VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S McKEE NAMED ALL-VALLEY SUPER 7 BOYS 'ATHLETE OF THE WINTER' (2025-03-30)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Tioga sophomore Declan McKee reeled off 28 straight wins to end the season on his way to a state title. He is the 2024-25 All-Valley Boys "Athlete of the Winter."

McKee posted a 34-3 record, including 21 pins and eight technical falls, on his way to a Division 2 101-pound state final.

McKee's losses came at the hands of Southwestern's Adrian Torres, who he beat in the state finals, as well as Briarcliff's Vincenzo Mannello, who placed fourth at States in Division 1, and CBA's Brody DiCaprio, who was seventh in Division 1.

McKee won the Windsor Christmas Tournament, beating St. Francis' Tyler Catrabone, who was runner-up in Division 1 this year, the Saratoga Invitational, and the Southern Tier Memorial.

He also won an IAC title, the Section IV Qualifier A, and the Section IV title.

The 2024-25 All-Valley Super 7 Boys "Athletes of the Winter"
Declan McKee, sophomore, Tioga: See above.

Troy Beeman, junior, Waverly: Beeman posted a 39-4 record, with 22 pins and one technical fall. He won the STAC and Section IV Championships.

The defending state champ, Beeman suffered a controversial, 4-1, loss in the state finals.

Drayton DeKay, freshman, Waverly: DeKay posted a 37-5 record with 22 pins and 12 technical falls.

After finishing second at the STAC Championships, DeKay dropped from 124 pounds to 116, and reeled off nine wins, including a Section IV title win, before losing an overtime decision in the state finals.

Brayden Pettitt, sophomore, Athens: Pettitt earned a PIAA medal, and swam in four events at the state meet. He finished eighth in the 100-yard breaststroke at States in 59.18 seconds. He swam a school-record 58.57 seconds in the prelims, and was Athens' first state medalist since 2014.
 
At the District 4 Championships Pettitt was second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:00.17, and was also second in the 200-yard IM in a school-record time of 1:59.19. He was 17th at States in the IM.

Nick Pellicano, senior, Sayre: Pellicano topped the 1,000-point plateau, and led a veteran Sayre team into the PIAA playoffs. His numbers suffered a bit for playing through a mid-season illness, but Pellicano averaged 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.8 steals per game.

He shot 45 percent from the field, and knocked down 14 3-pointers.

Pellicano finished his career with 1,158 points, which is eighth all-time at Sayre.

Ethan Hicks, senior, Athens: Hicks won District 4 gold in the 50-yard freestyle in a time of 22.38 seconds. He finished 19th at States.

Ethan Hicks also swam on all three District 4 relays that won gold. At States, his split in the 400-yard freestyle relay set a school-record in the 100 free.

Derek Johnson, junior, Waverly: Johnson bowled a pair of perfect games, and led Waverly back to the New York State Championships for the third year in a row.  He had the second-highest average in the STAC with a 228, and the fifth-highest series with a 751, to go along with the two 300 games.

Johnson rolled a 652 to help Waverly to its first STAC Championships, and a 613 as the Wolverines won the Class C title. At the State Qualifier, Johnson rolled series 728 and 670 to help Waverly to its third state berth in a row.

At States, Johnson rolled a 723 in the morning, and a 580 in the afternoon session. He was ninth in the overall individual standings.

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