TIOGA COUNTY - Owego's Rusty Virkler led the Owego flag football team to new heights this spring, returning to the New York State Class C Final Four again, but this time coaching the River Hawks one step further to a birth in the Championship game, earning Virkler Tioga County Sports Report 2025 "Coach of the Spring."

Coach Virkler has installed a winning culture in Owego's flag football program that consists of hard work, team chemistry and dedication to the game and growing as individuals. 

This season he coached the team to an undefeated regular season, going 12-0, before going on to win the Section IV Class C title by defeating top-10 state ranked Susquehanna Valley. 

Virkler would coach the River Hawks to three more wins in the state playoffs, including a Regional Final win and a State Semifinal victory, before falling in the NYSPHSAA State Championship in overtime.

Rusty Virkler, Flag Football, Owego: See above.

Gutierrez pulled all the right strings for the Tioga Tigers in 2025. He led Tioga to an IAC South Small School Division title, and an IAC Small School title. The Tigers finished fourth at the Section IV, Class D Championships.

Owego's Marsh coached the OFA girls' lacrosse team to a 12-3 regular season record and a Section IV Class C Championship, as well as a Regional title victory over New Paltz, paving the way for her team's run all the way to the New York State Final Four.

Kevin Jester coached the Candor boys' golf team to a 7-2 regular season record, along with capturing the division championship. Coach Jester followed that up by taking his team to the IAC Championships where the Coyotes won the IAC Small School title.

Coach Hills led a young Tigers' squad to a 15-4 record with an upset bid over #6 state ranked, Union Springs in the postseason, allowing for a birth in the Section IV Class C Championship.

Coach Wegmann led the 2025 River Hawks to a 15-6-1 record that included capturing the STAC Central title, as well as a second consecutive birth in the Section IV Class A Championship Series.

The Panthers boy's golf team was a mixture of veteran and inexperienced players in 2025. Throughout the season, Darrow coached the team to achieving tremendous growth and development, including earning three consecutive wins in the team's final matches of the season to reach .500 and qualify as a group for sectionals.