Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY - Athens junior Gavin Bradley won his third PIAA wrestling medal this winter, with his best finish yet, and is the 2020-21 Valley Sports Report Male "Athlete of the Winter."
Bradley reeled off a 40-2 record, and won a silver medal at the PIAA, Class AA Championships
Bradley was 34-12 and finished sixth in the State as a freshman, then posted a 39-4 record and finished seventh as a sophomore.
On his way to a runner-up finish at States this season, Bradley won the North Section, District 4, and Northeast Regional titles. He was runner-up at the PIAA East Super Regional.
Bradley beat eventual state champ Jaden Pepe, 5-3, in the Northeast Regional finals, but lost 9-6 to Pepe in the finals of the Super Regionals, and 3-2 to Pepe in the state finals.
Bradley, who has a 113-18 career record, was the VSR "Wrestler of the Year."
2020-21 Super 7 Male "Athletes of the Winter:"
Gavin Bradley, junior, Athens: See above.
Zach Vanderpool, sophomore, Waverly: Vanderpool was second in the IAC with a 226 average, and bowled an IAC record 834 series, which included an IAC season-high game of 289.
Vanderpool's record series, and high game were rolled at the IAC Championships to earn a gold medal, and help the Wolverines to a third-place finish.
J.J. Babcock, junior, Athens: A versatile 6-5 swingman, Babcock can score in transition, from the perimeter, taking the ball to the bucket, and in the low blocks.
Babcock led the Wildcats in scoring at 14.8 points per game, while shooting 48.5 percent from the field. He also led the team with 24 blocked shots and 61 deflections. He was second on the team at 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, as well as 38 steals, and 14 3-pointers.
He was the VSR Boys Basketball "Player of the Year."
Dom Fabbri, junior, Sayre: A smooth shooting guard, Fabbri could score in transition, from behind the 3-point arc, and with the mid-range jumper.
Fabbri led the Redskins at 15.4 points per game, 49 3-pointers made, 35 free throws made, and a 74 percent free throw percentage. He also averaged 4.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.
Joey Tomasso, freshman, Waverly: Composed beyond his years, Tomasso is strong with the ball, and can flat-out score.
Tomasso scored a freshman school-record 15.3 points per game, and led Waverly with 23 3-pointers in 12 games. He also averaged 2.5 rebounds, 18 steals, and 1.5 assists per game.
Kaden Setzer, junior, Athens: Setzer put together a 26-9 on the season, finishing second at the North Section Tournament, and fifth at Districts to qualify for Northeast Regionals.
Setzer was 21-10 as a sophomore, and now has a 66-33 career record.
Oscar Williams, sophomore, Waverly: Williams was a four-time winner in a pair of postseason meets to lead Waverly to a first-place finish at the IAC Championships,and a runner-up finish at the Section IV. Class C meet, to earn the 2020-21 Valley Sports Report "Swimmer of the Year."
Oscar Williams notched wins in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard IM, and also swam on a pair of first-place relays at the Class C Championships. He won the same four events 10 days earlier at the IAC meet.
Williams was also part of the "Relay of the Year," teaming with junior Kaden Wheeler, sophomore Jerrell Sackett, and freshman Ryan Clark. The foursome won the IAC and Section IV gold, posting a season-best time of 1:32.31.
