FROM THE PRESS BOX: SUPER 7 STORYLINES OF FALL FEATURES GOOD MIX (2024-12-08)

I've talked about storylines in the past and how they normally come in one of four realms: the start of a storyline, the continuation of one, the likely culmination of one, or a storyline totally out of the blue.

The 2024 fall season is no different.

Without any further ado, I give you, from No. 7 to No. 1, the "Super 7 storylines" of the fall:

Super 7 Storylines of the Fall:
7. Lezak's Wildcats reach District 4 finals in his final season: Despite a rash of injuries, longtime Athens coach Jake Lezak piloted his Wildcats to a 9-8-3 record in 2024.

Athens earned the second seed in the District 4, Class AAA playoffs and edged third-seeded Shikellamy, 1-0, in the semifinals to earn its first trip to the finals since 2019.

A fairy tale ending in Lezak's 21st and final season was not to be, however, and top-seeded Selinsgrove ended the Wildcats' season with a 2-0 win.

This appears to be the end of a very long and successful storyline.

6. Tioga's football reign comes to an end: Tioga's quest for a seventh consecutive Section IV, Class D title, and possibly a fourth straight state title, ended on the final play of the season when Delhi cashed in on a two-point conversion to pull out a 22-21 overtime win over the Tigers in the Class D finals.

Despite a spate of injuries, the Tigers beat state-ranked Deposit-Hancock and Bainbridge-Guilford to earn a playoff berth, then beat SVEC in the Class D semifinals.

This storyline was a sequel to one written early in the 2010s when Aiello's Tigers won five Class D titles in a row, culminating with a state title in 2015. It will be interesting to see if he can pen another sequel.

5. Old nemesis denies Waverly of third straight Section IV football title: Waverly advanced to its fourth consecutive Section IV, Class C championship game — all against Chenango Forks, and was less than a minute from a three-peat, only to have the Blue Devils score in the final 20 seconds for a 39-35 win.

Waverly's storyline with Chenango Forks is over — for now, with the Wolverines bumping up to Class B next season for at least one year.

4. Kittle leads Waverly girls swim team in historic season: Only a junior, Kittle broke records left and right, and of all varieties — school records, pool record, meet records, and Section IV records, it didn't matter.

She was also a key leg on a pair of state medals for Wolverine relay teams.

After a bit of a disappointing state meet in terms of her individual events, Kittle will likely swim with a bit of a chip on her shoulder during her senior season, which could result in quite a final chapter to Kittle's story.

3. Tioga volleyball returns to state final four: The Tigers won their second Section IV title in three years, then won a Regional title to reach the state semifinals for the first time since 2015.

Under Des Ford, Tioga has reached the Section IV title game every time its been contested since 2007, except for 2021. Ford has 10 Section titles since 2000, and has reached the state semis three times in that span.

With the team returning the vast majority of its roster, this storyline could easily repeat itself in 2025.

2. Athens golf team wins first-ever District 4 title: The Wildcats won their fourth consecutive NTL title, and ran its win streak to 22 matches this season, and then to cap off its team season, it won a District 4 title — the first in program history.

Athens accomplished all that despite graduating two of its top three golfers from the 2023 team, but a trio of returning starters, and a pair of freshmen took the team to new heights.

Athens graduates a pair of seniors this season, too, but there's talent returning, and lots of depth. Don't be surprised if we get another chapter to this storyline.

1. Waverly girls win first-ever Section IV soccer title: Longtime Waverly coach Tara Hogan has won a lot of soccer games, but she had never won the "big one."

Her Waverly teams reached the Section IV finals three years in a row (2016-18), but lost all three times to Chenango Forks.

This season, Waverly earned the top seed, won its two first postseason games, and once again was pitted against Forks.

This time, however, the Lady Wolverines got the job done with a 2-0 win to claim its first-ever Section IV title.

Waverly only graduates two seniors, but a bump up to Class A will make a sequel to this story a little more difficult, but not impossible.


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