THE YEAR'S TOP MOMENTS/STORYLINES - PART 3 (2024-07-18)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
We get past the halfway point of the past year’s top moments.

15. Wyalusing’s Dylan Johns wins every high jump competition through District IV: One of the toughest events to find consistency in is the high jump. Bad days happen in all sports, but in the high jump it usually shows more than most. Johns, though, was a steady as the North Star, taking first in 12 straight competitions to start the season, including the Kirby Classic Relays, The Don Wilhour Selinsgrove Classic, the Wyalusing Lasagna Invitational, the Blue Jay Classic, the NTL Championships, and the elusive PIAA District IV Championships. He never jumped below 6-feet in invites, and hit 6-3 when he needed it at districts. He even jumped out well at states, hitting 6-feet, 2-inches, to take 11th, giving him motivation for next season.

14. Towanda edges Troy at Mt. Pisgah for NTL title: The meet was closer than the score indicated, and the score was close at 26-31 Towanda. Eight seconds was the difference in the NTL Large School title as strong finishes from Eric McGee and Wyatt Stranger pushed the Knights to the top. Making it more interesting was the course isn’t spectator friendly, with viewing at the start and the finish, while the uniform colors of orange (Towanda) and red (Troy) blended together in the evening sun, filling the last 400 of the race with even more tension. Towanda’s Jack Tavani and Jacob Carr went 1-2 while Troy originally had the three next spots, led by Evan Geer. McGee caught two of them in the final 50 meters, then Stranger held off his pursuer to clinch the win.

13. Area girls’ distance runner shine in track and field: The area’s girls’ distance runners took center stage this spring. NEB’s Gracelyn Laudermilch had a standout postseason, reclaiming the District IV title in the 3200, earning state berths in the 1600 and 800, and powering her team’s 4x800 relay to a fifth place finish at districts. Towanda’s Izzy Larson made states in the 1600, medaled in the 800, and helped her 4x800 team to a fourth place finish at districts, missing state time by six seconds. It was a strong season throughout the NTL, with Athens’ Sara Bronson making states in three events, as well - 3200, 1600, 4x800 - while Wellsboro’s freshman Lauren Kosek was a state qualifier in the 3200. Laudermilch and Bronson even came home with state medals in the 1600 as all four return next season.

12. Big day for Troy at District IV Championships: Fresh off their first NTL title in 43 years the Trojans continued that strong push into districts. On the first day they got district titles from Ben Warburton (long jump) and Avery Sens (shot put), while on the second day they saw their 4x100 relay break the school record to make states. Seniors Jacob Hinman and Colin Loveland both had strong showings throughout as they did four events each and came away with eight medals. Even their 4x400 relay almost made it to states, missing the cutoff time by a second. On the girls’ side Alyssa Parks got on the podium in the 300 hurdles, pole vault, and high jump, making states in the 300 hurdles. 

11. NEB hoops the class of NTL Small School: The NTL Small School division was dominated by Maroon and Gray this past winter on the hard court. The girls won their fourth straight title as they went undefeated in division play, their average margin of victory 29.8 points, more than what their defensive gave up (27.5 PPG). Their closest game was a 45-42 overtime win over NP-Mansfield with just five girls as the team was battling sickness. They also made it to the district final and reached the state playoffs. Things were a little tighter on the boys’ side as cross-over losses allowed NP-Liberty to stay in touch. NEB still went 9-1 in division play, splitting with NP-Liberty, their big win 45-44 at home coming on a Cooper Brown buzzer beater over the Mounties. The Panthers fended off challenges from all-comers - Canton (57-50), Sayre (44-41), CV (51-46), and Williamson (52-44) - but secured the title on a big shooting night as they beat CV (76-59) on the road.

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