THE SPORTS REPORTS: TIOGA SWEEPS MAJOR AWARDS ON ALL-REGION WRESTLING TEAM; TIOGA COUNTY DOMINATES ALL-REGION TEAM (2024-04-01)

The Sports Reports
To the victors go the spoils, and Tioga by virtue of winning its third consecutive N.Y. State Division 2 Duals title, and fifth straight team title at the N.Y. State Division 2 Championships sweeps the major awards for this year’s All-Region wrestling team.

Senior Ousmane Duncanson, who had a 111-2 record in his three season at Tioga, and finished his career with 91 consecutive wins, posted a 33-0 record this season, including 20 falls and four technical falls, and became the first three-time state champ in program history. He is The Sports Report 2023-24 All-Region "Wrestler of the Year."

In the postseason, including the Section IV and New York State Duals, Duncanson was 19-0, with 14 falls, one tech fall, and two major decisions.

He is headed to Division I Lock Haven in the fall.

Tioga freshman Declan McKee made an instant impact for the Tigers at 101 pounds.

McKee finished his first varsity season with a 34-7 record, and a fourth-place finish at States. He also earned his first IAC title, and his first Section IV title. He is the 2023-24 All-Region “Newcomer of the Year.”

During the regular season, McKee placed second at the Knuutila Memorial Tournament, and second at the Southern Tier Memorial. He was fourth at the rugged Windsor Christmas Tournament.

Last year, Tioga sophomore Kadin Cole finished with a 20-15 record, including three losses to Waverly’s Drayton DeKay, and two to Unatego-Unadilla Valley’s Gavin Nordberg. He also placed sixth-place at the Section IV Championships.

This year, Cole was 37-7, and finished third at the Section IV Championships, and third at the State Championships. He also went 3-0 against Nordberg, and 3-0 against DeKay.

Cole is the “Breakout Wrestler of the Year.”

Tioga’s Kris Harrington has lifted the storied Tioga program to new levels, and kept it there for an extended period.

The Tigers have now won five consecutive Section IV Duals titles, and three straight State Duals title. They are currently riding a 41-match win streak.

Tioga has also won seven straight Section IV Championships, and five straight team title at the New York State Championships. This year, Tioga sent 10 wrestlers to States, and all 10 brought home medals — one state champ, three runners-up, three third-place finishers, two fourth-place finishers, and a sixth-place finisher.

Harrington is the 2023-24 “Coach of the Year.”


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WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Ousmane Duncanson, senior, Tioga.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Declan McKee, freshman.
COACH OF THE YEAR: Kris Harrington, Tioga.
BREAKOUT WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Kadin Cole, sophomore, Tioga.

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2023-24 ALL-REGION WRESTLING
FIRST TEAM
Ousmane Duncanson, senior, Tioga: See above.

Gianni Silvestri, senior, Tioga: A four-time state finalist and two-time state champ, Silvestri was a state runner-up for the second straight season. Silvestri, a five-time finalist, won his fourth straight Section IV title, and was 33-1 on the season. He was 188-21 for his career, including 161-5 record in his last five seasons.

Caden Bellis, senior, Tioga: A three-time state finalist, Bellis was a runner-up for the second time, capping a 33-2 senior season. A four-time Section IV champ, Bellis finished his career at 180-19, including a 153-9 mark his last five seasons.

Troy Beeman, sophomore, Waverly: Beeman did not wrestle his first match this season until Jan. 4, then posted a 22-3 record and won a 285-pound state title. He was 10-0 in the postseason, with six of those wins coming by fall.

Hudson Ward, senior, Canton: He was 40-13 on the season, and placed eighth at the PIAA Championships. He won the North Section Tournament, placed second at the District 4 Championships, and placed second at the Northeast Regionals.

Sawyer Robinson, junior, Towanda: He was 44-10 on the season, and placed seventh at the PIAA Championships. He placed second at the North Section Tournament, won the District 4 Championship, and was second at the Northeast Regionals.

Mason Higley, junior, Towanda: He was 42-7 on the season, and a state qualifier. He won the North Section Tournament, placed second at the District 4 Championships, and was second at the Northeast Regionals.

Jayden Duncanson, sophomore, Tioga: A three-time state place-winner, Jayden Duncanson posted a career-best second-place finish after back-to-back third-place finishes. Jayden Duncanson was 31-2 on the season.

Declan McKee, freshman, Tioga: See above.

Kaydin Cole, sophomore, Tioga: See above.

Logan Bellis, sophomore, Tioga: Logan Bellis has finished third at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships in each of the last two years. He has a second- and third-place finish at States in those two seasons. Logan Bellis finished this season at 36-7, and is 104-30 for his career.

Bryce Pequignot, freshman, NP-Liberty:  He was 33-8 on the season, and a state qualifier. He won the North Section Tournament, finished third at the District 4 Championships, and second at the Northeast Regionals.

Brayden Pequignot, junior, NP-Liberty: He was 33-12 on the season and a state qualifier. He placed second at the North Section Tournament, fourth at the District 4 Championships, and fourth at the Northeast Regionals.

Drew Macumber, senior, Tioga: Macumber, a three-time state qualifier, and two-time place-winner, including a third-place finish this season at 160 pounds, was 36-7 this season. Three of his losses this season came to Ousmane Duncanson, and another was to 170-pound state champ Braidon Woodward of Pal-Mac.

SECOND TEAM
Riley Vanderpool, junior, Towanda: He was 44-10 on the season, and a state qualifier. He won the North Section Tournament, placed third at the District 4 Championship, and was third at the Northeast Regionals.

Holden Ward, junior, Canton: He finished 38-18 on the season, and was a state qualifier He placed second at the North Section Tournament, fifth at the District 4 Championships, and fourth at the Northeast Regionals.

Tyler Roe, senior, Tioga: A four-year starter, Roe qualified for States in all three season (freshman year was Covid spring) at Tioga, winning a pair of state medals. Roe was 36-7 this season, and finished fourth at States.

Josh Nittinger, senior, Athens:  Nittinger was Athens’ most dominant wrestler during the regular season, posting a 35-6 record. He won a North Section title, then finished seventh at Districts

C.J. Carr, senior, Wyalusing: Carr finished the season at 20-1. His only setback came in his final match in which he was injured.

Easton Pequignot, junior, NP-Liberty: He was 28-10 on the season. He won the North Section Tournament, and placed eighth at the District 4 Championships.

Matthias Welles, freshman, Waverly: A two-time state qualifier in his two season with the Wolverines, this year bringing home a sixth-place medal. He was 30-15 on the season.

Lyle Vermilya, junior , Canton: He was 33-14 on the season, and a state qualifier. He won the North Section Tournament, placed second at the District 4 Championships, and was second at the Northeast Regionals.

Mason Vanderpool, senior, Athens: He posted a 34-18 record, and finished third at the North Section Tournament, third at Districts, and third at the Northeast Regionals.

Cody Dale, senior, Horseheads: Dale was 30-12 on the season. He won a Section IV, Division 1 title, and was 1-2 at States.

Bobby Struble, junior, Owego: Struble was 29-11 on the season, and was a state qualifier. He won a Section IV Qualifier, and placed third at the Section IV Division 2 Championships. He was 2-2 at States.

Caleb Nason, junior, Athens: Nason was 35-14 with 30 falls, won the North Section title, and finished fifth at Districts, and fifth at Regionals.

Owen Cummings, senior, Williamson: He was 32-11 on the season. He placed second at the North Section Tournament, sixth at the District 4 Championships, and fifth at the Northeast Regionals, missing out on States by 1 win.

Tanner Vanderpool, sophomore, Towanda: He was 34-8 on the season, and a Northeast Regional qualifier. He placed second at the North Section Tournament, and fifth at the District 4 Championships.

THIRD TEAM
Deakon Bailey, senior, Tioga: Bailey struggled to find a permanent spot in Tioga’s deep line-up, but once the postseason rolled around, he took advantage of the double-entry rule, and was a two-time state qualifier, and two-time sixth-place medalist. He was 24-10 this season.

Cadin Creeley, sophomore, Newark Valley: He was 37-9 on the season, and a state qualifier. He place second at the IAC Championships, and third at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Rylee Sluyter, junior, Towanda: He was 34-9 on the season. He won the North Section Tournament.

Hunter Lavigne, junior, Horseheads: Lavigne was 34-9 on the season. He won a Section IV, Division 1 title, and was 1-2 at States.

Titus Callahan, sophomore, Newark Valley: Callahan was 28-15 this season, and was a state qualifier. He finished fourth at the IAC Championships, and third at the Section IV state qualifier at 190 pounds, despite weighing in at 169 pounds.

Zach Schrage, sophomore, Horseheads: Schrage was 32-13 on the season. He won a Section IV, Division 1 title, and was 0-2 at States.

Michael Davis, senior, Canton: He was 29-13 on the season. He placed second at the Northeast Regionals, fourth at the District 4 Championships, and sixth at the Northeast Regionals.

Jonathan Earle, sophomore, Wyalusing: He was 28-10 on the season. He placed second at the North Section Tournament.

John Johnston, junior, SVEC: Johnston was 29-10 on the season, and a state qualifier. He won a Section IV Qualifier, and the Section IV, Division 2 Championship.

Jacob Hinman, senior, Troy: He was 29-7 on the season. He placed third at the North Section Tournament, and seventh at the District 4 Championship.

Lucas Mosher, junior, Horseheads: Mosher was 29-11 on the season. He won a Section IV, Division I title, and was 1-2 at States.

Josh Knapp, sophomore, Horseheads: Knapp was 29-10 on the season. He won a Section IV Division 1 title.

Cole Patrick, sophomore, Wyalusing: He finished the season at 24-11. He placed third at the North Section Tournament, and seventh at the District 4 Championships.

Ryder Bowen, junior, Wellsboro: Bowen was 22-8 on the season. He finished second at the North Section Tournament.

Mason Alexander, sophomore, Northeast Bradford: Alexander was 20-12 on the season. He finished fourth at the North Section Championship, and eighth at the District 4 Championships.

Ryder DePadua Reese, freshman, Elmira: Reese was 22-9 on the season. He won a Section IV, Division 1 title, and was 0-2 at States.

ALL-REGION NEWCOMER TEAM
Declan McKee, freshman, Tioga: See above.

Bryce Pequingot, freshman, NP-Liberty: See above.

Tanner Vanderpool, freshman, Towanda: See above.

Connor Davidson, freshman, Athens: Davidson posted a 28-13 record wrestling at 152 and 160 pounds. He finished second at the North Section Tournament.

Josh Knapp, sophomore, Horseheads: See above.

Tanner Knapp, sophomore, Horseheads: Knapp was 28-14 on the season. He finished second at the Section IV, Division I Championships, and was 0-2 at States.

Jazick Brown, freshman, Towanda:  He was 23-6 on the season, and placed second at the North Section Tournament.

Zaine Campbell, freshman, Athens: Campbell posted a 20-9 record and missed nearly a month with an injury prior to the postseason. He finished fourth at the North Section Tournament.

Brayden Spencer, freshman, Towanda: He was 21-13 on the season. He placed second at the North Section Tournament, and seventh at the District 4 Championships.

Lucas Persun. freshman, Athens: Once Persun, who only wrestled four matches prior to mid-January, found himself in the line-up after an injury to a teammate, he was there to stay. He finished 20-15 with a third-place finish at North Section, and fifth at Districts.

Brendan Cooke, freshman, Athens: Cooke posted a 17-15 record in a very tough 139-pound weight class. He finished fourth at the North Section Tournament.

Jordan Brown, freshman, Sayre: Brown, one of just three wrestlers in the Redskin wrestling room, posted a 17-15 record wrestling at 152 and 160 pounds.

Reed Palmer, freshman, Troy:  He was 21-17 on the season at 215 pounds. He placed third at the North Section Tournament, and eighth at the District 4 Championships.

Avery Bowman, 7th-grader, Waverly: Bowman recorded a 21-13 record, and finished sixth at the Section IV, Division 2 Championships.

Curtis Maynard, freshman, Towanda: He was 16-9 on the season, and placed third at the North Section Tournament.

Parker Jackson, freshman, North Penn-Liberty: He was 17-7 on the season.