SECTION IV GIRLS WRESTLING: WAVERLY'S VANDERHOOF, RYLOTT PUNCH TICKETS TO STATES WITH SECOND-PLACE FINISHES (24 PHOTOS) (February 13, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — Senior Emma Vanderhoof and freshman Gianna Rylott punched their tickets to the New York State Girls Wrestling Championships with runner-up finishes here Friday at the Section IV Championships.

"I am proud of the way the team performed at sectionals," said Waverly coach Devan Witman. "The team had its ups and downs throughout the season but to end with five place-finisher and two state qualifiers is a testament to the hard work everyone has put in."

The Wolverines finished sixth in the team standings with 118 points, well off the pace of Section IV champ Oneonta, which tallied 150 points. Chenango Forks was second with 141.5 points, Elmira was third with 124, Groton was fourth with 123 and Windsor was fifth with 119 points.

Vanderhoof, the third seed, was 3-1 to finish second in the 132-pound bracket.

"Emma’s goal for four years has been to make it to the state tournament," said Witman.

"She has put more work and time into this sport than almost anyone," he noted. "I can’t think of a more deserving state qualifier. 

"She dominated into the finals, and had opportunities in the finals against a state caliber wrestler," added Witman. "Emma is going to do what Emma does over the next two weeks and get better."

Vanderhoof forged a 10-0 technical fall over Elmira's Jaelyne Libruk in the opening round, then decked Binghamton-Seton Catholic's Alexandra Koflan in 1:49 in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Vanderhoof scored a 14-3 technical fall of second-seeded Lily Vesek of Horseheads, then lost a 20-9 technical fall to top-seeded Carmen Bishop of Groton.

Rylott, the third seed, was 2-1 to finish second in the 100-pound bracket.

"We found out (Thursday) morning that this weight class was going to get two to States," said Witman. "The coaching staff made the decision not tell Gianna Rylott about the additional qualifier so she would wrestle relaxed. 

"In the semis, she avenged an earlier loss and dominated throughout.

"Gianna is an incredibly hard worker and she is deserving of her state qualification," added Witman.

Rylott scored a pin of Walton-Delhi's Scarlett Beardsley in 2:29 in the opening round, then forged a 10-0 technical fall of second-seeded Alea Hartford of Elmira in the semifinals.

In the finals, Rylott lost via 10-0 technical fall to Walton-Delhi's Cadence Guy.

Seventh-grader Amelia Wright, the sixth seed, posted a 4-1 record to finish third in the 126-pound bracket.

"In her first time down to 126, Amelia performed as she has all year," said Witman. "She was dominant in the matches she won and competitive in the semis. 

"As a 7th-grader, Amelia is coming away with 33 wins," added Witman. "Her future burns bright."

Wright started her day with a 31-second pin of Dryden's Autumn Middleton in the opening round, then topped third-seeded Lily Gullo of Horseheads in a 10-0 technical fall in the quarterfinals.

In the semis, Wright lost via fall to second-seeded Mya Locke of Groton.

She bounced back in the consolation semifinals with a 32-second pin of Oxford-Grene's Mira Gaylord, then pinned Gullo in 1:52 in the third-place match.

Freshman Gianna Zieniuk, the fifth seed, was 4-2 on the day to finish fourth in the 145-pound bracket.

"Gianna is taking home her second section medal," said Witman. "She was disappointed she couldn't compete to make the finals because of a poor seeding decision.

"Regardless. she competed every match," added Witman. "When G is on, she is tough to beat."

Zieniuk started off the day with a 12-1 technical fall of United's Maria Genovesi in the opening round, then lost via fall to fourth-seeded Kinnley Wightman in the quarterfinals.

Zieniuk bounced back with a 10-0 technical fall of Ithaca's Amber Swaney, and a 13-2 technical fall of Tioga's Marcy Moniz in the consolation semifinals.

In the third-place match, Zieniuk lost via fall to Wightman again.

Eighth-grader Jillianna Presher was 3-3 to finish sixth in the 138-pound bracket.

"Three months ago, I was on Jill every day about joining the wrestling team," said Witman. "Now, as an 8th-grader, she has a section place-finish. 

"Once she was in, she was all in, and I am excited to see her next four years brings," added Witman.

Presher started the day with a 12-1 technical fall of Corning's Emma Hadlock in the opening round, but lost via technical fall to eventual weight class champion Amelia Toomey of Tioga in the quarterfinals.

Presher bounced back with a 22-second pin of Horseheads' Aubrey Howe, and a pin of Hadlock in 3:36.

Presher lost via fall to Elmira's Atlantis Cherry in the consolation, then lost via fall in the fifth-place match to Owego's Lauren Kotski.

Junior Abby Sickler was 1-2 in the 114-pound weight class with her lone win a pin of Elmira's Addison White in 2:16 in the opening round.

Senior Sidney Rosenbloom was 1-2 in the 107-pound bracket, with her lone win a 10-0 technical fall of Oneonta's Mara Kamerbeek in the opening round.

Aniyah Rought was 1-2 in the 100-pound bracket, with here lone win a pin of Owego's Lucy Purtell in 2:57 in the opening round.

Freshman Gabe Sinsabaugh was 1-2 in the 120-pound weight class, with her lone win a pin of Walton-Delhi's Emily Swartz in wrestlebacks.



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