The Sports ReportsWaverly senior Mira Kittle capped off her fantastic high school career with with three more state medals, and all her successes have led her to headline this year’s The Sports Reports / Ziff Law Firm All-Region Girls’ Swimming & Diving team as "Swimmer of the Year."
Kittle was a third-place finisher in the 50 free at States, and a sectional champ, with a top time of 23.12 seconds. She placed sixth at States in the 100 back, and was a sectional champ, in 56.72 seconds.
Kittle was also a state medalist in the 200 medley relay (fifth in 1:48.16) and a state qualifier in the 400 free relay (3:45.72).
Owego’s Ayla Young is this year’s "Diver of the Year" after winning sectionals and qualifying for States, where she took 20th. She had a top score of 484.95.
The "Relay of the Year" is the Waverly 200 medley relay of Kittle, Meg Atanasoff, Natalie Steck and Olivia Cheresnowsky who finished fifth in the state and won a sectional title in 1:48.16.
Athens’ Penelope Grubb is the "Newcomer of the Year." The first-year senior was a state qualifier and finished second at the District 4, Class AA Diving Championships. She finished 24th at the PIAA Championships.
The "Coach of the Year" is Amy Steck of Waverly. She directed the Wolverines to a second-place finish in Class B sectionals with just 12 swimmers. The Wolverines had state medalists in four different events at States.
The "Breakout Swimmer of the Year" is Karina Lapierre of Horseheads. The Horseheads senior was a first-time individual state qualifier this year, making the state cut in the 50 free with a 25.16. She was a four-event sectional champion this year. She was a sectional champion in the event and was part of a 200 free relay that made states in 1:43.12. She was part of a 200 medley relay that won sectionals and she was also a 100 back sectional champ.
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2025-26 ALL-REGION
GIRLS’ SWIMMING & DIVING
SWIMMER OF THE YEAR; Mira Kittle, Waverly.
DIVER OF THE YEAR: Ayla Young, Owego.
RELAY OF THE YEAR: Waverly 200 medley relay — Mira Kittle, Meg Atanasoff, Natalie Steck and Olivia Cheresnowsky.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Penelope Grubb, Athens.
BREAKOUT SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Karinna Lapierre, Horseheads.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Amy Steck, Waverly
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ALL-REGION FIRST TEAM
Mira Kittle, Waverly: See above.
Karina Lapierre, Horseheads: See above.
Ayla Young, Owego: See above.
Lauryn Welles, Waverly: 50 free 15th place at states, sectional runner-up (24.31), 100 free sectional champ, 17th at states (53.89), 100 breaststroke 1:18.4.
Meg Atanasoff, Waverly: 50 free 23rd at states, third in sectionals, 24.49, 100 free (54.48), 100 fly (1;01.5), second at sectionals.
Olivia Cheresnowsky, Waverly: 50 free (25.21), 100 back (1:00.87).
Aubrey Kellogg, Waverly: 100 free (55.51), 200 free (2:12.2), 50 free (25.79).
Mackenzie Blauvelt, Horseheads: State qualifier in diving. Had a top score of 454.50. Second at sectionals.
Alexys Nale, Corning: 100 free sectional champ 55.75, second 100 breaststroke 1:11.54, second 400 free relay.
Mia Carro, Horseheads: Part of 200 free relay that made states, 200 medley relay that won sectionals 1:53.35, 200 IM sectional champ 2:17.16, 100 fly sectional chap 1:00.91.
Elle Ballard, Corning: Second in 200 free at sectionals, 2:05.70, second in 500 free 5:39.08, second 400 free relay 3:53.38
SECOND TEAM
Ali Mosher, Horseheads: Part of 200 free relay that made states, 200 medley relay that won sectionals 1:53.35, 200 IM sectional third 2:22.36, 100 back sectional runner-up 1:07.13.
Genevieve Carro, Horseheads: Part of 200 free relay that made states, 200 medley relay that won sectionals 1:53.35, third in 200 free at sectionals 2:08.12, third 100 breast 1:17.25.
Piper Anderegg, Wellsboro: 500 free (5:45.57), 200 free (2:08.34).
Natalie Steck, Waverly: 100 breaststroke (1:11.13), 200 IM 2:31.7.
Evelyn Panek, Athens: 50 free (24.5), 100 free (56.42), part of relay that qualified for PIAA Championships.
Olivia Thompson, Athens: 50 free (26.43), 100 back 1:05.73), part of relay that qualified for PIAA Championships.
Elizabeth Denlinger, Athens: 200 free (2:07.1), 100 breaststroke (1:15.28), part of relay that qualified for PIAA Championships.
Ava Murphy, Owego: 200 free (2;05.73), 100 fly (1:01.39).
Makenna Robbins, Wellsboro: 200 IM 2:25.75), 100 breaststroke (1:13.07).
Elizabeth Robinson, Waverly: Seventh in the 200 free (2:11.3) and fourth in the 100 fly (1:05.1) at sectionals.
Ava Murphy, Owego: A sectional champion in the 100 fly (1:01.39) and third-place finisher in the 200 free (2:05.73).
Alyssa Reimsnyder, Corning: 100 fly second at sectional 1:05.08, fifth 100 back 1:07.72, second 400 free relay.
Madelyn Cavalier, Elmira: Third in 100 fly at sectionals 1:07.11, 4th 100 back 1:07.13.
