FROM THE PRESS BOX: SAYRE VOLLEYBALL TOPS BAKER'S DOZEN 'STORYLINES OF 2025-26' (July 1, 2026)

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's list features a lot of final chapters on storylines, but it's top by one that came totally out of the blue.

Without any further ado, I give you, from No. 13 to No. 1, Valley Sports Report's 2025-26 "Baker's Dozen Storylines of the Year:"

13. FIRST-YEAR ATHENS BOYS SOCCER COACH 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.

12. WAVERLY'S BEEMAN MAKES IT TO STATES IN THIRD SPORT: A member of the state championship football team in 2023, and an individual state champion in wrestling that same year, Beeman qualified for the state track meet this spring.

Beeman punched his ticket to the state track & field meet by winning a gold medal in the discus in the Class B Championships at the Section IV State Qualifier.

Beeman also finished sixth at the New York State Division 2 Wrestling Championships this year. He won a state title as a sophomore and finished second his junior year.

This storyline has run its course, and Beeman will be missed.

11. ATHENS' BURGESS MAKES THIS STRAIGHT TRIP TO STATES: Athens senior Abby Burgess won a District 4 title in the 100-yard dash to punch her ticket to States for the third straight year.

It marked the second year in a row Burgess qualified for the Class AAA state championships.

This portion of Burgess' storyline is complete. The next chapter could be written at Division I Lehigh University.

10. TIOGA'S DUNCANSON WINS FIFTH STATE MEDAL: Tioga's Jayden Duncanson never reached the top step of the podium at the New York State Wrestling Championships, but he did reach the Division 2 podium five times.

Duncanson was a two-time state runner-up, finished third twice, and also recorded a fourth-place finish in a five-year varsity career that saw him post a 201-20 record.

This storyline, in terms of his high school career, has run its course, but we could see some updates on Duncanson wrestling at the next level.

9. 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 girl.

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.

8. TIOGA'S ALBRECHT WINS SECOND STRAIGHT STATE TITLE; ROSSI WINS TWO MEDALS: A year after winning a state title in the pole vault with a school-record vault of 15-feet, Tioga senior Gavin Albrecht duplicated the feat this spring.

Albrecht added to his school record this spring, topping 15-feet, 1-inch at the Class C Championships.

Sophomore Vida Rossi qualified for States by winning a Section title in the long jump, and finishing second, but topping the state standard time in the 100-meter dash.

Rossi won a bronze medal in the 100, and a sixth-place medal in the long jump at States.

Albrecht's high school storyline is complete, but the next chapter could be written at Ithaca College, while Rossi's storyline has a couple chapters remaining.

7. TIOGA'S MCKEE WINS SECOND STATE TITLE: Tioga's Declan McKee  won his final 34 matches of the season en route to his second straight N.Y. State Division 2 title.

McKee finished the season with a 41-2 record, including a 15-0 mark in postseason. His postseason run included 11 pin falls and two major decisions.

McKee became the fourth wrestler in Tioga program history to win two state titles.

The final chapter in this storyline will be written in 2026-27 as McKee looks to become the second three-time champion for the Tigers.

6. LONGTIME TIOGA FOOTBALL COACH NICK AIELLO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT: After 16 seasons, 12 Section IV titles, and five state titles, Nick Aiello stepped down as Tioga football coach in late April.

Aiello amassed an astounding 156-28 record, which is an 84.8 percent winning percentage, over 16 seasons, including a 33-3 mark in the Section IV playoffs, and a 22-7 record in the state playoffs.

The Tigers won state titles in 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Unless we see a comeback from Aiello, his historic storyline has come to a conclusion.

5. 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.

4. WAVERLY WINS SECTION IV, CLASS A BASEBALL TITLE, RECORDS FIRST-EVER STATE PLAYOFF WIN: The Wolverines bumped up to Class A in 2026, and won the program's second title since 2013.

Behind VSR "Player of the Year" Ronin Ault, Waverly won a school-record 22 games against five losses, and beat M-E in the Class A championship series.

Waverly edged Scotia-Glenville, 2-1, in the opening round of the state playoffs, before dropping a 5-4 decision to Grand Island in the state quarterfinals.

Waverly has a great deal of talent returning, so we could see another chapter or two written. Of course, we thought the same thing in 2013.

3. TIOGA WRESTLING RETURNS TO TOP OF THE HEAP IN NEW YORK STATE; WAVERLY IN MIX: Much of the season Tioga and Waverly were 1-2 in the state poll, but injuries and late-season weight-management issues proved costly to the Wolverines in the Section IV duals chase.

While the Tigers won the Section IV Duals, the Section IV, Division 2 Championships, and team title at the New York State Championships, the Wolverines finished third at the Duals, second at the Section IV meet, and third at States.

The Tigers and Wolverines both suffer some key losses to graduation, but both will have quite a bit of talent returning. Don't be surprised if these two programs continue adding to this storyline.

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 in the fall of 2026, which means a sequel to this storyline.

Print Friendly Version