FROM THE PRESS BOX: VSR KICKS OFF 18TH YEAR OF COVERAGE — BUCKLE UP! IT'S GOING TO BE A WILD RIDE (August 16, 2026)
Valley Sports Report kicks off its 18th year of high school and youth sports coverage in the Valley Monday, and I have a feeling it's going to be another great year.
The 2026-27 year actually began Thursday with the Athens golf team traveling to State College for the Happy Valley Invitational, and freshman Lilah Carlson announced her arrival with a loud statement, finishing eighth with a round of 82 in her varsity debut.
Junior Ty Owen also cracked the top-10 in the boys field, and teamed with returning state qualifier Eli Hicks, who did not play Thursday, should make the Wildcats a formidable presence again in the NTL this season.
Football practice begins Monday for all four Valley teams, and I think this could be another big year on the gridiron.
Tioga will look to defend its New York State Class D title, and has to be one of the favorites in the state. The Tigers lose just one offensive lineman from a dominant unit, but all-state senior lineman Derek Mills returns after a Week-Zero knee injury ended his junior season to make the line even better than last year.
Tioga does have some question marks with a new coaching staff taking over, and having to replace most of its skill players, aside from QB Jackson Bombard and fullbacks Max Stauder and Shane Platukis, but I think they'll win a Section IV title and get an opportunity at a state repeat.
I think Waverly is going to be a pretty fun team to watch this season with a pair of newcomers adding exciting athleticism to the offensive mix.
Sophomore Cooper Chrystie, who completed 54 percent of his for 986 yards and nine TDs, and ran for four scores, for the 5-5 Norwich Purple Tornadoes in 2025, and his twin brother Cartyr Christie, who had 29 catches for 423 yards and four TDs, are both potential game-changing athletes.
Waverly also brings back a host of talented skill players, but loses some studs up front. For the first time in several years, the Wolverines' biggest question mark heading into a season is 'how good will they be up front?"
Athens also has a host of athletic and talented skill players returning, led by Connor Davidson, who threw for 1,700 yards and 22 TDs, and ran for 850 yards and 11 TDs, Brendan Cooke, Gage Marmor and Kade Rowe.
Just like the Wolverines, the Wildcats will go as far as their lines can carry them.
The most interesting thing to watch with the Wildcats will be at quarterback. Connor Davidson is back, but his younger brother Shea saw quit a bit of time under center last year, and is very capable. I'm curious to see if Coach Shawn Bradley and his staff try to mix things up a little bit and move the elder Davidson around a bit.
Sayre has a new coach in Guy Kapichok, who played under Miller Moyer at Canton. He has a big job ahead of him, and the key will be building numbers and changing the environment.
On the pitch, the Athens, Waverly, and Tioga girls are all poised for playoff appearances in 2026.
The Athens boys will look to turn in another strong season under second-year coach Travis Reynard, while the Tioga and Waverly boys will look to improve on touch seasons in 2025.
On the cross-country circuit, Athens senior Graham Wanck will look to qualify for States for the third time after missing out last year following an injury-plagued season, and junior Alissa Vough will also look to return to Hershey.
In Waverly, senior Chase Hine and junior Hayden Montanye will look to make a return trip to States.
Tioga sophomore Reese Mills had a strong first varsity season for the Lady Tigers, and will look to be the first state qualifier for the program in several years.
On the volleyball hardwoods, Sayre is looking to repeat its historic season with a District 4 title repeat. Athens is looking to do the same thing.
I think there's a very good chance, Sayre and Athens could both repeat.
Up North, Tioga lost a few strong seniors, but will reload, and challenge for a Class C title again, while Waverly has some questions, but also some good young talent.
Perhaps the most intriguing storyline of the fall is the talented young Waverly swim team moving on without Mira Kittle, who is taking her talents to Division I Bryant University.
The Wolverines have a ton of talent, and could advance two or three relays to States, as well as two or three individuals.
One final note on fall sports is the STAC holding its league boys golf season in the fall, while New York State holds its boys golf championships in the spring. The conflict in scheduling results annually in several golfers who qualify for States choosing to forego the Section IV State Qualifier because they are playing baseball.
Speaking of STAC golf, Waverly junior Griff Walter will look to make the next step from the Section IV Individual Championships to the New York State tournament.
Looking ahead to the winter, Tioga senior Declan McKee looks to become the second wrestler in school history to win three state titles, while junior Drayke Ulrich looks to take the step from state qualifier to the state podium. Ditto for senior Cayden Bradley.
Keep an eye on Athens transfer Zaine Campbell. If he stays healthy, he could stand very high on that state podium.
Waverly graduated three state medalists, but returns state medalists Matthias Welles and Rhylee Stotler for their senior seasons. Junior Drayton DeKay, who missed all of last season with a broken leg, has his eye on a state title two years after being a state runner-up.
Keep your eyes on sophomore Avery Bowman, a state medalist as an 8th-grader, senior Parker Larson and senior Joey Mack, who could all advance to Albany.
In Athens, the Wildcats return to Class AA this season, and could be well-represented in Hershey with seniors Connor Davidson, Brendan Cooke and Lucas Persun, and sophomore Chace VanDyke in good position to make the trip.
Tretyon Barrett was a District champ as a freshman, and was 16-5 when he was lost for the season last year. If healthy, Barrett is a strong contender for a trip to Hershey as well.
Senior Jordan Brown will look to be Sayre's first two-time state qualifier in more than 20 years.
On the girls side, Tioga senior Amelia Toomey will look to repeat as state champ, while junior teammate Kyah Nelson will seek to move up a step on the podium after her runner-up finish last year. Keep an eye on Marcy Moniz as well.
The Wolverines graduate its state qualifiers in Emma Vanderhoof and Elona Holmes, but have a few wrestlers to keep an eye on in 8th-grader Amelia Wright, sophomores Gianna Zieniuk and Gianna Rylott, and possibly senior Kennadie Cochrane.
The Wildcats graduated the first two state place-finishers in program history in Hanna Rathbun and Leah Nason, but bring back several wrestlers poised for a run to Hershey, led by sophomores Skylynn Payne and Evelyn Cummings, seniors Joyce Clink and Abigail Wagner, and junior Memphis Paul.
On the hardwoods, Waverly graduates one of the best scorers in program history in Hogan Shaw, but returns a host of talented and athletic players from the varsity team, several talented players from the JV team, plus it adds two more in Norwich transfers Cooper and Cartyr Christie.
Athens graduated several key seniors, but brings back senior Lucas Schultz and sophomore Aiden Briggs to anchor the team. They will need several role players or JV players to step up this year.
Tioga has a solid core returning, led by Jackson Bombard and Gavin Kithcart, but they'll also need players to step up to improve on last season's postseason appearance.
Sayre has enough returning to improve on their 3-win season, but will have to pick up their level of play quite a bit to make a run at .500.
On the girls side, Waverly should be fun to watch with a good group returning, and several players up from one of the best JV teams in decades.
It will be interesting to see if first-year coach Toby Foster changes things up a bit for the Wolverines in 2026-27.
Tioga also has a new coach in Jordan Hathaway. If he can keep the girls in the program, it will go a long way in turning things around. This team has some talent, and could surprise people this winter.
Athens returns its 10-13 team nearly intact, led by senior McKenna Jarvis and juniors Alissa Vough and Allie Kemp. Keep an eye on sophomore Alexis Mayo, who is poised to become a major contributor.
Sayre graduated two key starters from a winless team. There will be a new coach on the sidelines this winter, and he or she will face a monumental task.
The Athens swim teams will return a host of District and state qualifiers, led by three-time state medalist Brayden Pettitt. It should be another very good year for the Wildcats in the pool.
The Waverly boys bowling team has been a model of consistency over the years. The Wolverines graduated its lone state qualifier in Derek Johnson, but returns sophomore Colten Santalucia, junior Griff Walter, and senior Maison Apgar — all capable of reaching States — and will have two or three others bowlers capable of making this a very dangerous team come the postseason.
I'm not going to any real depth as we look ahead to the spring season, but I look forward to watching the Athens baseball team, led by Brady Flynn and Duncan Thetga.
I also look forward to seeing if Waverly can overcome the loss of Ronin Ault and Porter Daddona on the mound.
I look forward to watching the progression of sophomore Taylin Gonzalez at Waverly in the batter's box and pitcher's circle. Ditto for Tioga sophomore Kate Kithcart.
I can't wait to watch Gretchan Hiley pitch again, and see if the Wildcats can make a run at another District 4 title.
It will be interesting to see if Jackson Bombard can make it back to the Section IV Individual Golf Championships, and if fellow senior Gavin Kithcart can join him.
The Waverly flag football team will be looking for a new quarterback (rumor has it, the Wolverines have a pretty good athlete ready to step up and take the job), but will return a lot of talent, and could make another run to the Section IV title game.
I'm excited to see if Kaylin Twedt continues to improve on the track for the Wolverines, and if their relays can get to States with her.
I'm also excited to watch Vida Rossi improve on her two state medal performances.
I've said this 17 times before, but I can't imagine having a better year of sports than last year. However, every year (except for 2019-20, and 2020-21, thanks to Covid) new firsts occur and somehow the previous year is surpassed.
If that's the case again in 2026-27, buckle up because it's going to be one hell of a ride.
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