FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 2 PICKS — THOUGHTS ON WEEK 1, AND MORE (2020-09-18)
The high school football season rolls on, and in this crazy semblance of a season, Sayre has a bye, leaving Athens as the only Valley team in action in Week 2.
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STAC CANCELS SPORTS FOR REMAINDER OF 2020 — IAC HEDGES ON START DATE OF WINTER SEASON (2020-09-13)
Valley Sports Report
The hits keep coming for student-athletes in New York State.

On Sunday, the Southern Tier Athletic Conference canceled all sports for the remainder of the calendar year. ...more

IAC PUSHES FALL SPORTS SEASON TO MARCH 1 — WINTER SPORTS STILL SET TO START NOV. 30 (2020-09-12)
Valley Sports Report
ITHACA — IAC officials confirmed Saturday that the start of the 2020 fall sports season has been moved to March 1, 2021, but stated, contrary to erroneous reports Friday night, the winter sports season is still slated to begin Nov. 30. ...more

FROM THE PRESS BOX: WEEK 1 — RIVALRY GAMES KICK OFF SEASON (2020-09-11)
The 2020 season is upon us, and it’s nothing like we’ve seen before.

The NTL schedules are a mishmash in an abbreviated season, but it’s better than nothing, which is exactly what New York State is providing its student-athletes, having postponed the football season until March. ...more

WAVERLY'S MILLER, TIOGA'S AIELLO AGREE NEW YORK STATE'S DECISION TO MOVE FOOTBALL TO SPRING 'A BAD DECISION' (2020-09-09)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
Count Waverly coach Jason Miller and Tioga coach Nick Aiello among those who believe New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s edict to move the start date of the football season to March 1 as a bad move. ...more

NEW YORK STATE MOVES START OF FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL SEASONS TO MARCH 1 (2020-09-09)
Valley Sports Report
LATHAM, N.Y. — The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced Wednesday that the football, volleyball, and competitive cheer fall seasons have been postponed until March 1, 2021.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: LIKE 2020, NTL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE IS UNIQUE (2020-09-07)
2020 has been the most unique year ever, so it only stands to reason the 2020 NTL football schedule would look much different than any other we’ve ever seen.
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THE WEEK AHEAD: JUST A PAIR OF EVENTS ON THIS WEEK'S DOCKET (FOR NOW), BUT ONE IS 'RUSTY RAIL' GAME (2020-09-07)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — The start of the high school football season highlights the weekly schedule, which is still not finalized.
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NYSPHSAA RELEASES FALL SPORTS GUIDANCE DOCUMENT (2020-09-05)
Valley Sports Report
LATHAM, N.Y. — It's long. It's wordy. It's what school districts must follow if they wish to participate in interscholastic athletics this fall.
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NYSPHSAA OFFICIALS MEET WITH MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING SPORTS GUIDELINES (2020-08-31)
BY TIM TAYLOR
Valley Sports Report
LATHAM, N.Y. — Dr. Robert Zayas, Executive Director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, and Chris Watson, NYSPHSAA Director of Communications, met with several members of the media via video conference this evening to discus the guidelines for the start of the fall sports season. ...more

NYSPHSAA DELAYS START OF WINTER SPORTS TWO WEEKS (2020-08-31)
Valley Sports Report
LATHAM, N.Y. — The start of the winter sports season has been delayed two weeks, from Nov.16 to Nov. 30, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced today.
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TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HOSTING OPEN PICKLEBALL PLAY BEGINNING SEPT. 7 (2020-08-30)
Valley Sports Report
OWEGO — Pickleball — it’s the fastest growing sport in the United States.

The Tioga County Boys & Girls Club, located here at 201 Erie Street, will be hosting open pickleball play Monday through Friday from 7 to 10 a.m. beginning on Sept. 7. ...more

NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS REQUESTS SPORTS BE DELAYED UNTIL JAN. 1, 2021 (2020-08-29)
Valley Sports Report
ALBANY — Citing a concern over possible disruptions to “in-person learning for students,” the New York State Council of School Superintendents has requested that Governor Andrew Cuomo delay the start of all high school sports until Jan. 1, 2021. ...more

TIOGA COUNTY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HOSTING YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE (2020-08-28)
Valley Sports Report
OWEGO — The Tioga County Boys & Girls Club, located here at 201 Erie Street, is hosting a Youth Flag Football League for children ages 6 to 12 this fall. ...more

GOVERNOR CUOMO GIVES GO-AHEAD FOR 'LOW-RISK' SPORTS — FOOTBALL ON HOLD (2020-08-25)
Valley Sports Report
ALBANY — Governor Andrew Cuomo gave the go-ahead for fall sports teams in New York to begin practices Sept. 21, but said only low- and moderate-risk sports — soccer, swimming, field hockey, cross country, golf, and tennis — can return to game play. ...more

YOUTH BASKETBALL (12U): NEWLY-MINTED SOUTHERN TIER HAWKS WILL HOLD WORKOUTS AT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB (2020-08-21)
Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — The Southern Tier Hawks 12U AAU basketball program, formerly known as the Waverly Rec. / Hemp Geek AAU Sports program, will be holding its regular workouts at the Tioga County Boys & Girls Club.
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FROM THE PRESS BOX: A COACHING LEGEND PASSES, AND 'LET THEM PLAY' (2020-08-19)
The Valley lost a coaching legend earlier this week in Hall-of-Famer Jim McCloe.

A Waverly grad, McCloe went on wrestle at SUNY Delhi, where he won a NJCAA national championship. He finished off his collegiate career at East Carolina, where he won a conference title at 134 pounds as a senior. ...more

ROLFEMAN REMINISCES: COACH MCCLOE: A LEGACY IN WAVERLY WRESTLING AND BEYOND (2020-08-19)
I was a guest at several gatherings at the McCloe family's Victorian "mansion" on Old Route 17.

On many occasions, I visited the wrestling room at Waverly High School, a padded cell where boys became young men — and winning wrestlers — through instruction, work ethic, commitment, dedication and blood, sweat and tears. ...more

AUTO RACING: WAVERLY'S SHAW EARNS SECOND FEATURE WIN AT LAKE ERIE SPEEDWAY (2020-08-17)
Valley Sports Report
ERIE — Waverly’s D.J. Shaw earned his second feature win of the season here Saturday in the 4-Cylinder Division at Lake Erie Speedway.
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VALLEY BOWLING CENTER OWNER THRILLED TO BE RE-OPENING MONDAY, BUT KNOWS GUIDELINES WILL HAVE IMPACT (2 PHOTOS) (2020-08-16)
By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Valley Bowling Center proprietor Greg Joseph is thrilled to be re-opening Monday, but he knows the prospects of starting up at 50-percent capacity (or less), along with other guidelines will have an impact on business. ...more