THE SPORTS REPORTS: CORNING'S JOHNSTON JR. HEADLINES BAKER'S DOZEN AS 2023-24 'COACH OF THE YEAR;' TWO BRADFORD COUNTY COACHES MAKE THE LIST (2024-07-08)
The Sports ReportsThree-sport coaches are, for the most part, a think of the past, but Corning’s
Mike Johnston Jr.
is a throwback, and a very successful one at that. He guided his teams
to a state title, and a pair of Section IV championship game
appearances. He is
The Sports Reports’ 2023-24 All-Region “
Coach of the Year.”
The
Corning softball team was ranked 23rd in the state when the postseason
began, but ran through the competition, including a no-hitter in the
Section IV finals, to win the first-ever New York State Class 3A crown.
Despite dealing with a number of injuries throughout the football season, Johnston Jr. led the Hawks to some standout moments.
Corning
had a regular season win over Section IV champ Elmira, and took two
state finalists — Maine-Endwell and Christian Brothers Academy — to the
wire.
The Hawks fell to CBA, 49-40, on a late score. Christian
Brothers only had one other game all year in which they won by 10 points
or less as they went 14-0 and won the state title. Christian Brothers
won the state championship game by 13 points.
Against
Maine-Endwell the Hawks came down to a two-point try at the buzzer,
falling 43-42. Maine-Endwell reached the state final, where they fell to
Rye. No other team all season scores more than 28 points against the
Spartans, as the Hawks put up 14 more points than anyone else on the
year.
During boys’ basketball season the Hawks had a young team,
led by an eighth-grader and a group of newcomers, but advanced to the
Section IV finals.
The 2023-24 All-Region Baker’s Dozen Coaches of the Year:
Mike Johnston Jr., Corning, softball, football, boys’ basketball: See above.
Jason Miller, Waverly football: In his 21st season, Miller finally brought home a state title to his alma mater.
The
Wolverines finished 13-1 on the season (the most wins in a single
season in school history) — their only loss coming to Class D state
champ Tioga in overtime — and played its best football in the
postseason, beating perennial power Chenango Forks in the Section IV,
Class C championship game for the second year in a row.
The
Wolverines averaged 44.4 points per game in their five postseason games,
and beat their three foes in the state playoffs by an average of 45.7
to 11.3.
Kris Harrington, Tioga wrestling: Harrington has
taken Tioga wrestling to new heights, including two more state titles
this season. 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, Division 2 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.
Nick Aiello, Tioga football: It
seems a bit odd that a coach coming off his third straight title would
be an honorable mention, but Tioga’s Nick Aiello is kind of a victim of
his own success.
Tioga went 14-0, is currently riding a 41-game
win streak, and only had one game decided by less than 28 points — a
23-17 overtime win over Waverly.
The Tigers outscored their five postseason opponents by an average of 60 to 13.
Aiello
now has 11 Section IV titles, four state titles, and a career record of
136-23 in 14 seasons. He has a 28-2 record in Section IV playoffs, and a
19-7 mark in the state playoffs.
Rusty Virkler, Owego bowling and flag football:
On the lanes, the River Hawks went 10-0, claiming 48 of a possible 52
points in the process, to win their third straight STAC Central
championship. They were the STAC, Section IV Class B and Section IV
State Qualifier runner-up.
On the gridiron, the River Hawks
dominated 14 of their 16 opponents en route to a 16-1 record, falling in
the NYSPHSAA Division 2 semifinals. On average, Owego outscored its
opponents, 33.6 to 5.8, and only three teams scored in double digits.
Pam Quinlan, Candor, Volleyball:
Quinlan the Coyotes to the NYSPHSAA Class D semifinals, where they fell
to eventual champion Chautauqua Lake in a five-set marathon. Candor
went 16-3 overall and was undefeated in the IAC Small School division.
Curtis Miller, Troy cross-country, girls’ basketball: Miller had a busy year as varsity coach for two sports and an assistant for a third.
He
led the boys’ cross-country team to a District 4 runner-up finish and
state appearance, while in the winter he led the girls’ basketball team
to its first league title since the mid-1990s. In the spring, he coached
third base for the title winning Troy baseball team.
Lyle Wesneski, Troy/Canton, baseball, wrestling:
This winter, Wesneski led Canton wrestling to a top-six performance at
the District 4 Duals, had three state qualifiers, and one state medalist
in Hudson Ward. In the spring, he led Troy baseball to its first league
title in a generation.
Lou Judson, Waverly boys basketball: Judson directed the Wolverines to an 18-4 record, and the program’s first Section IV title since 1996.
The
Wolverines also won the Valley Christmas Tournament, and did not lose a
game to a Class B opponent until the state playoffs. Waverly's only
losses came to Class AA Binghamton, Class A Owego and Seton Catholic,
and Class B state runner-up Marcellus.
Laurel (Neira) Evans, Owego girls soccer:
Evans guided the River Hawks to a 15-2 record and a berth in the state
playoffs. Owego upset top-seeded M-E in the Section IV Class A
championship game before falling to eventual state champ Rye in the
state tournament.
Abbey Manning, Owego volleyball: The
River Hawks went 16-3 and won the STAC championship, then upset M-E for
the Section IV Class A title. Owego bowed out of the state tournament
with a regional loss to state semifinalist Byram Hills.
Will Condon, Corning boys’ bowling:
Condon piloted the Hawks to the first state title in program history,
as they defeated last year’s state champion, Elmira, in the state
qualifier to earn the trip to States.
Andy Scott, Horseheads girls’ basketball: Scott
led the Blue Raiders to the STAC title and the Section 4, Class AA
title, only the second time in school history the Blue Raiders won both
titles.
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