SECTION IV GIRLS WRESTLING: NEWARK VALLEY’S MERRILL SURPRISES, PUNCHES TICKET TO STATES (February 13, 2026)

By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — Newark Valley’s Hadley Merrill stunned the No. 1 seed at the Section IV Girls Wrestling Championships at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena here Friday — and most likely the majority of the people in attendance.

Merrill trailed United’s Madison Farberman, 8-0, at one point in the 94-pound title bout and was down, 8-1, at the start of the second period. Fifty-five seconds later, she was celebrating a sectional title.

“I think I did really good and I'm super happy with my performance,” said Merrill, who admitted she was surprised that she pinned the top seed.

The fall at 3:55 not only punched Merrill’s ticket to the state championships, it avenged an early-season loss to Farberman by tech. fall at the Newark Valley Girls Wrestling Tournament.

Merrill advanced to the finals via a 10-0 tech. fall over Windsor’s Addie Deyo and a 13-2 tech. fall against Elmira’s Alexis Collins.

NV’s other 94-pounder, Tressa Middendorf, took fifth place. She opened with a fall over Amirah Clinkscale of Union-Endicott / Maine-Endwell / Vestal in 5:19, then lost by fall to Farberman and Hannah Giammatteo of Sidney. Middendorf endedher season on a high note by pinning Collins in 3:22, breaking an 8-8 deadlock.

Isabella King (152) also reached the podium with a fourth-place effort. She pinned Ithaca’s Kailynn Holmes in 2:01, lost by fall to Chenango Forks’ Emily Sullivan, then decked Oneonta’s Kelsey Murtha in 18 seconds and U-E/M-E/Vestal’s Aneesah Smith in 36 seconds. She lost the third-place bout to Lily Karn of Oxford/Greene by fall.

Kailynn Harvey (120) was 3-2 on the day. She scored a 14-4 tech. fall of Walton/Delaware Academy’s Emily Swartz before losing to SVEC’s Tayah Beach by a 10-0 tech. fall. She pinned Elmira’s Bella Maggese in 2:39 and Tioga’s Grace Howey in 40 seconds. She suffered a fall in her final match.

Billeigh Dawson (126) was 1-2 with a pin of Tioga’s Sophia Haney in 47 seconds.

Emily LaPorte (132) went 1-2, pinning Johnson City’s Maliyah Cubilette in 3:57

Malerie Gregrow (138) was 1-2 also, pinning JC’s Haelei Blakeslee in 2:46.

The state championships are Feb. 26 at MVP Arena in Albany.

“I just hope I can do my best and give it my all,” said Merrill, who has already competed at the state level in cross country.

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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.

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