ALL-TIOGA COUNTY BOYS BOWLING: WAVERLY’S JOHNSON TOPS TALENTED LIST OF PIN PUNCHERS (2024-03-20)

Tioga County Sports Report
TIOGA COUNTY — Local bowlers excelled on the boys circuit this winter with nine keglers carrying season averages of 200 or higher.

Leading the way was Waverly’s Derek Johnson, the All-Tioga County Boys “Bowler of the Year.” The sophomore finished with a 226 average (first in Division 2 and second in Section IV) and played a major role in the Wolverines’ runner-up showing at the D2 state championships.

He rolled a 779 series at the STAC end-of-season tournament and a 708 to lead the team to the Section IV Class C championship. He added 692 and 663 series as Waverly successfully defended their Division 2 State Qualifier title, and had the fifth-highest score in all of Section IV for nine games at the qualifier. He added a 1213 series during six games at states, posting four games above 200.

The “Newcomer of the Year” is Owego’s Devan Card. He finished the season with a 196 average, ranking him in the top 20 in Section IV D2. His 265-597 at the STAC championships placed him among the top 10 and was the second-best showing on the team by the River Hawks’ No. 4 bowler. He also shot a 599 at sectionals and an 1195 at the state qualifier, giving him a 1794 9-game total (18th overall).

Owego’s Rusty Virkler and Waverly’s Derek Bowman share the “Coach of the Year” award.

Virkler’s River Hawks won their third consecutive STAC Central championship, winning all 10 matches (including taking nine of 10 points in two wins over the Wolverines). They were second to Corning at the STAC championships, second in Section IV Class B and second to the Waverly at the Section IV Division 2 state qualifier. Corning would go on to win the Division 1 state championship while Waverly was second in Division 2.

The third-year coach has won all 30 STAC matches since taking over the Owego program in 2021-22 and his teams have collected 146 out of a possible 150 points in those events.

Bowman’s squad was second in its first season in the STAC Central and second at the STAC end-of-season tournament (only division champs are eligible for the STAC championships). The Wolverines were also the Section IV Class C champion and repeated as the Division 2 winner, and their state tournament performance was a program best.

ALL-TIOGA COUNTY BOYS BOWLING
Bowler of the Year: Derek Johnson, Waverly
Newcomer of the Year: Devan Card, Owego
Coach of the Year: Rusty Virkler, Owego; Derek Bowman, Waverly

First Team
Kody Floyd, Candor
Connor Kotski, Owego
Evan O’Hara, Owego
William Waldron, Owego
Tristan Campbell, Waverly
Derek Johnson, Waverly
Trenton Sindoni, Waverly
Dom Wood, Waverly

Second Team
Tyler Dunham, Candor
Aiden Jackson, Candor
Brandon Eynon, Newark Valley
Devan Card, Owego
Graydon Stanton, Owego
Cameron Rought, Tioga
Nick Slater, Tioga
Carter Hayes, Waverly

NOTE: All-stars are listed alphabetically by school, then name.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Derek Johnson.