TAYLOR MADE: BOYS WINTER SPORTS WILL BE MIXED BAG IN 2020-21 (2020-03-27)
Tioga County Sports Report
TIOGA COUNTY — When the 2020-21 winter season rolls around expect to see a mixed bag of success and struggles — and probably a lot of question marks.
One thing that is certain is wrestling in Tioga County will continue to thrive. Tioga returns a bunch of studs, led by 99-pound state champion Gianni Silvestri. He is the "Mighty Mouse of the Mats" (and I mean that with all due respect) and following the past season's success, has put himself in line to become a five-time state champ.
The Tigers return state qualifiers Caden Bellis, Donavan Smith, Mason Welch and Emmett Wood. Bellis, Welch and Wood stood on the podium this season.
Newark Valley has four potential state qualifiers. Cam Carrier and Josh Duke have the best shots at qualifying, but Connor Jacobson and Joey Woodmansee have the potential if they can hone their skills during the off-season.
Owego's Cam Bundy (3rd at states) comes back and could take Matt Laubach to Albany with him. Jacob Morris, Matt Gatto, Tyler Benjamin and Logan Bailey are four Indians to keep an eye on.
SVEC 8th-grader Ousmane Duncanson was a potential state qualifier and Devin Beach came on strong at the end of the season. Parker Sexton was a preseason pick to go to states, but was bitten hard by the injury bug. Nick Tubbs, Jacob Campolito and John Hammond give the Eagles some potential up top.
The Waverly program continues to gain strength after a few down years and has a promising upper weight in Gage Tedesco. Conner Stotler and Austin Kimble are solid as well. Unfortunately, the Wolverines lose Garrett Skeens, who is moving away, in addition to state placer Ethan Stotler (graduation).
——————
HAMMERING THE HARDWOODS
The hoops scene will change drastically next season. Of the 72 names on Tioga County varsity rosters, 30 belonged to seniors. Of course, 10 of them were Owego players. There were 19 seniors filling starting roles on a regular basis and another five or six seniors who saw ample playing time off the bench.
Owego bids adieu to its top three scorers while Candor's balanced lineup usually had four seniors on the court at any given time. Tioga loses its top player as does Waverly, which also loses its defensive star, and S-VE graduates two of its taller players. Newark Valley may be the team most likely to offset its graduation losses with next season's senior group.
Here are some players to keep your eye on:
S-VE's James Sutherlin may be the most athletic player on the floor, although NV's Raidyn Ford may have something to say about it.
Of course, the Cardinals' Donavin Beebe could be the purest baller on the court while Candor's Nick Thomas runs the offense as well as anyone.
A couple of young guns who should thrill you are Tioga's Ethan Perry and Waverly's Joe Tomasso. Both were key contributors as 8th-graders.
——————
BOWL THEM OVER
I want to give a shout out to Waverly bowler Zach Vanderpool. There weren't a lot of small school bowlers who could carry a 200 average, but the freshman standout posted an impressive 217. He will certainly be the Tioga County kegler to beat next season.
The Wolverines' Matt Mauersberg, Cody Blackwell and Ashton Pritchard are also back, each bringing a 170-plus average.
Owego's Cole Dalton, Nathan Travis and Tyler Taft all carried averages above 175 and should make the Indians competitive.
Look for Candor's Kody Floyd to be a big threat on the lanes. If memory serves me right, he will only be an 8th-grader next season.
Tioga has a bunch coming back as it shoots for a sixth consecutive IAC Division 2 title. Kolton Pond, Rocco Fariello and Dylan Slater give the Tigers a trio with 180-plus averages.
Newark Valley loses a couple solid performers in Alex Umiker and Jason Brown.
——————
ON THE TRACK
Owego's indoor track & field numbers were down, but the Indians' top performers were a pair of juniors and two sophomores.
The team's top individual showings included a win and two runner-up showings by junior distance runner Jimmy McDonald. He was victorious in a 1600-meter run, and added seconds in the 1,000 and 1600 — all in three different meets.
Junior Gus Cantella came in fourth in the 55 and 300 dashes. Sophomores Gavin Bowers and Dylan were fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 1600.
Waverly loses state bronze medal-winning pole vaulter Iasac Chandler to graduation, but returns some key performers in juniors Collin Wright, Caden Wheeler and Jayden Rose, and sophomore Nate Ackley. Wright qualified for states as a sophomore.
——————
IN THE POOL
Owego graduates multi-event winner Brandon Lavo, who was second and third in individual events at sectionals, as well as a couple other seniors. However, the very young Indians had eight freshman on this season's roster, plus a couple solid sophomores in Adam Gault and Jacob Krassin.
Waverly says farewell to record-setting Matt Atanasoff, who won two medals at the state championships. Also graduating is record-setting diver Gage Streeter, who ended a longtime state meet qualifying drought.
