VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: A BAKER'S DOZEN — THE TOP STORIES OF 2018-19 SEASONS (2019-06-20)
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.

The 2018-19 school year was no different, and offered a variety of storylines, including a couple of firsts, an unlikely accomplishment, and one (maybe two) tale(s) of redemption. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: PUTTING A BOW ON THE 2019 SPRING SEASON, AND WHAT A SEASON IT WAS (2019-06-18)
The end of the spring season is always bittersweet.

Personally, it marks the end of a grueling year of sports coverage, and a brief respite before the madness ensues once again in two months, but it also marks the end of another year of sports, and the graduation of many athletes I’ve grown fond of covering over the prior years. ...more

VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: THE 'SUPER 7' STORYLINES OF THE 2019 SPRING SEASON (2019-06-17)
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. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: A PEEK INTO CRYSTAL BALL AT 2020 SOFTBALL SEASON (2019-06-15)
The 2019 softball season was mostly good in the Valley, with three teams advancing to the postseason, led by Waverly, which won it’s first-ever Section IV title.
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THE FINAL WORD: POSTSEASON 2019 — WHAT A WILD RIDE! (2019-06-10)
The 2019 spring postseason was a wild ride.

From the individual headliners — Athens senior Rachel Hutchison, Waverly junior Isaac Chandler, and Waverly senior Alex Tomasso — to the standout teams — Tioga baseball, Waverly softball, and Sayre baseball — there were plenty of memorable performances. ...more

TAYLOR MADE: ENOUGH WITH THE NEGATIVITY (2019-06-05)
It seems like I write this editorial every year and each time it brings me to the edge of tears because it truly is one of the saddest stories you could ever imagine. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: PUTTING A BOW ON THE 2018-19 WINTER SEASON (2019-03-24)
What a winter season.

The Valley sent 13 athletes to their respective state championships, and nine brought home state medals. On the team front, there were three Section IV champs, four division champs, two overall league champions, and one state qualifier. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: A LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2019-20 WRESTLING SEASON (2019-03-22)
The 2018-19 wrestling season was another one for the ages in the Valley.

In all six Valley wrestlers - four Tioga and two Athens - qualified for their respective state tournaments, and all six brought home medals. Six-for-six, now that's impressive ...more

VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: TIOGA'S WORTHINGS SHARE 'WRESTLER OF YEAR HONORS' - TIOGA'S HARRINGTON, ATHENS' BRADLEY, BRAUND ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2019-03-22)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - Crowned New York State champs just 15 minutes apart, Tioga's Brady and John Worthing become the first duo to share Valley Sports Report "Wrestler of the Year" honors ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: A LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2019-20 BOYS HOOP SEASON (2019-03-21)
It was a rough winter for boys basketball in the Valley, with just two of the four teams qualifying for the postseason.
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VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S WARD NAMED BOYS BASKETBALL 'PLAYER OF YEAR' - WAVERLY'S McCARTY, ATHENS' GAMBRELL, WOODWARD ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2019-03-21)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - Waverly senior Dylan Ward averaged a double-double, and led the Valley in rebounding to earn the moniker of 2018-19 Valley Sports Report Boys Basketball "Player of the Year."
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VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: SAYRE'S McCLELLAND, WAVERLY'S ATANASOFF SHARE 'SWIMMER OF YEAR' HONORS - WAVERLY'S STREETER, ATHENS' GORSLINE ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2019-03-20)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - Sayre senior Josh McClelland and Waverly junior Mike Atanasoff broke records, won state hardware, and will share the 2018-19 Valley Sports Report "Swimmer of the Year" honors.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: A LOOK INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2019-20 GIRLS HOOP SEASON (2019-03-20)
The 2018-19 girls basketball season was a pretty good one with three teams qualifying for the postseason, and one - Sayre - advancing to States. The fourth team - Tioga - was in the postseason hunt until the final night of the season. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: END OF POSTSEASON OFFERS STRONG STORYLINES FROM GALASSO, BRADLEY, McCLELLAND, WALKER (2019-03-15)
You don't have to win state gold to have the heart of a champion - Athens senior David Galasso, and freshman Gavin Bradley proved that last weekend at the PIAA, Class AA wrestling championships ...more

THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON ANOTHER BIG WEEKEND FOR VALLEY ATHLETES (2019-03-04)
It was a pretty good weekend for Valley athletes, from a pair of Athens wrestlers in Williamsport, to a Waverly swimmer on Long Island, and a trio of Waverly track athletes on Staten Island.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: ANOTHER LOOK BACK AT THE WEEKEND ... AND A LOOK AHEAD (2019-02-27)
It was a crazy busy weekend of high school postseason action from Albany, N.Y. to Williamsport, Pa.

On Monday, I unpacked most of the weekend's action, but there were a few things that slipped my mind as I tried to wind down my "Final Word" with it becoming a little unwieldy in its le ...more

THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON A MEMORABLE WEEKEND OF WRESTLING ... MUCH MORE (2019-02-25)
In a span of 15 minutes, brothers Brady and John Worthing reached the pinnacle of the New York State wrestling world with gold-medal performances at New York State Division II wrestling championships.

For John Worthing, the 138-pound title seemed like a culmination of his destiny, and was certainly a redemption of an opportunity lost last year due to an untimely illness. ...more

THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON WRESTLING WEEKEND (2019-02-13)
It was quite a weekend of wrestling at Windsor High School for the Section IV, Division II Championships.

The majority of the finals went according to the seedings with the top seeds prevailing, including Tioga senior Austin Lamb and junior Brady Worthing winning their weight classes.
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THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON THE WINTER SEASON AS IT WINDS DOWN - PART II (2019-02-07)
With the end of the high school basketball season in sight, five of the eight Valley teams have qualified for the playoffs. The remaining three (Waverly and Sayre boys, and Tioga girls) still have a chance.
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THE FINAL WORD: THOUGHTS ON THE WINTER SEASON AS IT WINDS DOWN - PART I (2019-02-06)
It's hard to believe, but the winter season in winding down to a conclusion.

This is the final full week of the regular-season in New York, while Pa. teams have one more week of g ...more