TAYLOR MADE: TIME TO FACE REALITY (2020-03-29)

The 2020 spring regular season was scheduled to begin this past Wednesday. Obviosuly, with the coronavirus pandemic hitting New York state hard, and school re-openings now delayed until at least mid-April, it's time we all face the very real possibility that scholastic sports may never happen this spring.

Recently, Dr. Robert Zayas, Executive Director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, notified the section executive directors that focusing on the spring sports regular season and providing students with an opportunity to participate will take priority. He also indicated that state championships would be a bonus.

Unfortunately, the spring athletes won't have to worry about any of that. I believe we're done. I hate to sound like a pessimist, but we won't be playing baseball or softball, nor will we be competing in golf, tennis or track & field. In fact, I think we will be extremely lucky to experience summer youth sports this year.

With that said, let's take a look at some of what we will be missing this spring.

BASEBALL
Tioga has won the Section IV Class C championship three of the past five years, and was a contender to repeat this season. The Tigers did lose three starters, including Pierce Hendershot to the Division I college ranks.

IAC champion Waverly was looking forward to another strong campaign, despite the loss of four seniors. The Wolverines might actually be the best team in Tioga County — if they get to play.

I was also looking forward to watching the fledgling SVEC baseball team make its debut as well.

Owego had some talent returning as well.

GOLF
Tioga's Sam Taylor would have been the county's top boys golfer coming back and IAC champion Tigers also had Jaycob Maciak and Zach Nichols coming back. Taylor and Maciak are seniors.

Candor freshman Jacob Banks is a promising younger golfer who was expected to do well this season.

The girls side boasts four-time defending Section IV champion Waverly. Despite key graduation losses, the Wolverines would have been sporting a lot of talent in multi-time state qualifiers Sidney Tomasso, and Gianna and Gabby Picco.

Meanwhile, Newark Valley and S-VE are relatively young programs trying to build.

BOYS TENNIS
Owego would have had just one senior return, Evan Hamed.

Although it's considered boys tennis season, smaller schools are allowed to include girls to fill out the roster. Newark Valley and Waverly both have girls on their teams.

NV was light on seniors last year and was expecting to have good numbers this year.

SOFTBALL
Newark Valley was looking to be a contender this season with several quality players back to contribute.

Waverly, which advanced to the state tournament in 2019, was expecting to be a contender despite the loss of Wendi Hammond to the college Division 1 ranks.

Tioga was relatively young last season and with a bunch of seniors on this year's roster, was also a potential contender.

TRACK & FIELD
Waverly will probably feel the hit the most.

On the boys side, pole vault and hurdles standout Isaac Chandler will probably miss his shot at a state championship, and distance runner Collin Wright was a potential high finisher.

Likewise, the Wolverines' girls team will also be denied more state success, with top-notch runners Elizabeth Fritzen, Melina Ortiz, Cora Smith and Sheridan Talada missing out on their final seasons. Olivia Nittinger was also part of the 2019 state effort, but she still has a couple years left.

Lance Jensen may be the most heavily hit athlete at Candor. Fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at states in 2019, he would be entering this season most likely ranked No. 2.

S-VE's Ryleigh Clark and Luke Simonton, and Newark Valley's Caden Bennett are among some of the other seniors from Tioga County who were potential state qualifiers.

LACROSSE
The Owego boys made it to states for the first time last year. Despite losing several seniors, including a couple of key players to the Division II college level, would be a possible repeat sectional Class B champ this year. Last year, the roster boasted 14 juniors.

The girls team lost 10 of its 17 players to graduation, so would have had some rebuilding to do this year.

To wrap up my thoughts on the spring season, I am crossing my fingers that I am wrong and the spring season will actually occur, because I was really looking forward to plenty of exciting action.

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RASSLIN' ROUNDUP
Wrestling was one of two sports to complete its season before the pandemic struck. If you recall, the Tioga County kids did quite well.

Following the season, the New York Wrestling News published its final state rankings, this one rating the top 15 grapplers in each weight class in Division I and II combined.

Tioga 8th-grader Gianni Silvestri who went 40-1 and won the D-2 title at 99-pounds, was ranked second to Carmel 7th-grader Peter Duke, who went 45-0 in D-1.

At 106, the smaller schools seemed to be more competitive with the top four state place-winners being ranked among the top six. The Tigers Caden Bellis (39-4), who placed fourth, was ranked sixth.

Newark Valley senior Josh Post (37-6), fifth in D-2, was ranked 11th at 132.

At 138, Tioga's Brady Worthing (45-1) was the runner-up in D-2 and was ranked No. 5 overall.

Emmett Wood (39-8) placed seventh in D-2 at 152 and was ranked 14th overall.

Waverly's Ethan Stotler (44-3), who came in as an 11 seed and placed fourth at 160 in D2, ended up with a No. 6 overall ranking.

Cam Bundy (34-7) would get ranked 11th at 170. He placed third in D-2.

In all, 20 Section IV wrestlers made the rankings with 13 coming from the Division II ranks.