THE SPORTS REPORTS: TIOGA'S DUNCANSON, BELLIS SHARE 'WRESTLER OF YEAR' HONORS; TIOGA COUNTY WELL-REPRESENTED ON ALL-REGION TEAM (2023-03-31)

The Sports Reports
It was quite a year for high school wrestling in the region, especially North of the Border.

Tioga maintained its dominance in Division 2 in the Empire State, winning its second straight State Duals title, and its fourth straight team title at the New York State Championships. The Tigers sent eight wrestlers to States, and seven of them brought home medals, including a pair of state champs, and two runners-up.

Waverly had its best season in more than a decade, sending five wrestlers to States, while Horseheads dominated Division I in Section IV, and sent seven grapplers to States. Elmira sent three, including State silver medalist Donavan Smith.

Wrestling South of the Border didn’t enjoy the same type of success, sending just five wrestlers to the rugged PIAA Class AA Championships — the fewest in nearly 25 years. Only Sullivan County sophomore Colton Wade was able to bring home a medal.

Tioga junior Ousmane Duncanson won his second consecutive New York State title, and his classmate, Caden Bellis, a runner-up last year, broke through to win his first. They share The Sports Report “Wrestler of the Year” honors.

Duncanson ran the table with a 37-0 record on the season to become just the third two-time champ in the storied history of the Tioga program.

During the postseason, Duncanson was 10-0 with eight pins and one technical fall. His closest match was an 8-1 win over Windsor’s Mason McCombs in the state semifinals.

He was also 4-0 at the State Duals, including three first-period falls.

Bellis suffered a broken bone in his hand during his only loss of the season, a 14-5 setback against nationally-ranked Eligh Rivera, who went on to win a Prep national title, in the semifinals of the Southern Tier Memorial on Jan. 13.

After sitting out for 15 days, Bellis went 4-0, including three falls and a major decision at the State Duals, then went 10-0 in the individual postseason, with seven pins and a major decision.

He finished the season at 33-1.

Wyalusing freshman Cole Patrick made an immediate impact for the Rams, and is the “Newcomer of the Year.”

Patrick posted a 36-13 record on the season, and was unbeaten in NTL Duals. He finished second at the North Section Championships, fourth at the District 4 Championships, and second at the Northeast Regional Championships. He was 0-2 at States, losing to eventual medalist Josef Garshnick of United in the opening round.

Towanda sophomores Mason Higley and Sawyer Robinson both posted solid seasons, but exploded on to the scene in 2022-23. They share the “Breakout Wrestler of the Year” honors.

Higley improved on his 21-14 freshman season, putting together a 40-9 mark this season. He finished second at the North Section Championships, third at the District 4 Championships, and third at the Northeast Regionals.

Higley went 1-2 at States, losing in the second round to eventual state champ Adam Waters of Faith Christian, and eventual third-place finisher Waylon Wehler of St. Mary’s in the consolation bracket.

Robinson had an even bigger improvement in terms of record. He was 14-18 as a freshman, and 34-11 third season.

Robinson won the North Section Championships, and the District 4 Championships, then finished sixth at the Northeast Regionals. He also finished second at the prestigious Windsor Christmas Tournament, losing in the finals to two-time NY State Division 1 third-place finisher Eric Carlsson of Manhasset.

Tioga coach Kris Harrington is the obvious choice for “Coach of the Year.”

Harrington kept the Tioga juggernaut rolling. The Tigers won their sixth consecutive Section IV title, and their fourth straight team title at the New York State Division 2 Championships. They also won their fourth consecutive Section IV Duals title, and second straight New York State Division 2 title.

The Tigers also advanced eight wrestlers to the state championships, and brought home seven medals, including a pair of state champs, two runners-up, and a third-place finisher.

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WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Tioga juniors Ousmane Duncanson and Caden Bellis.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Wyalusing freshman Cole Patrick.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Tioga’s Kris Harrington.
BREAKOUT WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Towanda sophomores Mason Higley and Sawyer Robinson.

FIRST TEAM
102 — Logan Bellis, freshman, Tioga: 38-10, runner-up at New York State Division 2 Championships … second at Section IV qualifier, and third at Section IV Championships.

107 — Lyle Vermilya, sophomore, Canton: 31-16, second at North Section, fourth at Districts 4 Championships, fifth at Northeast Regionals.

110 — Kadin Cole, freshman, Tioga: 20-15, fourth at Section IV qualifier, sixth at Section IV Division 2 Championships.

114 — Cole Patrick, freshman, Wyalusing: See above.

118 — Jayden Duncanson, freshman, Tioga: 42-5, third-place finisher at New York State Division 2 Championships … first at Section IV Qualifier,  and second at the Section IV Championships.

121— C.J. Carr, junior, Wyalusing: 37-9, first at North Section, fourth at Districts 4 Championships, and fifth at Northeast Regionals.

126 / 127 — Gianni Silvestri, junior, Tioga: 41-2, state runner-up at New York State Division 2 Championships … first at Section IV Qualifier, first at Section IV Championships.

132 / 133 — Tyler Roe, junior, Tioga: 38-8,  state qualifier, first at Section IV Qualifier, first at Section IV Division 2  Championships.

138 / 139 — Caden Bellis, junior, Tioga: See above.
 
145 — Hayden Ward, senior, Canton:  33-7, won North Section, injured at Districts 4 Championships.

152 — Donavan Smith, senior, Elmira:  34-2, state runner-up … first at Section IV Division 1 Championships.

160 — Ousmane Duncanson, junior, Tioga: See above.

172 — Mason Higley, sophomore, Towanda:  See above.

189 — Sawyer Robinson, sophomore, Towanda: See above.

215 — Mason Woodward, senior, Troy: 32-11, second at North Section, fourth at Districts 4 Championships, fifth at Northeast Regionals.

285 — Mason Nelson, senior, Canton: 19-9, state qualifier … won North Section, second at Districts 4 Championships, second at Northeast Regionals.


SECOND TEAM
102 — Drayton DeKay, 7th-grader, Waverly: 25-12, first Section IV qualifier, fourth at Section IV Division 2  Championships.

107 — Brayden Pequignot, sophomore, NP-Liberty: 28-9, won North Section, seventh at Districts 4 Championships.

110 — Collin Monell, sophomore, Owego: 30-10, fifth at Section IV qualifier.

114 — Colton Wade, sophomore, Sullivan County: 41-5; PIAA 7th-place finisher … won North Section title, District 4 title, and Northeast Regional title.

118 — Jonathan Guyette, junior, Elmira: 23-15, fourth at Section IV, Division I Championships.

121 — Rocky Finnegan, senior, Sullivan County: 31-11, second at North Section, seventh at District 4 Championships.

126 / 127 — Cooper Robinson, freshman, Athens: 28-12, third North Section, seventh at District 4 Championships..

132 / 133 — Jake Courtney, senior, Athens: 25-10, won North Section.

138 / 139 — Riley Vanderpool, sophomore, Towanda: 37-11, won North Section, third at District 4 Championships, sixth at Northeast Regionals.

145 — Drew Macumber, junior, Tioga: 35-8,  sixth-place finisher at New York State, Division 2 Championships … first at Section IV Qualifier, first at Section IV Championships.

152 — Ayden Hunsinger, sophomore, Wyalusing: 37-11, state qualifier second at North Section, third at District 4 Championships., fourth at Northeast Regionals,

160 — Porter Dawson, senior, Sullivan County: 29-14, won North Section, eighth at District 4 Championships.

172 — Riley Parker, senior, Canton: 37-13, first at North Section sixth at Districts 4 Championships, sixth at Northeast Regionals.

189 — Matthias Welles, 8th-grader, Waverly: 29-12, state qualifier …  second at Section IV Qualifier, second at Section IV Division 2  Championships.

215 — Michael Davis, junior, Canton: 38-7, won North Section, fifth at District 4.


THIRD TEAM
102 — Trevor Middendorf, sophomore, Newark Valley: 33-7, second at Section IV qualifier, and fifth at Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

107 — Isaiah Harvey, freshman, Wyalusing: 23-10.

110 — Logan Woodin, freshman, Newark Valley: 30-10, third at Section IV Qualifier.

114 — Mason Vanderpool, junior, Athens: 18-9, third at North Section, eighth at Districts 4 Championships.

114 — Konner Kerr, junior, Troy:  22-15 fourth at North Section, sixth at Districts 4 Championships.

118 — Liam Ogden, 8th-grader, Elmira: 11-7, third at Section IV, Division I Championships.

121 — Cohen Landis, junior, Canton: 28-18, third at North Section, fifth at Districts 4 Championships.

126 / 127 — Deakon Bailey, junior, Tioga:  sixth-place finisher at the New York State Division 2 Championships … finished fourth at Section IV qualifier, and third at Section IV Championships.
 
126 / 127: Riley Oakes, sophomore, NP-Liberty: 27-12, won North Section, eighth at District 4 Championships.

132 / 133 — Rylee Sluyter, sophomore, Towanda: 27-16, second at North Section, sixth at Districts 4 Championships.

138 / 139 — Conner Stotler, senior, Waverly: 25-11, state qualifier … finished second at Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

138 / 139: Ryan Massangale, senior, Horseheads: 31-9, state qualifier, Section IV Division 1 champion.

145 — Ayden Sprague, senior, Williamson: 25-9, second at North Section

152 — Hudson Ward, junior, Canton: 42-12, won North Section, fifth at Districts 4 Championships.

160 — Braeden Hills, senior, Waverly: 30-15, state qualifier …  third at Section IV Qualifier, third at Section IV Division 2 Championships.

172 — John Johnston, sophomore, SVEC: 27-15, fifth at Section IV Qualifier, sixth at Section IV Division 2  Championships.

189 — George Valentine, sophomore, NP-Liberty: 26-11, second at North Section, seventh at Districts.

189 — Hunter Lavigne, sophomore, Horseheads: 21-8, state qualifier … Section IV champ.



ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM
102 — Drayton DeKay, 7th-grader, Waverly: See above.

107 — Isaiah Harvey, freshman, Wyalusing: See above.

110 — Rodney Vaow, freshman, SVEC: 17-13.

114— Cole Patrick, freshman, Wyalusing: See above.

114 — Hunter Simonds, freshman, Williamson: 20-13, third at North Section.

121— Karson Sipley, freshman, Athens: 11-10, District 4 qualifier.

126 /127 — Cooper Robinson, freshman, Athens: See above.

132 / 133 — Logan Rhodes, freshman, Newark Valley: 20-10, fifth at Section IV qualifier.

138 / 139 — Brock Smith, freshman, NP-Liberty: 20-16, fourth at North Section.

145 — Chase Guerin, sophomore, Towanda: 22-20, third at North Section, eighth at Districts 4 Championships.

152 — Elijah Williams, freshman, Newark Valley: 6-6, five falls and one major decision

160 — Cameron Card, senior, Owego: 19-17, third at Section IV qualifier, sixth at Section IV Championships.

189 — Kael Millard, freshman, Troy: 15-16, third at North Section.

215 — Luke Sottolano, freshman, Williamson:  21-15, District 4 qualifier, fifth at North Section.

285 — Audy Vanderpool senior, Towanda: 32-14, third at North Section, fifth at Districts 4 Championships.