By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Gray skies and a few sprinkles couldn't put a damper on the enthusiasm at Day 1 preseason practice for the new coaching regime of the defending state champion Tioga Tigers here Monday on Haggerty Field.
"We're really excited," said rookie head coach Jake Howland. "I know these guys are excited to get going.
"We spent a lot of time together over the summer, working out and doing some informal stuff. These guys are ready for some structure, and we are too," noted Howland. "I could see it on their faces throughout the summer and especially this morning in the classroom that they woke up and we're ready to go to work.
"They're already working hard," added Howland. "We've only been practicing for an hour, but they're geared up and ready, and I'm excited for them."
Howland said their numbers are solid.
"We're good," he said. "I think during last school year, we had about 28 sign up, but we had some move-ins, we had some guys decide they wanted to play this year.
"We're up around 30, which is good for us," noted Howland. "No JV this year, which stinks, but I think that'll help our transition."
Howland noted the junior high numbers are solid as well.
"Modified's has about the same as we do," he said. They have a big ninth-grade group. I'm not sure about that 8th-grade group, but they're going to have a solid team, too.
"I've been talking to those coaches and they've got a couple really good athletes down there that I'm looking forward to seeing. especially when they're with us next year," added Howland.
The first-year Tiger coach, who has former teammate Tyler Spires, and former Tioga standouts Connor Hutchinson and John Worthing on his staff, said it was a productive summer.
"It sent by fast," laughed Howland. "It was fast, but we got a lot accomplished, and I think that's going to really help us today.
"We kind of hit the ground running already because a lot of the Xs and Os kind of stuff we can skip over the slower pace of install because we've already done it," noted Howland.
"We just showed up, stretched, and we were working," added Howland. "I think that summer work ... they understand how important that summer work is and they're going to find out real quick how far ahead of the game they are because of it."
Tioga does not have an official scrimmage set up this weekend, but Howland expects to practice with Owego next week to get in some live looks.
The Tigers open defense of their Class D state title with a Week Zero home game against Delhi on Sept. 4.
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga coach Jake Howland. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
