THE SPORTS REPORTS: TOWANDA'S THOMPSON NAMED 2024-25 'BOYS NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR;' FIVE OTHER BRADFORD COUNTY BOYS EARN ALL-REGION NOD (2025-07-26)

The Sports Reports
Boom Thompson took the NTL by storm as a freshman, earning a starting spot in not three, but four sports. He is The Sports Reports' 2024-25 All-Region "Boys Newcomer of the Year."

In the fall, Thompson was a two-sport athlete, excelling on the golf course and cross-country circuit. 

He helped a Black Knight cross country team that won a Lasagna Invitational title, and was the top finishing freshman at the tough District IV, Class AA Championships with a 19th-place overall finish.

Thompson also helped a Towanda golf team to a top-three finish at the District IV Team Championships, while individually finishing 10th overall. He finished with a team best 81.22 average.

In the winter, he led the Black Knights back to the playoffs as their starting point guard. He was a first-team NTL and Bradford County All-star, averaging 8 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.6 steals per game.

This spring on the diamond, Thompson nailed down a starting spot in the infield, playing either third base or shortstop. He hit .245 average with 20 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.

(NOTE: This award is geared to honor three- and two-sport athletes — and an occasional four-sport athlete, but once in a while a one-sport athlete will crack the list.)

The 2024-25 All-Region "Boys Newcomers of the Year"
Boom Thompson, Towanda golf, cross country, basketball, baseball: See above.

Dominic Palmer, Tioga football, basketball, track & field: Palmer stepped out of the huge shadow cast by Tioga's tremendous 2024 class, and was a standout in three sports for the Tigers in 2024-25.

In the fall, Palmer, a good blocker, had eight catches for 105 yards, and three TDs. He also ran for 129 yards and one TD on 10 carries. Defensively, he had 42 tackles, including 12 solo stops, five QB sacks, five tackles-for-loss, and one fumble recovery.

During the winter, Palmer developed into a force in the paint in his first varsity season with the athleticism and timing to block shots, and the physicality to rebound. He averaged 10.3 points, 10 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game.

This spring, Palmer spent the regular season running sprints, relays, and competing in the long jump and high jump, but when the postseason rolled around he focused his attention on the pentathlon.

In his first effort, Palmer won the event at the IAC Championships with 2,160 points. He followed that up with a second-place finish at the State Qualifier with a school-record 2,944 points, which easily topped the state standard of 2,901 points. Palmer finished 12th at the State meet with 2,521 points.

Dylan Brace, Owego football, baseball: In the fall, Brace had a team-high 86 tackles, including 33 solo stops, to help the River Hawks to the Class B finals. He also had 11 tackles-for-losses, two QB sacks, one QB pressure, two pass break-ups, and one fumble recovery.
 
Brace took over catching duties for OFA this spring. The sophomore showcased top-notch blocking abilities, while providing an arm that many runners shied away from. At the plate, Brace hit .362 with 21 hits that included, six doubles, 22 RBI and 18 runs scored. Brace worked 15 walks for an on-base percentage of .536 to go with a slugging percentage of .466 for a 1.001 OPS.

Griff Walter, Waverly golf, bowling, baseball: In the fall, Walter, a first-year player, averaged 45.12 over nine holes (90.25 over 18 holes). He shot a 90 for a top-25 finish at the STAC Championships.

During the winter, Walter, who spent the majority of the season on the JV team, bowled six games on varsity at the end of the season with a 213 average. He rolled five games at the State Qualifier with a 665 series in the morning, including a high game of 245. He rolled five games at States, with a 633 series, including a 226 high game, in the morning session.

This spring, Walter hit .302 (13 hits in 43 ABs) with 11 RBI, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. He walked 13 times and was hit by one pitch for a .443 on-base percentage. On the mound, Walter was 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.286 WHIP. He struck out seven in 11 2/3 innings.

Gage Evans, Towanda football, wrestling, baseball: In the fall, Evans became a solid offensive weapon for the Black Knights.

Evans really showed out on the wrestling mat. He became just the second Towanda freshman to earn a state berth, while also earning a North Section title. He was 39-12 with 14 pins and 12 tech falls.

This spring, he was one of the better pinch-runners on the Knights team.

Porter Daddona, Waverly basketball, baseball: This winter, Daddona, a force in the low-post with good post moves and a nice touch, got better as the season progressed. He averaged 11.3 points and 6 rebounds per game. He shot 66 percent from the free-throw line.

This spring, Daddona posted a 1-3 record and a 3.87 ERA, with 31 strikeouts in 25 1/3 innings.

James Miller, Tioga football, basketball: In the fall, Miller switched from the soccer pitch to the gridiron, and was a solid contributor for the Tigers. He made 35 of 43 extra points, and one field goal. On defense, he had six tackles, including two solo stops, and a forced fumble.

This winter, Miller, a dangerous shooter from the perimeter, averaged 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1 assist per game.

Stevie Olson, Cowanesque Valley football, Williamson wrestling: In the fall, Olson collected 37 tackles and six QB sacks for the Indians.

Olson finished his first season on the mats for the Warriors at 22-13 with a sixth-place finish at the North Section Tournament.

Trey Teribury, Troy basketball, baseball: Teribury turned into a floor stretcher for the Trojans, averaging 10.9 points per game.

On the baseball diamond, he was a DH who hit better than .300 for a strong Troy team.

Reese Sluyter, Towanda football, wrestling: Sluyter started the first two games at QB for the Knights, while filling in at receiver after that. 

He found his stride on the wrestling mat, earning a starting spot mid-season, and reaching regionals as an injury ended his season prematurely. He was 26-9 on the season.

Spencer Martin, Troy football, basketball: Martin was a key reserve for both squads. 

He had a few interceptions, including a pair of pick-6s in the District 4 playoffs, while also having a big role off the bench for the NTL and district title winning hoops team.

Hagen Jones, Towanda cross country, wrestling: Jones was a top-five runner for a Black Knight team that finished in the top five at the District IV, Class AA Championships.

He also saw time on the varsity mat for the NTL title winning wrestling team, posting an 8-5 record.

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