VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S BELLIS, ATHENS' COOKE, PAYNE NAMED BISHOP BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION 'ATHLETES OF THE WEEK' (December 11, 2025)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Tioga senior Logan Bellis led the Tigers to a state championship, and set a state record in the process, while Athens junior Brendan Cooke and freshman Skylynn Payne each won titles at the Jarvis Memorial Wrestling Tournament. They are the VSR / Bishop Brothers Construction "Athletes of the Week," for the week ending Dec. 6.

TIOGA'S BELLIS, ATHENS' COOKE NAMED BISHOP BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION BOYS "ATHLETES OF THE WEEK"
Bellis ran for 169 yards and five TDs on 27 carries to lead Tioga in a 42-31 win over Tuckahoe in the New York State Class D title game.

He scored on runs of 2, 3, 6, 23, 16 yards. The five TDs are a record for most TDs in a state championship game.

In three state playoff games, Bellis rushed for 618 yards and 10 TDs.

Cooke was 5-0 on the mats for the Wildcats, including a 4-0 mark at the Jarvis Tournament.

In earning the 215-pound title, Cooke scored three first-period pins, and won one match via no contest.

Earlier in the week, Cooke won a 9-4 decision in the Wildcats win over Wellsboro.

Honorable Mentions: Tioga's Dominic Palmer (football), Tioga's Kadin Cole (football), Tioga's Markel Watkins (football), TIoga's Caden Bradley (football), Athens' Treyton Barrett (wrestling), Tioga's Nick Slater (bowling), Waverly's Rhylee Stotler (wrestling), Waverly's Matthias Welles (wrestling), Waverly's Daltton Davis (wrestling), Waverly's Troy Beeman (wrestling), Athens' Brayden Pettitt (swimming), and Athens' Eli Hicks (swimming).

ATHENS' PAYNE NAMED BISHOP BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION GIRLS "ATHLETES OF THE WEEK"
In her first varsity action, Payne cruised through the 190-pound bracket with a 5-0 record.

She scored five first-period pins on the way to her title. Her longest match was 81 seconds, with the other four matches combining to just 79 seconds. She had pins in 11, 17, 32, and 19 seconds.

Honorable Mentions: Athens' Hannah Rinebold (wrestling), Athens' Joyce Clink (wrestling), Tioga's Amelia Toomey (wrestling), Waverly's Emma Vanderhoof (wrestling), and Waverly's Ryleigh Judson (basketball).

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