THE SPORTS REPORTS: TIOGA'S McKEE NAMED ALL-REGION 'WRESTLER OF THE YEAR;' WAVERLY'S DEKAY ALSO EARNS TOP HONOR — TIOGA COUNTY WELL-REPRESENTED (2025-04-18)

The Sports Reports
Tioga sophomore Declan McKee reeled off 28 straight wins to end the season on his way to a state title. He is the The Sports Reports' 2024-25 "Wrestler of the Year."

Waverly freshman Drayton DeKay was a N.Y. State runner-up and is the "Lightweight of the Year," while Towanda senior Riley Vanderpool narrowly missed a PIAA medal and is the the "Middleweight of the Year," and his teammate senior Mason Higley earned a fifth-place medal at States, and is the "Heavyweight of the Year."

Williamson freshman Zander Wilson earned a trip to the PIAA Championships and is the "Newcomer of the Year," while Horseheads senior Jonah Lamb is the "Breakout Wrestler of the Year," and longtime Towanda mentor Bill Sexton is the "Coach of the Year."

McKee posted a 34-3 record, including 21 pins and eight technical falls, on his way to a Division 2 101-pound state championship.

McKee's losses came at the hands of Southwestern's Adrian Torres, who he beat in the state finals, as well as Briarcliff's Vincenzo Mannello, who placed fourth at States in Division 1, and CBA's Brody DiCaprio, who was seventh in Division 1.

McKee won the Windsor Christmas Tournament, beating St. Francis' Tyler Catrabone, who was runner-up in Division 1 this year, the Saratoga Invitational, and the Southern Tier Memorial.

He also won an IAC title, the Section IV Qualifier A, and the Section IV title.

DeKay posted a 37-5 record, including 22 pins and 12 technical falls. He was second at the STAC Championships, losing to eventual 124-pound state champ Maverick Beckwith of Norwich.

After dropping to 116 pounds, DeKay won the state qualifier and the Section IV Championships. DeKay won his first three matches at States, including a pin of the second seed, before losing, 7-4, in overtime to former state champion Tommy Aiello of John Glenn.

Vanderpool posted a 41-8 record, including 27 pins and four technical falls. He finished his career with a 158-37 record.

Vanderpool won the North Section and District 4 titles, finished second at the Northeast Regionals. At States, he was 2-3, losing a pair of one-point decisions.

Higley posted a 48-2 record, including 20 pins and 11 technical falls. He finished his career with a 151-32 record.

Higley won the North Section, District 4, and Northeast Regional titles. At States, he was 4-2 to finish fifth. Both of his losses (6-2 and 2-0) came to third-place finisher Caleb Rodriguez of Bishop McCort.

Wilson posted a 43-3 record with 10 falls and 10 technical falls.

Wilson won the North Section and District 4 titles. He suffered his first loss of the season in the opening-round of the Northeast Regionals, but won four in a row on Day 2 to finish third. He went 1-2 at States.

Last year, in his first year of wrestling, Lamb posted a 13-13 record at Tioga.

This year, Lamb posted a 22-9 record with 15 pins and three technical falls. He finished fourth at the STAC Championships, and was second at the Section IV, Division I Championships to punch his ticket to States. An injury, however, kept him from competing in Albany.

It takes a village to coach a team, and the Towanda staff had many hands that made for lighter work. Led by Sexton, the squad of Jeremy Sluyter, Cody Wheeler, Jake Stroud, Conrad Cole, Creighton Edsell, Mike Geurin, Dan Worthington, and Steven Yates are the Coaching Staff of the Year.

Towanda went 21-5 in duals, including a 1-2 mark at the District 4 Duals. The Knights won the North Section title, placed fourth at the District 4 Championships, and third at the Northeast Regionals.

2024-25 ALL-REGION WRESTLING
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Declan McKee, Tioga.
LIGHTWEIGHT OF THE YEAR: Drayton DeKay, Waverly:
MIDDLEWEIGHT OF THE YEAR: Riley Vanderpool, Towanda
HEAVYWEIGHT OF THE YEAR: Mason Higley, Towanda.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Zander Wilson, Williamson.
BREAKOUT WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Jonah Lamb, senior, Horseheads
COACH OF THE YEAR: Bill Sexton, Towanda.

ALL-REGION FIRST TEAM
Declan McKee, sophomore, Tioga: See above.

Mason Higley, senior, Towanda: See above.

Sawyer Robinson, senior, Towanda: See above.

Troy Beeman, junior, Waverly: Beeman posted a 39-4 record, with 22 pins and one technical fall. He won the STAC and Section IV Championships.

The defending state champ, Beeman suffered a controversial, 4-1, loss in the state finals.

Drayton DeKay, freshman, Waverly: See above.

Trevor Middendorf, senior, Newark Valley: Middenforf registered a 36-6 record, including seven pins and 15 technical falls. He won titles at the Larry Goodrich Invitational, the Dave Buck Memorial, and the Haines Memorial Tournament, before claiming an IAC title.

Middendorf was runner-up to eventual two-time state champ Maverick Beckwith of Norwich at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships, then wrestled back to finish third at the New York State Championships, posting a 5-1 record.

Zander Wilson, freshman, Williamson: See above.

Riley Vanderpool, senior, Towanda:  See above.

Jayden Duncanson, junior, Tioga: Duncanson posted a 42-4 record, including 20 pins and eight technical falls.

He won an IAC title, and a Section IV title, before finishing fourth at States — his fourth state medal.

Hunter Lavigne, senior, Horseheads: Lavigne posted a 35-6 record with 28 pins and three technical falls. and 5th in States.

He won a Windsor Christmas Tournament title, then won STAC and Section IV Division 1 Championships, before posting a 4-2 record at States to finish fifth.

Lucas Mosher, senior, Horseheads: Mosher had a 32-8 record with 16 pins and eight technical falls.  and fifth at States.

Mosher was second at the Windsor Tournament, then second at STACs before winning a Section IV title. He was 4-2 at States to finish fifth.

Coleton Owen, senior, Horseheads: Owen was 31-9 on the season with nine pins and seven technical falls.

He was second at STACS, and won a Section IV title, before posting a 3-3 mark at States to finish sixth.

Cooper Robinson, junior, Waverly: Robinson posted a 43-7 record, including seven pins and 19 technical falls.

Robinson finished second at the STAC Championships, won the Section IV, Division 2 title, and finished fifth at States, losing to the eventual second- and third-place finishers.

SECOND TEAM
Luke Sottolano, junior, Williamson: Sottolano went 39-11 this season with 24 pins. He placed second at North Section, third at Districts, third at Regionals, and was 0-2 in his first trip to States.

Rhylee Stotler, sophomore, Waverly:  Stotler forged a 41-9 record, with 29 pins and two technical falls. He won a STAC title, finished second to DeKay at the Section IV Championships, and placed fifth at States, losing to the eventual champ and third-place finisher.

Avery Bowman, 8th-grader, Waverly: Bowman registered a 36-14 record, with 20 pins and five technical falls. He placed third at the STAC Championships, third at the Section IV Championships, and eighth at States.

Bryce Pequignot, sophomore, North Penn-Liberty: Bryce Pequignot was 36-7 on the season, with six pins and 14 technical falls. He won the North Section, District 4, and Northeast Regional titles, and was 0-2 at States.

Brayden Pequignot, senior, North Penn-Liberty: Brayden Pequignot went 30-13 on the season, with 13 pins and five technical falls. He placed second at Sectionals and fourth at both Districts and Regionals. He was 0-2 at States.

Brendan Cooke, sophomore, Athens: Cooke forged a 25-15 record, including eight pins and four technical falls. He finished second at the District 4, Class AAA Championships, and narrowly missed the PIAA Championships with a sixth-place finish at the Northeast Regionals.

Bobby Struble, senior, Owego: Struble posted a 32-9 record, with 13 pins and three technical falls. After finishing third at the STACs, Struble finished second at the Section IV Championships, and seventh at States.

Austin DeBolt, senior, Newark Valley: DeBolt posted a 29-10 record, with 25 pins. He won an IAC title, and was third at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships. He went 2-2 at States.

Zaine Campbell, sophomore, Athens: Campbell posted a 29-6 record with three pins and 18 technical falls. He won a District 4 title, but was injured and missed the remainder of the postseason.

Seamus Carroll, senior, Horseheads: Carroll posted a 30-11 record, with 22 pins. He finished second at STACs, won a Section IV, Division I title, and was 1-2 at States.

Carson Rockwell, junior, Canton: Rockwell posted a 20-12 record with 10 pins and three technical falls. He missed more than a month of the season but returned to the postseason where he missed the state tournament by one win after finishing second at North Sections and fourth at Districts.

Reed Palmer, sophomore, Troy: Palmer was 24-15 on the season with six falls. He finished third at North Sections, seventh at Districts, and fourth at Regionals. He was 0-2 at States.

Lyle Vermilya, senior, Canton: Vermilya had a 32-8 record with seven pins and nine technical falls.  He was third at North Section, and fourth at Districts and Regionals. He went 1-2 at States.

THIRD TEAM
Dylan Brace, sophomore, Owego: Brace posted a 28-9 record with 12 pins and nine technical falls. He won a title at the North Country Invitational, and placed in the top four at three others. He punched his ticket to States with a third-place finish at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships. He went 0-2 at States.

Caleb Nason, senior, Athens: Nason posted a 26-9 record, including 23 pins. He finished third at the District 4, Class AAA Championships.

Ryder Depadua-Reese, sophomore, Elmira: Depadua-Reese posted a 31-12 record, with 14 pins and nine technical falls. He was fourth at STACs, won a Section IV, Division I title, and went 3-2 at States.

Josh Knapp, junior, Horseheads: Knapp posted a 32-10 record, with six pins and eight forfeits. He finished second at STACs, won the Section IV, Division I title, and was 1-2 at States.

Connor Davidson, senior, Athens: Davidson posted a 26-12 record, including 14 pints, and three technical falls. He placed second at the District 4, Class AAA Championships.

Jonah Lamb, senior, Horseheads: See above.

Rylee Sluyter, senior, Towanda: Sluyter posted a 31-12 record with 12 pins and eight technical falls. He finished second at the North Sections.

Reese Sluyter, freshman, Towanda: Reese Sluyter posted a 26-9 record with 13 pins and five technical falls. He won a North Section title, and just missed Regionals due to an injury, placing sixth at Districts.

Ayden Hunsinger, senior, Wyalusing: Hunsinger posted a 41-7 record with 22 pins and one technical fall. He won a North Section title, was third at Districts, fourth at Regionals. He was 1-2 at States.


Riley Oakes, senior, North Penn-Liberty: Oakes was 36-12 on the season with 14 pins and six technical falls. He finished third at North Section, and seventh at Districts.

Ryder Bowen, senior, Wellsboro: Bowen posted a 32-8 record with 12 pins and six technical falls. He won a North Section title, finished fourth at Districts, and sixth at Regionals.

FOURTH TEAM
Bodhi Nickerson, freshman, North Penn-Liberty: Nickerson posted a  31-13 record, with 12 pins and three technical falls. He placed third at North Sections and seventh at Districts. He was 2-2 at Regionals.

Curtis Maynard, sophomore Towanda: Maynard had a 25-15 record this season with 11 pins and three technical falls. He won a North Section title, finished fourth at Districts, and fifth at Regionals, narrowly missing a trip to States.

Mason Alexander, junior, Northeast Bradford: Alexander posted a 35-10 record with 11 pins and 10 technical falls. He finished second at North Section, fifth at Districts, and sixth at Regionals.

Isaiah Harvey, junior Wyalusing: Harvey posted a 31-12 record with 22 pins and one technical fall. He finished fourth at North Sections and fifth at Districts.

Greg Golden, junior, Thomas A. Edison: Golden had a 31-7 record this season, with eight pins and 10 technical falls. He won an IAC title, was third at the Section IV Qualifier, and was fifth at the Section IV Division 2 Championships.

Connor McAllister, freshman, Horseheads: McAllister posted a 29-10 record, with 15 pins and eight forfeits. He finished third at STACs, won a Section IV, Division I title, and was 0-2 at States.

Clayton Smith, senior, Corning: Smith was 25-13, with 11 pins and three technical falls this season. He finished second at the Section IV, Division 1 Championships, and was 0-2 at States.

Collin Monell, senior, Owego: Monnell posted a 30-12 record, with 16 pins and five technical falls. He won a STAC title, and placed fifth at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Cadin Creeley, junior, Newark Valley: Creeley posted a 25-8 record, including 15 pins and three technical falls. He won the Haines Memorial Tournament, was in the top four in three others. Creeley placed fourth at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Rodney Vaow, junior, SVEC: Vaow was 28-12 on the season, including 15 pins and eight technical falls. He placed third at the IAC Championships, and was sixth at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Karson Sipley, junior, Athens: Sipley posted a 22-13 record, including 15 pins and three technical falls. He placed second at the District 4, Class AAA Championships.

Logan Bellis, junior, Tioga: Battling a knee injury all season, Bellis posted a 27-12 record. He was second t the IACs, and sixth at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Hunter Simonds, junior, Williamson: Simonds posted a 32-12 record with 14 pins and two technical falls. He finished second at North Section, and seventh at Districts.

ALL-REGION NEWCOMERS
Zander Wilson, freshman, Williamson: See above.

Gage Evans, freshman, Towanda: See above.

Bodhi Nickerson, freshman, North Penn-Liberty: See above.

Treyton Barrett, freshman, Athens: See above.

Reese Sluyter, freshman, Towanda: See above.

Connor McAllister, freshman, Horseheads: See above

Mason Vanderhoff, 8th-grader, Horseheads: See above.

Walker Hyde, freshman, Williamson: Hyde posted a 28-10 record with 13 pins. He finished fifth at North Section.

Steven Olsen, freshman, Williamson: Olsen had a 22-13 record with 11 pins and one technical fall. He finished sixth at North Sections.

Kohen Flynn, freshman, Williamson: Flynn was 22-14 on the season with six pins and two technical falls.

Carter Soltis, 7th-grader, Corning: Soltis was 22-10 with eight pins and three technical falls. He finished fifth at the Section IV, Division 1 championships.

Drayke Ulrich, freshman, Tioga: Ulrich posted a 19-7 record, with seven pins and three technical falls. He placed second at the IAC Championships.

Lucas Boccasini, junior, Owego: Boccasini posted a 22-15 record, with 12 pins and two technical falls. He won a title at the Campbell-Savona Holiday Tournament, and finished sixth at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

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