In the fall on the volleyball hardwoods, Johns had 143 service points, including 29 aces, 52 kills, and 92 digs. On the basketball hardwoods, Johns averaged 4.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1 steal per game.

This spring, Johns hit .355 with a pair of doubles.

Cailyn VanNoy, freshman, Canton: VanNoy competed across three sports this season. She was a contributor on a young volleyball team, an all-star on the basketball team, and scored points for the track and field team.

On the basketball hardwoods, VanNoy averaged 9.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. On the volleyball hardwoods, VanNoy had 60 kills, and 104 assists.

This spring, VanNoy ran on Canton’s District 4 relays.


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