FROM THE PRESS BOX: SAYRE VOLLEYBALL, TIOGA FOOTBALL TOP SUPER 7 'STORYLINES OF THE FALL' (December 31, 2025)
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.
This year, the "
Super 7 Storylines of the Fall" offer up a variety of those storylines.
Without any further ado, I give you, from No. 7 to No. 1, the "Super 7 storylines" of the spring:
7. WAVERLY FOOTBALL REACHES FIFTH CONSECUTIVE SECTION IV TITLE GAME: Jason Miller took over a Waverly football program in shambles more than two decades ago. This fall, he led the Wolverines to its fifth straight Section IV championship game appearance, extending that school record.
The Wolverines reached the Sectional final, despite bumping up from Class C to Class B.
Waverly returns to Class B in 2026, but it will be loaded. It will be interesting to see if this storyline continues.
6. ATHENS FOOTBALL ENJOYS RE-SURGENCE: Two years removed from a 3-8 season, the Wildcats posted a 9-2 season — the most wins in a season for the program since 2015.
Athens loses a talented group of seniors, but has a strong junior class returning.
The Wildcats could easily build on this storyline in 2026.
5. FIRST-YEAR ATHENS BOYS SOCCER PILOTS WILDCATS TO DISTRICT 4, CLASS 3A FINALS: First-year coach Travis Reynard took the reins of the Athens boys soccer program from longtime coach Jake Lezak.
In his first season, the Wildcats won their first NTL title in four years, and reached the District 4 finals.
This is just the first chapter in what could be a very long storyline for the 23-year-old Reynard.
4. WAVERLY'S KITTLE WRAPS UP STELLAR CAREER; STRONG FRESHMEN GROUP MAKES MARK AT STATES: Mira Kittle wrapped up her incredible career in the pool for the Wolverines with three more state medals, including a bronze medal in the 50-yard freestyle — the best finish ever for a Waverly girls.
Kittle finished her career with 10 state medals out of a possible 13 events. She will graduate as the program record-holder in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, the 100 backstroke, and the 100 butterfly. She is also the record-holder in the six-dive, 1-meter diving event, as well as being part of all three relay record foursomes.
This storyline obviously draws to a close, but the Waverly girls swim program could writer a few more exciting chapters over the next three years.
3. ATHENS VOLLEYBALL WINS FIRST DISTRICT TITLE IN 20 YEARS: Midway through the season, Athens was 2-8 and riding a six-game losing streak, but coach Heather Darrow righted the ship, and the Wildcats qualified for the District 4 playoffs with a 7-10 record.
Athens then knocked off Shamokin and top-seeded Danville to win its first District 4 title in 20 years.
With most of its roster returning next season, the Wildcats could write a sequel in 2026.
2. TIOGA FOOTBALL WINS ANOTHER STATE TITLE: When you win your fourth state title in five years, you wouldn't think it would be an unexpected development, but Tioga's Class D championship was just that.
The Tigers dropped their Week-00 game to Windsor, 9-7, in a game that saw them produce less than 100 yards in total offense. Ten games later, they rolled over Trumansburg for coach Nick Aiello's 12th Section IV title.
Wins over Lowville, Newfane and Tuckahoe gave Tioga its fifth state title since 2015, and ran its win streak to 12 games in the state playoffs.
Tioga loses a group of key seniors, but returns its dominating offensive line nearly en tact. There could be a sequel in store for this storyline.
1. SAYRE VOLLEYBALL WINS FIRST-EVER DISTRICT TITLE: It's not often that a state title can be outdone, but the Sayre volleyball story is one for the ages.
The Redskins lost their first two matches of the season to run their losing streak to 68, but first-year coach Colby Sangrey kept his group positive and it responded.
Sayre finished the regular season at 9-9, then beat Sugar Valley and Canton to win the program's first-ever District 4 title.
Sayre kept its storybook season alive with a five-set win over Mountain View in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs, but saw it come to an end in the state quarterfinals against a private school — Linville Hill Christian School.
The Redskins lose Rylee Lantz to graduation, but return everyone else. And, with Canton bumping up to Class AA, another District title is theirs for the taking, which means a sequel to this storyline.
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