VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S HARRINGTON HEADLINES SUPER 7 AS ALL-VALLEY 'COACH OF THE WINTER' (April 9, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — After an injury-filled 2024-25 saw Tioga wrestling fall to also-ran status in Section IV and New York State, coach Kris Harrington rallied the troops to win Section IV Duals, Section IV, Division 2 and the team title at the New York State Championships this season. He is the 2025-26 Valley Sports Report All-Valley "Coach of the Winter." 

Harrington coached Tioga to its sixth team title in seven years at the New York State Division 2 Championships. Tioga also won its eighth Section IV team title 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 reign, won its sixth Section IV Duals title in the last seven postseasons. They finished 10-1 with their only loss coming to eventual state champ Miller Place in the state quarterfinals. Tioga won three straight State duals titles in 2021, '22, and '23.

2025-26 All-Valley Super 7 "Coaches of the Winter"
Kris Harrington, Tioga wrestling: See above.

Devan Witman, Waverly wrestling: Injuries again hampered Waverly's efforts to win the elusive Section IV Duals title, but the Wolverines reached the semis and posted a 10-4 record on the season.

In the postseason, Waverly finished second at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships, and third at the New York State Championships, with five state medalists.

Donnie Barrett, Athens girls wrestling: In his first year at the helm, Barrett led to a 2-1 duals record, but, more importantly, to team titles at the Jarvis Tournament, the Panther Holiday Classic, and the Williamsport Classic during the regular season, as well as second-place finishes at the rugged Queen of the Hive, the Curwensville Tournament, and the Coal Cracker Invite.

During the postseason, Athens finished fourth at the District 4 Championships, and won a team title at the Central Region Championships. The Wildcats qualified four wrestlers for States, with seniors Leah Nason and Hanna Rathbun each bringing home seventh-place medals.

Lou Judson, Waverly boys basketball: Judson guided Waverly to a 14-7 record in the rugged STAC. The Wolverines finished their season with an overtime loss to Oneonta in the Section IV, Class A semifinals.

Mark Keister, Athens boys swimming: Keister directed the Wildcats to a third-place finish at the District 4 Championships.

Athens advanced swimmers to States in five events, with junior Brayden Pettitt winning a pair of medals.

Derek Bowman, Waverly bowling: The Wolverines finished second at the Section IV State Qualifier, snapping a three-year run at States that resulted in a pair of top-five finishes.

Senior Derek Johnson advanced to States and earned a fifth-place medal.

During the regular season, the Waverly boys tied for the STAC Central Division title, and the Lady Wolverines won the Central Division title.

Bob Kelly, Waverly girls basketball: Kelly wrapped up a 30-year coaching career, including the last 13 at Waverly, by leading the Wolverines to the semifinals of a loaded Section IV, Class A playoff bracket

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