ON TAP TODAY: ATHENS, SAYRE IN ACTION AS FOOTBALL SEASON KICKS OFF (2026-08-28)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Football begins South of the Border tonight with Sayre hosting Towanda at the Lockhart Street Bowl, and Athens on the road at Wyalusing. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: VSR'S PIGSKIN PROGNOSTICATORS BACK AT IT WITH WEEK 1 PICKS (2026-08-28)
The 2026 Pa. high school football season is upon us, with a full slate of NTL games, including a home game for Sayre, and a season-opening road trip for Athens.
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NTL FOOTBALL: ATHENS LOOKING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN 2026 (2026-08-27)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens returns an abundance of talent from a nine-win season, and coach Shawn Bradley expects more of the same in 2026, but wants to see more from the Wildcats with "championships on the line. 
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NTL BOYS GOLF: ATHENS' HICKS SHOOTS 70; WILDCATS FINISH SECOND TO TOWANDA AGAIN (24 PHOTOS) (2026-08-26)
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Athens senior Eli Hicks shot a sub-par round to earn low-medal honors, but Towanda remained unbeaten with a four-stroke win over the Wildcats here Wednesday afternoon.
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NTL GIRLS GOLF: ATHENS' CARLSON EARNS LOW-MEDAL HONORS; ATHENS, TOWANDA TIE FOR FIRST (11 PHOTOS) (2026-08-26)
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Freshman Lilah Carlson earned low-medal honors to help Athens to a tie with Towanda here Wednesday afternoon at The Club at Shepard Hills in the third NTL girls golf match of the season. ...more

THE WEEK AHEAD: GOLF, FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL ON TAP AS FALL SEASON PICKS UP STEAM (2026-08-23)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — After a pair of NTL golf matches kicked off the 2026-27 sports year, it picks up steam with STAC boys golf, a pair of Pa. football games, and a volleyball tournament adding to this week's slate of action. ...more

NTL FOOTBALL: ATHENS' BRADLEY SEES PLENTY OF POSITIVES AT THREE-TEAM SCRIMMAGE (17 PHOTOS) (2026-08-22)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Athens football coach Shawn Bradley took a lot of positives from his team's three-team football scrimmage against Waverly and Bloomsburg here Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
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NTL BOYS SOCCER: ATHENS' REYNARD PREPARING WILDCATS TO MAKE ANOTHER RUN AT DISTRICT TITLE (18 PHOTOS) (2026-08-21)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — After coming up just short last year, second-year Athens boys soccer coach Travis Reynard is ready to make another run at a District title as preparation for the 2026 season begins. ...more

NTL VOLLEYBALL: ATHENS' DARROW SAYS TEAM FOCUSED ON DISTRICT TITLE REPEAT (13 PHOTOS) (2026-08-21)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Coming off the program's first District 4 title in 20 years, Athens volleyball coach Heather Darrow is excited to be preparing for the 2026 season. ...more

NTL GIRLS SOCCER: ATHENS' PITTS EXCITED TO GET STARTED AHEAD OF 2026 SEASON (14 PHOTOS) (2026-08-20)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Longtime Athens girls soccer coach Rich Pitts is excited to get preparation for the 2026 season under way. ...more

NTL BOYS GOLF: TOWANDA WINS; ATHENS FINISHES SECOND AGAIN AT SECOND LEAGUE MEET (21 PHOTOS) (2026-08-19)
Valley Sports Report
WYSOX — Towanda had three golfers break 80, including Graham Welles, who became the second Black Knight to shoot under par this week, and finished first again in the second NTL boys golf match of the season here Wednesday at the Towanda Country Club. ...more

NTL GIRLS GOLF: LYON LEADS ATHENS TO SECOND FIRST-PLACE FINISH IN A ROW; SAYRE NOTCHES FIRST WIN (9 PHOTOS) (2026-08-19)
Valley Sports Report
WYSOX — Junior Brooke Lyon earned low-medal honors to lead Athens to another first-place finish in the second NTL girls match of the season here Wednesday at the Towanda Country Club, while Sayre earned its first win in program history. ...more

NTL GIRLS GOLF: CARLSON, LYON FINISH 1-2 TO LEAD ATHENS TO WIN AT LEAGUE MATCH (5 PHOTOS) (2026-08-17)
Valley Sports Report
WELLSBORO — Freshman Lilah Carlson and freshman Brooke Lyon finished 1-2 individually to lead Athens to a first-place finish here Monday afternoon at Tyoga Golf Course in the first-ever NTL girls golf match with more than two teams.
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NTL BOYS GOLF: HICKS PACES ATHENS IN SECOND-PLACE FINISH IN LEAGUE OPENER; SCHRADER LEADS SAYRE (20 PHOTOS) (2026-08-17)
Valley Sports Report
WELLSBORO — Athens, led by senior Eli Hicks, had three of the top eight golfers here Monday afternoon at Tyoga Golf Course to place second in the opening NTL boys golf match of the season, while freshman Kam Schrader led Sayre.
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NTL FOOTBALL: AFTER PRODUCTIVE SUMMER, ATHENS EXCITED TO GET READY FOR 2026 SEASON (11 PHOTOS) (2026-08-17)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — After a productive summer, Athens assistant coach Steve Satterly was excited to see the Wildcats back on the field Monday morning in preparation for the upcoming 2026 season. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: VSR KICKS OFF 18TH YEAR OF COVERAGE — BUCKLE UP! IT'S GOING TO BE A WILD RIDE (2026-08-16)
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. ...more

NTL GOLF: OWEN CRACKS TOP-10 AT HAPPY VALLEY INVITE; CARLSON IMPRESSIVE IN DEBUT FOR ATHENS GIRLS (2026-08-15)
Valley Sports Report
STATE COLLEGE — Junior Ty Owen and the Athens boys golf team opened the season with top-10 finishes here Thursday at the rugged Happy Valley Invitational, and freshman Lilah Carlson made an impressive debut in the girls field as well.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: VALLEY SPORTS REPORT CELEBRATES 17TH ANNIVERSARY (2026-08-10)
Monday marked 17 years since Valley Sports Report launched and it's been one hell of a ride.

While the site turns 17, I turned 60 in January, and that has a lot of people asking "when are you going to hang up the press pass and retire." ...more

YOUTH VOLLEYBALL: NORTHERN TIER VOLLEYBALL CLUB SELECT TEAMS CLAIM OFFSEASON GOLD (4 PHOTOS) (2026-08-08)
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The Norther Tier Volleyball Club, based in Athens, saw both of its select teams win at least one title during the offseason. ...more

YOUTH VOLLEYBALL: NORTHERN TIER YOUTH VOLLEYBALL CLUB TEAMS ENOY STRONG SEASON (3 PHOTOS) (2026-08-07)
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — The Northern Tier Volleyball Club youth teams enjoyed strong campaigns on the hardwoods this offseason. ...more