EXCITING FALL SPORTS SEASON GOES OUT WITH A BANG (2024-12-15)
BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports ReportIt was about as exciting a fall sports season as it gets, highlight, and punctuated, by the Troy football making history as the first NTL program to win a state title. That was just one of the many, many events that happened this season.
TOP 7 STORYLINES
7. Towanda girls’ cross-country claims league title: Fueled by several newcomers the Lady Knights went undefeated in NTL action to claim their first league title in a decade. They also took third at the highly competitive District IV, Class AA Championships.
6. Troy girls’ soccer goes undefeated in league action: The Troy girls’ soccer team romped through the league for their first unbeaten NTL season in over a decade. They clinched their fifth straight league title, and only allowed one goal at home all season.
5. Towanda football returns to prominence: The veteran Towanda team did a few things they hadn’t done in a while - went 8-2, earned the second seed for the playoffs, played their first home football game since 2011, reached the district semifinals for the first time since 2014 - along with going 6-1 at home on the season.
4. Troy volleyball claims first league in a decade: The Trojans lost just one league match this season, and went undefeated in divisional matches, as they claimed the NTL Large School title. They also reached the District IV, Class AA final, as well.
3. NEB volleyball repeats as league and district champions: NEB sealed up a second straight divisional title early in the season, then rolled to a second straight district title, their first in Class A. They lost a tough 3-2 contest to Mountain View in states.
2. NEB’s boys’ cross-country has another dominant season: Led by Creed Dewing’s fourth straight state medal the Panthers swept the NTL dual meet season, rolled to another District IV, Class A title, and took sixth at states as they continued their excellence as a program.
1. Troy football’s undefeated season: Not much more can be said about Troy football’s season. They went an undefeated 16-0, really only being challenged twice all year, and paved new history as they reached the top.
Notables: Troy boys’ cross-country wins league title…NEB girls claim league title…Towanda boys’ soccer historically good season…Towanda girls’ tennis wins league title…Towanda girls’ golf wins District IV, Class AA title in its first year of existence.
TOP 10 MOMENTS
10. Towanda uses big second half to beat Bloomsburg in playoffs: Leading just 21-20 at the half Towanda scored three unanswered second half touchdowns to pull away from the Panthers. Riley Vanderpool scored all six of the team’s touchdowns as they picked up their first playoff win since 2014.
9. Troy’s Alyssa Parks earns first state medal as a senior: The 4-time state qualifier finally got her state medal, finishing in the top 20 in the Class A race to finish off her career on the state podium.
8. Troy volleyball tops NEB to clinch league title: Troy was able to clinch their league title in their final home match of the season, besting NEB, who’d defeated them earlier in the season, to clinch the divisional title.
7. NEB’s Anaiah Kolesar just finishes race to give Panthers league title: Kolesar nearly passed out the finish, but crawled the final two steps in the final dual meet of the season, clinching another division title for the Panthers.
6. Towanda’s Anna Dunn claims school record in goals: Dunn went off for five goals against NEB to get the school record in goals scored, and finishing with 83 in her career.
5. Canton’s Izzie Schoonover, Towanda’s Owen Savercool earn golf state bids: Savercool took fifth at the individual district championships to punch his ticket to golf states, while Savercool took home silver to punch her ticket as Canton’s first golf state medalist.
4. Troy girls’ soccer edges Athens 2-1 to clinch league title: The Wildcats made Troy work for it, taking a 1-0 lead, but Troy rallied with two goals, while Madalyn Seeley saved a PK, to clinch their fifth straight league title.
3. Troy boys’ cross-country edges Towanda for league title: It was deja-vu between the two teams, but this time it was Troy pulling off the close dual meet win to clinch the league title, then celebrated with a dip in Stephen Foster Lake.
2. NEB’s Creed Dewing becomes first NTL boy to be a 4-time state medalist: Dewing made history as the first male NTL runner to be a 4-time medalist at states, finishing in the top 10 for the third time in his career.
1. Troy football wins state title on defensive stand: Defense wins championships, and Troy proved that in the state title game, holding off a hot Central Clarion team in the final 1:15 to win the state title.
Notables: Wyalusing girls’ soccer tops Meadowbrook Christian in playoff win…Troy girls’ soccer downs Williamson for first playoff win in over a decade…NEB volleyball tops Troy at home…Towanda, Troy claim rivalry trophy wins in football…Towanda boys’ soccer beats Williamson 3-0…Towanda girls’ tennis edges CV at home to clinch title.
TOP 7 COACHES
7. Dillon Lockwood, NEB, Boys’ Cross-country: In his first year as coach Lockwood led the Panthers to an undefeated league season, a third straight district title, and a sixth place finish at states.
6. Wayne Pratt, Troy, Girls’ Soccer: The Trojans keep improving each year, and this year Pratt and his staff led them to an undefeated league season, a second seed in the district playoffs, and a final four appearance in the district tournament.
5. Lucy Snyder, Towanda, Girls’ Tennis: No team improved more from day one of the season to the end than Towanda girls’ tennis, which went from rebuilding this year to winning a league title.
4. Vanessa Perez, NEB, Volleyball: Perez kept NEB rolling retooling around the senior class, as they repeated as league and district champions, winning their first Class A title.
3. Mike Maurer, Towanda, Girls’ Cross-country: The Towanda girls went undefeated in the NTL dual meet season, won the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, and took third at the always tough District IV, Class AA championships.
2. Abby Herman, Troy, Volleyball: After a couple seasons of building Troy got to the top of the NTL, Division-I standings, going undefeated in divisional action, while reaching the District IV, Class AA final.
1. Jim Smith, Troy, Football: After years of being blocked by Southern Columbia, the Trojans got over that hump, and ran all the way to the state title. Of their 16 wins, 13 came by mercy rule, as they made history with their program’s, and the NTL’s, first state football title.
Notables: Jamie Wecker, Towanda, Football…Curtis Miller, Troy, Boys’ Cross-country…Gary Haley, Wyalusing, Girls’ Soccer…Paul Lantz, Towanda, Golf
TOP 7 FEMALE NEWCOMERS
7. Haidyn Watson, Troy, Volleyball: Watson came off the bench to be one of Troy’s best servers as a freshman, and played well on the backline.
6. Ruth Laudermilch, NEB, Girls’ Cross-country: Laudermilch was a stalwart for NEB all season as one of their top five runners, helping them to an NTL dual meet title.
5. Sophie Bennett, NEB, Girls’ Cross-country: Bennett was a constant in the top three for the Panthers, and a top 10 finisher at districts, as NEB clinch a divisional title.
4. Zaelea Lane, NEB, Volleyball: Lane became a regular in her senior year, being a consistent contributor defensively, and as a setter, for the league and district champions.
3. Kenzie Brown, Towanda, Girls’ Cross-country: Brown was a consistent top three finisher for the Knights all season, and a big reason for their undefeated league title.
2. Kyah Renzo, Troy, Girls’ Soccer: Renzo started in the mid-field for the NTL champion Trojans, and fit right in during their undefeated league season.
1. Mary-Kate Eberlin, Towanda, Cross-country: Eberlin was the top freshman in Bradford County, running second most of the season for the league championship Knights, and taking seventh at the NTL Championships.
Notables: Addy Cardona, Canton, Volleyball…Mallory Chamberlain, Troy, Girls’ Soccer
TOP 7 MALE NEWCOMERS
7. Hagen Jones, Towanda, Boys’ Cross-country: Jones was a big part of Towanda’s success this season, their second place finish at the NTL Championships, and their fourth place finish at the District IV, Class AA Championships.
6. Tyler Kuhn, NEB, Boys’ Soccer: Kuhn was a key contributor for the Panthers in the middle this season, being a big playmaker for them.
5. Ben Shrawder, Towanda, Boys’ Soccer: Shrawder was the top newcomer in the NTL this season as one of Towanda’s best offensive threats.
4. Micah Pesesky, Troy, Football: Pesesky took over the center roll for Troy as they formed the best offensive line in Class AA this season, and was one of the best sophomores in the state.
3. Owen Savercool, Towanda, Golf: Savercool was a key contributor for Towanda this season as they took third at team districts, and had a good 2-days at the individual district tournament to earn a state berth.
2. Reed Palmer, Troy, Football: Palmer was a big 2-way contributor for Troy this season, beginning as a terror on the defensive line, while on offense he was a big time blocker as a tight end, and was even a threat in the passing game.
1. Boom Thompson, Towanda, Cross-country/Golf: Thompson showed out on the varsity stage in two sports, leading Towanda in golf with one of the best averages in the league, and was also one of their top finishers in cross-country, including leading them at districts.
Notables: RJ Bellinger, Troy, Cross-country…Rylan Wesneski, Canton, Football…Reese Sluyter, Towanda, Football…
TOP 7 FEMALE ATHLETES
T-7. Anna Dunn, Towanda & Saydi Renzo, Troy, Soccer: Dunn and Renzo both finished the season with 25 goals each as their team’s leading option up front. Dunn got the school record in goals, while Renzo hit the 50 goal milestone.
6. Aryana Andrus, Troy, Volleyball: Andrus had the most intimidating presence at the net for the Trojans, finishing with over 300 kills on the season for the league champion Trojans.
5. Alyssa Parks, Troy, Cross-country: Parks finally got that elusive state medal, while also finishing second at the District IV, Class A championships.
4. Izzy Larson, Towanda, Cross-country: Larson was a top five finisher at the District IV, Class AA Championships, and just missed out at a state medal, while leading the Knights to an undefeated league season.
T-2. Toni Herb, NEB & Kali Ayres, Troy, Volleyball: Herb and Ayres did a little bit of everything for their teams from attacking to defending to leadership. The seniors led their teams to league titles, while Herb also helped the Panthers bring home a district title.
1. Alexis McRoberts, Canton/Troy, Soccer, Football: McRoberts led Troy to an undefeated NTL season, and a final four appearance in the district playoffs. She was also the most consistent kicker in the league for the Warriors this season.
Notables: Annamary Slocum, Wyalusing, Soccer…Kendall Kitchen, Canton, Volleyball…Brooklyn Evans, Towanda, Volleyball…Anaiah Kolesar, NEB, Cross-country…Lainey Alderfer, Towanda, Tennis…Megan King, Wyalusing, Cross-country…Abby O’Connor, NEB, Volleyball…Mary-Kate Eberlin, Towanda, Cross-country
TOP 7 MALE ATHLETES
7. Ayden Hunsinger, Wyalusing, Football: Hunsinger ran for over 1300 yards this season, along with being the Rams’ top defensive player, as their one consistent in an inconsistent season.
6. Ben Fitch, Canton, Football: Fitch threw for over 1,000-yards on the year, while rushing for over 500. He was also second on the team in tackles as a safety, leading the Warriors to a .500 record on the season.
5. Jack Wheaton, Towanda, Soccer, Football: Wheaton was Towanda’s top playmaker on the soccer pitch, and a stalwart leader. He was also one of the league’s top kickers and punters this season for the Black Knights on the gridiron.
4. Creed Dewing, NEB, Cross-country: Dewing was the NTL Runner of the Year, a 3-time district champion, and a top finisher in the state for the third time in his career.
3. Riley Vanderpool, Towanda, Football: Vanderpool ran and passed for 1,000 yards on the year as he led the Knights to an 8-2 record, the second seed in the district playoffs, and a final four appearance in the district playoffs.
T-1. Evan Woodward, Troy & Brendan Gilliland, Troy, Football: It was pick your poison for Troy this year as Woodward threw for over 1,000 yards and ran for over 800, while Gilliland finished just short of 2,000 yards rushing. Gilliland did have 16 sacks on the year, while Woodward was one of the best safeties in the state.
Notables: Avery Sens, Troy, Football…Varrius Farrell, Towanda, Football…Lawrence Halbfoerster, Canton, Cross-country…Trennan Tewksbury, Wyalusing, Cross-country…Ryan Jones, NEB, Cross-country…Boom Thompson, Towanda, Golf/Cross-country
LOOKING AHEAD
FOOTBALL
It was a special season for TROY, and while they lose quite a class of seniors, they return their starting backfield, outside of QB Evan Woodward, and three of their five offensive linemen. QB in waiting Spencer Martin looks ready to take over the reigns, but filling the other holes on the outside and on defense will take time…In many other years TOWANDA would be celebrating a league title, but even if that didn’t happen, the Towanda seniors can take solace in the fact that they left the program better than where it was when they entered it. As pretty much every starter was a senior there will be plenty of turnover next season, but future QB Reese Sluyter did get a couple of starts under his belt…CANTON saw the last vestiges of their runs to the state final four finish out their careers this season. Next year will be a completely new era for the Warriors, though they return a few key players, like running back Bailey Gardner…A season that started so promising for WYALUSING ended rough as they got hit by the injury bug. They return three-fourths of their starting backfield, led by Jonathan Earle, and a couple linemen, but will need to focus on depth as they get ready for the 2025 season.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
TROY continued their run of success in 2024 and it doesn’t look like it’s going to be slowing down anytime soon. They have to replace some key players, such as Madi Palmer and Madalyn Seeley, but return Player of the Year Alexis McRoberts, their leading scorer in Saydi Renzo, and many of their top players…Despite losing their program’s best player in Olivia Haley to graduate WYALUSING kept rolling in 2024 with another winning season, and a playoff win for the third straight season. They lose key players such as Annamary Slocum and Sophia Alvarez, but with a big roster they have plenty of players waiting in the wings…TOWANDA loses just one senior, but that senior is the program’s top goal scorer in Anna Dunn. The good news is that they return 10 of their 11 starters from a team that just missed the district playoffs…It was a turning of the page season for NEB, who will say good-bye to key seniors, including Lillie Maynard. They do return one of the league’s best goalies in Leah Beebe as they look to improve in 2025.
BOYS’ SOCCER
It was TOWANDA’S best season in a generation, led by one of the program’s best season classes. They’ll look to get that district berth in 2025 that they missed by one game this season, and return plenty of starters, including the Newcomer of the Year in Ben Shrawder…It was a tough season for NEB, but they welcome back one of the league’s best players in Eli Stanton, and saw plenty of their youth grow as the season goes on. The Panthers will be expecting to do better in 2025…It was a year of change for TROY, who improved greatly as the season went on. They lose just two seniors so they’ll expect to be much improved in 2025.
VOLLEYBALL
NEB repeated as league and district champions, but lose one of the best classes in program history. It will definitely be a year of change for the Panthers in 2025 as they’ll look to rebuild after the two best seasons in program history…TROY says good-bye to the senior class that led them back to the top of the NTL. They return Aryanna Andrus and Brenna Jackson, along with several others, as they look to put up a good title defense in 2025…It was a tough year for CANTON in many ways, but the Warriors battled through, reaching the district title game. They lose two key seniors in Kendall Kitchen and Addy Pepper, but look to the be the favorites to claim the Class A title next year…TOWANDA had just one senior for the second year in a row as they continued to rebuild. They return Brooklyn Evans at the net, along with all five other starters, as they look to break into the playoffs, and even the NTL title race…It was another rebuilding year for WYALUSING as they look to find the right combination. Like many of the other teams in the area they’re young, and they’ll look to be much improved in 2025, but will have to replace key players Rachel Wilson and Kylie Pickett.
CROSS-COUNTRY
NEB boys continued to dominate in the league and district, but it was the ending of an era for the Panthers, as four of their top seven graduate, including Creed Dewing. They have some talented runners coming up, but it’ll be new faces. On the girls’ side they won the division title, and came up one point shy of a district title. They do lose Amelia Kapr, but return most of their top seven…TOWANDA girls had a break through season, and it looks to get better. They return four of their top five, and will add last year’s JH champion to the mix, giving them a shot at making states as a team. The boys’ team came up just short of a division title, and lose key seniors Jack Tavani and Jacob Carr, but have plenty of talented runners coming up through the ranks to keep them competitive for 2025 and beyond…TROY boys broke through for their first divisional title in over 20 years. They lose their top two runners, among others, but they have enough depth that they should still be competitive in 2025. Alyssa Parks graduates for the girls as they look to rebuild, but their junior high team had a strong season, giving them hope for the future…It was a rebuilding year for WYALUSING girls and boys. The girls did see Megan King return to states, and they do return much of their top five as they look to challenge NEB for the division next season. The boys say good-bye to Trennan Tewksbury, but do have some talent coming up from the junior high ranks in the coming seasons…The CANTON boys had a bit of a break through season as they were competitive as a team while Lawrence Halbfoerster just missed a state medal. If they can find some depth they can be a dark horse next season in Small School. The girls’ team is still a work in progress.
GOLF
It was an exciting year for TOWANDA as they had a bounce back season. The boys took third at the District IV team competition, while seeing Owen Savercool qualify for states. And much of their roster returns. On the girls’ side they won the Class AA district title for the first time, with all of those golfers returning…WYALUSING remained competitive, finishing above .500 for the season, and reaching districts. They say good-bye to two stalwarts in Hunter House and Connor Smith, but return district qualifiers in Myles Kershner and Lucas Girven…CANTON made history on the links as Izzie Schoonover became the first Warrior to qualify for states. She graduates but they return several boy golfers as they work to grow the program in 2025.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
TOWANDA turned a rebuild into a title winning season in 2024. They lose two of their top three players, including Lainey Alderfer, but have enough that should be competitive enough in 2025 to defend their league title.
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