VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S McKEE NAMED 'WRESTLER OF THE YEAR;' ATHENS' VANDYKE, TIOGA'S ULRICH, HARRINGTON, WAVERLY'S MACK ALSO EARN ALL-VALLEY TOP HONORS (April 7, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Tioga junior Declan McKee became just the third Tiger to win back-to-back state titles, and the fourth to win two or more in program history. He is the Valley Sports Report 2025-26 All-Valley "Wrestler of the Year."

Athens freshman Chace VanDyke is the "Newcomer of the Year," while Waverly senior Cooper Robinson and Tioga senior Jayden Duncanson are the "Middleweights of the Year," junior Matthias Welles is the "Heavyweight of the Year," Tioga sophomore Drayke Ulrich is the "Breakout Wrestler of the Year," Waverly junior Joey Mack is the "Most Improved Wrestler of the Year," and Tioga's Kris Harrington is the "Coach of the Year."

McKee, who was also the VSR "Lightweight of the Year," posted a 41-2 record on his way to the New York State Division 2 110-pound championship. He won 34 straight matches to end the season.

McKee, who had 25 pins and three technical falls on the season, was 15-0 in the postseason, including 11 pins and two major decisions.

McKee's two losses were to Tanner Catrabone of St. Francis, who finished eight in the New York State Division 1 Championships, and Max Berman of Germantown Academy, who was second at the Pa. Prep Championships, and fifth at the Prep National Championships.

McKee is 75-5 over the last two seasons, and 109-12 on his career.

VanDyke posted a 21-15 record with six pins and six technical falls in 2025-26.

VanDyke placed second at the District 4, Class 3A Championships, and sixth at the Northeast Regional Championships.

Robinson posted a 38-7 record with five pins and 24 technical falls. He was 12-2 in the postseason with nine technical falls and two pins.

He won the Section IV Qualifier A, and the Section IV, Division 2 Championships, before finishing third at 157 pounds at the New York State Championships.

Duncanson posted a 38-3 record with 21 pins and eight technical falls.

He won and IAC title, won the Section IV Qualifier B, and was runner-up at the Section IV and New York State, Division 2 Champions to Deposit-Hancock's Landyn Shafer.

He is a five-time state place-finisher — two seconds, two thirds and one fourth.

Welles posted a 42-6 record, including 25 pins and two technical falls. He was 13-2 in the postseason, with seven pins, one technical fall, and one major decision.

Welles won a STAC title, a title at the Section IV, Division 2 Qualifier A, and a Section IV, Division 2 Championship. He finished fourth at 215 pounds at States.

Ulrich was 19-7 as a freshman and lost to his teammate for a berth to the Section IV Championships.

This season, Ulrich posted a 36-13 record with 20 pins and six technical falls.

He won an IAC title, won the 103-pound title at the Section IV Qualifier B, and the Section IV, Division II Championships. He was 1-2 at States.

Mack was a standout youth wrestler, but did not wrestle again until his sophomore year.

Last year, Mack was 17-17 as a sophomore, but posted a 27-12 this season. He finished third at the Section IV Qualifier, and was 1-2 at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Harrington coached Tioga to its sixth team title in seven years at the New York State Division 2 Championships. Tioga has won eight Section IV team titles in the last nine postseasons.

Tioga had seven state qualifiers this season, with three earning medals. During Harrington's tenure, Tioga has had 58 state qualifiers with 38 reaching the podium, including 14 state champions.

The Tigers, who are 103-16 in duals during Harrington's tenure son its sixth Section IV Duals title in the last seven postseason. They finished 10-1 with its only loss coming to eventual state champ Miller Place in the state quarterfinals. Tioga won three straight duals titles in 2021, '22, and '23.

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2025-26 ALL-VALLEY WRESTLING
Wrestler of the Year: Tioga's Declan McKee
Newcomer of Year: Athens' Chace VanDyke
Lightweight Wrestler of the Year: Tioga's Declan McKee
Middleweight Wrestler of the Year: Waverly's Cooper Robinson and Tioga's Jayden Duncanson
Heavyweight Wrestler of the Year: Waverly's Matthias Welles
Breakout Wrestler of the Year: Tioga's Drayke Ulrich (19-7 to 36-13, Section Champ and 1-2 at States)
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year: Waverly's Joey Mack (17-17 to 27-12)
Coach of the Year: Tioga's Kris Harrington.

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2025-26 All-Valley Wrestling 
Lightweights
(103 pounds to 133)
Declan McKee, junior, Tioga: See above.

Zaine Campbell, junior, Athens: Campbell, who battled injuries early in the season, posted a 23-9 record with nine technical falls and four pins. He won a District 4, Class 3A title, and was 2-2 at the Northeast Regionals.

Drayke Ulrich, sophomore, Tioga: See above.

Kadin Cole, senior, Tioga: Cole posted a 33-12 record with 17 pins and 10 technical falls. He won an IAC title, placed second at Section IV Qualifier B and Section IV, Division 2 Championships, then finished sixth at the New York State Championships.

Rhylee Stotler, junior, Waverly: Stotler posted a 39-11 record with 23 pins and six technical falls. He won a STAC title and was first at the Section IV Qualifier A. He placed third at the Section IV, Division II Championships and was eighth at the New York State Championships.

Logan Bellis, senior, Tioga: Bellis posted a 30-9 record with nine pins and 10 technical falls. He placed second at the IAC Championships, the Qualifier B, and the Section IV, Division 2 Championships. He was 2-2 at States.

Middleweights (132 pounds to 157)
Cooper Robinson, senior, Waverly: See above.

Jayden Duncanson, senior, Tioga: See above.

Daltton Davis, senior, Waverly: Davis posted a 42-12 record with eight pins and 11 technical falls. He won a STAC title, was second at Qualifier A, third at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships, and placed seventh at the New York State Championships.

Caden Bradley, junior, Tioga: Bradley was 21-18 on the season, but had a strong postseason. He placed second at the IAC Championships, and was third at the Qualifier B and the Section IV, Division 2 Championships. He was 0-2 at States.

Lucas Persun, junior, Athens: Persun was 23-10 on the season with six pins and six technical falls. He won a District 4, Class AAA title, and was 1-2 at Regionals.

Heavyweights (160 pounds to 285)
Matthias Welles, junior, Waverly: See above.

Troy Beeman, senior, Waverly: Under-sized after losing 70 pounds, Beeman posted a 36-8 record with 19 pins and two technical falls. He won a STAC title, Qualifier A title, and Section IV, Division 2 title at 285 pounds.

A state champ as a sophomore, and runner-up as a junior, Beeman finished his career with a sixth-place finish.

Connor Davidson, junior, Athens: Davidson posted a 28-12 record with 18 pins and five technical falls. He won a District 4, Class AAA title, was fifth at the Northeast Regional, and went 0-2 at States.

Brendan Cooke, junior, Athens: Cooke posted a 26-8 record with 13 falls and two technical falls. He won a District 4, Class AAA title, and was 1-2 at Regionals.

Jordan Brown, junior, Sayre: Brown was 26-14 on the season with five pins and 12 technical falls. He won a North Section title, placed sixth at the District 4, Class AA Championships, and was sixth at the Northeast Regionals, becoming the first Redskin to qualify for States since 2008. He was 0-2 at States.
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PAST WINNERS
"WRESTLER OF THE YEAR"
2025-26 — Declan McKee, Tioga
2024-25 — Declan McKee, Tioga
2023-24 — Ousmane Duncanson, Tioga
2022-23 — Ousmane Duncanson, Tioga / Caden Bellis, Tioga
2021-22 — Gavin Bradley, Athens
2020-21 — Gavin Bradley, Athens
2019-20 — Gianni Silvestri, Tioga
2018-19 — John Worthing, Tioga / Brady Worthing, Tioga.
2017-18 — A.J. Burkhart, Athens
2016-17 — Brian Courtney, Athens
2015-16 — Brian Courtney, Athens
2014-15 — A.J Burkhart, Waverly
2013-14 — Ryan Wolcott, Waverly
2012-13 — Ryan Wolcott, Waverly
2011-12 — Nick Talcott, Tioga
2010-11 — Derak Heyman, Tioga
2009-10 — David White, Athens

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