THE SPORTS REPORTS: TIOGA'S McKEE NAMED ZIFF LAW FIRM 'WRESTLER OF THE YEAR;' TIOGA'S DUNCANSON, HARRINGTON ALSO EARN TOP HONORS — VALLEY WELL-REPRESENTED ON ALL-REGION TEAMS (May 1, 2026)
The Sports ReportsTioga junior
Declan McKee won his second state title, and is
The Sports Reports /
Ziff Law Firm 2025-26 All-Region "Wrestler of the Year."
Northeast Bradford freshman
Asher Kolesar is the All-Region "
Newcomer of the Year," while Tioga senior
Jayden Duncanson is the "
Middleweight of the Year," Williamson senior
Luke Sottolano is the "
Heavyweight of the Year," Wyalusing junior
Daniel Fox is the "
Breakout Wrestler of the Year," and Towanda senior
Brighton Yale is the "
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year."
Tioga coach
Kris Harrington is the All-Region "
Coach of the Year."
McKee became just the third Tiger to win back-to-back state titles, and the fourth to win two or more in program history.
McKee 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. He had 25 pins and three technical falls on the season, and 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, who is also the All-Region "
Lightweight of the Year," is 75-5 over the last two seasons, and 109-12 on his career.
Kolesar posted a 27-12 on the season, with 10 pins and two technical falls.
Kolesar placed second at the North Section Tournament, finished third at the District 4 Championships, and was fourth at the Northeast Regionals to punch his ticket to States. He was 0-2 at the PIAA Championships.
Duncanson posted a 38-3 record with 21 pins and eight technical falls.
He won an IAC title, won the Section IV Qualifier B, and was runner-up at the Section IV and New York State, Division 2 Championships to Deposit-Hancock's All-American Landyn Shafer.
He is a five-time state place-finisher — two seconds, two thirds and one fourth, and graduates with a career record of 201-20.
Sottolano posted a career-best 45-4 record, with 23 pin falls. He won his first North Section title, his first District 4 title, and his first Northeast Regional title.
A two-time state qualifier, Sottolano, who had a career record of 129-43, finished seventh at 285 at the PIAA Class AA Championships.
Fox posted a 30-17 record on the season, including 10 pins and one forfeit.
Fox finished second at the North Section Tournament, second at the District 4 Championships, and fourth at the Northeast Regionals. He was 0-2 at the PIAA Class AA Championships.
Yale posted a 28-15 record with 15 pins and five technical falls. He placed third at the North Section tournament, fifth at the District 4 Championships, and sixth at the Northeast Regionals.
Yale entered the season with a 10-30 career record, including 0-1 last year, and a 7-7 mark as a sophomore.
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-REGION WRESTLING
Wrestler of the Year: Declan McKee, junior, Tioga.
Newcomer of Year: Asher Kolesar, freshman, Northeast Bradford.
Lightweight Wrestler of the Year: Declan McKee, junior, Tioga.
Middleweight Wrestler of the Year: Jayden Duncanson, senior, Tioga.
Heavyweight Wrestler of the Year: Luke Sottolano, senior, Williamson.
Breakout Wrestler of the Year: Daniel Fox, junior, Wyalusing;
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year: Brighton Yale, senior, Towanda:
Coach of the Year: Kris Harrington, Tioga.
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2025-26 All-Region WrestlingFIRST TEAM
Lightweights
(103 pounds to 133)
Declan McKee, junior, Tioga: See above.
Zander Wilson, sophomore, Williamson: Wilson posted a 41-6 record with 12 pins and 10 technical falls.
He won the North Section, District 4, and Northeast Regional titles, and finished seventh in the 114-pound bracket at the PIAA, Class AA Championships.
Bodhi Nickerson, sophomore, NP-Liberty: Nickerson was 32-12 on the season, with five pins and eight technical falls.
Nickerson won the North Section Tournament, was runner-up at the District 4 Championships, and placed fourth at the Northeast Regionals. He was 4-2 at the PIAA, Class AA Championships to place seventh in the 107-pound weight class.
Bryce Pequignot, junior, NP-Liberty: Pequignot was 35-7 on the season with six pins and 16 technical falls.
Pequignot won the North Section Tournament, and was runner-up at the District 4 and Northeast Regional Championships. He was 2-2 at the PIAA, Class AA Championships in the 121-pound weight class.
Mason Vanderhoff, freshman, Edison: Vanderhoff posted a 33-7 record with 13 pins and 13 technical falls. Three of his losses came to Tioga's state champion Declan McKee.
He placed second at the IAC Championships, won the Section IV Qualifier A, and placed second at the Section IV Championships to punch his ticket to States. He was 2-2 at the New York State Division 2 Championships.
Middleweights (132 pounds to 157)
Jayden Duncanson, senior, Tioga: See above.
Cooper Robinson, senior, Waverly: 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 Division 2 Championships.
Gage Evans, sophomore, Towanda: Evans posted a 38-10 record, with 17 pins and six technical falls, and finished the season with a seventh-place finish at 145 pounds at the PIAA, Class AA Championships.
Evans won a North Section title, finished fourth at the District 4 Championships, and was a runner-up at the Northeast Championships.
Carson Rockwell, senior, Canton: Rockwell posted a 36-12 record on the season, including 21 pins and three technical falls.
He won a North Section title, and finished third at the District 4 and Northeast Regional Championships. He was 0-2 at the PIAA, Class AA Championships.
Lavonte Gibbons, junior, Elmira: Gibbons posted a 39-5 record with 27 pins and eight technical falls.
He won a STAC title, and followed it up with a 144-pound title at the Section IV, Division I Championships. He was 2-2 at the New York State Division I Championships.
Heavyweights (160 pounds to 285)
Luke Sottolano, senior, Williamson: See above.
Cadin Creeley, senior, Newark Valley: Creely posted a 35-4 record with 23 pins and three technical falls.
He won an IAC title, won the the Section IV Qualifier B, and placed second at the Section IV Championships, before finishing second at the New York State Division 2 Championships.
Matthias Welles, junior, Waverly: 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.
Zach Schrage, senior, Horseheads: Schrage posted a 20-3 record with eight pins and seven technical falls in an injury-marred season.
He won a STAC title, was runner-up at the Section IV, Division I Championships, and placed fifth at the New York State Division I Championships.
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.
SECOND TEAM
Lightweights(103 pounds to 132)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.
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.
Josh Knapp, senior, Horseheads: Knapp was 35-5 on the season with nine pins and 11 technical falls.
He won the STAC Championships, and followed it up with Section IV Division I title. He was 0-2 due to injury defaults in the 110-pound bracket at the New York State Division 1 Championships.
Gavin Lovell, 7th-grader, Owego: Lovell posted a 31-11 record, with 16 pins and five technical falls.
He won a STAC title, finished second at the Section IV Qualifier A, and third at the Section IV Championships, before placing eighth in the 103-pound bracket at the New York State Division 2 Championships.
Middleweights (133 pounds to 157)
Gavin Hornsby, senior, Horseheads: Hornsby posted a 34-5 record with 11 pins and six technical falls.
He won a STAC title, and followed it up with a title at the Section IV Division I Championships to punch his ticket to States. He was 1-2 at the New York State Division 1 Championships.
Cole Patrick, senior, Wyallusing: Patrick was 40-6 on the season with 22 pins and six technical falls.
He placed second at the North Section Tournament, was third at the District 4 Championships, and fifth at the Northeast Regionals.
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.
Hagen Jones, sophomore, Towanda: Jones posted a 32-11 record on the season, with 18 pins and one technical fall.
Jones won a North Section title, placed fifth at the District 4 Championships, and missed a trip to States by one spot with a fifth-place finish at the Northeast Regional Championships.
Heavyweights (160 pounds to 285)
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. He finished his career with a 136-36 record.
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.
Reed Palmer, junior, Troy: Palmer posted a 32-16 record on the season, with 15 falls and two technical falls.
He finished third at the North Section Tournament, was fifth at the District 4 Championships, and placed fourth at the Northeast Regionals to punch his ticket to States. He was 0-2 at the PIAA Championships.
Daniel Fox, junior, Wyalusing: See above.
Asher Kolesar, freshman, Northeast Bradford: See above.
THIRD TEAM
Lightweights(103 pounds to 133)Drayke Ulrich, sophomore, Tioga: 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.
Connor McAllister, sophomore, Horseheads: McAllister was 26-14 with 12 pins and four technical falls.
He finished third at the STAC Championships, was runner-up at the Section IV Division I Championships, and placed eighth in the 110-pound bracket at the New York State Division 1 Championships.
Mason Alexander, senior, Northeast Bradford: Alexander posted a 31-8 record on the season with 20 pins and five technical falls.
He finished third at the North Section Tournament, and was fourth at the District 4 Championships. He was 2-2 at the Northeast Regionals.
Brighton Yale, senior, Towanda: See above.
Chace VanDyke, freshman, Athens: VanDyke posted a 21-15 record with six pins and six technical falls on the season.
He placed second at the District 4, Class 3A Championships, and sixth at the Northeast Regional Championships.
Hunter Comstock, senior, Northeast Bradford: Comstock posted a 28-14 record with 10 pins and one technical fall.
He finished third at the North Section Tournament, and was sixth at the District 4 Championships. He was 1-2 at the Northeast Regionals.
Middleweights (132 pounds to 157)
Tommy Preston, junior, Canton: Preston posted a 34-14 record with 13 pins and nine technical falls.
He placed second at the North Section Tournament, was fifth at the District 4 Championships, and sixth at the Northeast Regionals.
Jonathan Earle, senior, Wyalusing: Earle was 38-12 on the season with 22 pins and seven technical falls.
He won the North Section Tournament, was seventh at the District 4 Championships, and sixth at the Northeast Regionals.
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.
Reese Sluyter, senior, Towanda: Sluyter was 25-12 on the season with nine pints and two technical falls in a season shortened by injury.
Hunter Simonds, senior, Williamson: Simonds posted a 39-12 record with 21 pins and three technical falls.
He won the North Section Tournament, and placed fifth at the District 4 and Northeast Regionals Championships.
Scott Fairbanks, senior, Elmira: Fairbanks was 26-11 on the season, with eight pins and 11 technical falls.
He was a runner-up at the STAC, then won the 138-pound title at the Section IV, Division I Championships. He was 0-2 at the New York State Division I Championships.
Heavyweights (160 pounds to 285)
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.
Titus Callahan, senior, Newark Valley: Callahan posted a 40-7 record with 28 pins and three technical falls.
He won an IAC title, won the Section IV Qualifier B, and placed second at the Section IV Championships, before placing sixth in the 190-pound bracket at the New York State Division 2 Championships.
Greg Golden, senior, Edison: Golden posted. 38-3 record with 11 pins and 20 technical falls.
He won an IAC title, then won the Section IV Qualifier A, and the Section IV Division II title at 175 pounds. He was 0-2 at States.
Jaxon Burchard, junior, Horseheads: Burchard posted a 31-6 record with 15 pins and eight technical falls.
He finished second at the STAC Championships, and was runner-up at the Section IV Division I Championships.
Blake Wesneski, junior, Canton: Wesneski posted a 26-16 record, with 18 pins and one technical fall.
He He finished second at the North Section Tournament, and was fifth at the District 4 Championships. He went 0-2 at the Northeast Regionals.
Hayden Stevens, senior, Wellsboro: Stevens was 29-7 with 16 pins and three technical falls.
He won the North Section Tournament, and was seventh at the District 4 Championships. He was 0-2 at the Northeast Regionals.
Connor Warrick, sophomore, Horseheads: Warrick was 30-10 on the season, with 24 pins.
He finished third at the STAC Championships, and was runner-up at the Section IV Division I Championships.
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