THE SPORTS REPORTS: TROY'S SMITH, HORSEHEADS' LIMONCELLI SHARE 2024-25 'COACH OF YEAR' HONORS; FOUR OTHER BRADFORD COUNTY COACHES EARN ALL-REGION RECOGNITION (2025-07-26)

The Sports Reports
Jim Smith coached Troy to its first-ever PIAA state football title, which was also the Northern Tier League's first state title, while longtime Horseheads baseball coach Jeff Limoncelli capped his career with a state title. They are The Sports Reports' 2024-25 All-Region "Co-Coaches of the Year."

Smith led the Trojans to their first PIAA Championship in both program history, and the first in the NTL.

Troy rolled to an NTL title, getting into the mercy rule in all of its games, while winning the team’s first District title since 2013. Along the way, Troy defeated defending state champions Southern Columbia.

After pulling away to win two state games, Troy rallied late to beat Central Clarion for the 2025 state title.

Troy’s been knocking at the door of a state playoff run for years, but finally got over the hump that is Southern Columbia and went the distance in 2024.

Limoncelli started his career in 1999 with a state title. Twenty-six years later, in his final season, he reached the pinnacle for the second time.

Limoncelli directed the Blue Raiders to a Sectional IV title for a school-record fourth straight year, finishing with 21-2 record.

Horseheads then won 1-0 in the state quarterfinals, and 2-0 in the semifinals, behind All-Region "Player of the Year" Mason Holloway.

Horseheads beat Fox Lane, 6-5, the Class AA championship game.

Limoncelli amassed more than 400 wins as coach of the Blue Raiders in his career.

It was an incredible year, so much so that our list of top coaches swelled to the point we added an Honorable Mention list for the first time.

The 2024-25 All-Region "Coaches of the Year"
Jim Smith, Troy football:  See above.

Jeff Limoncelli, Horseheads baseball: See above.

Pam Quinlan, Candor volleyball: Quinlan coached her Coyotes to a 16-1 record this season. The Sports Reports Volleyball "Coach of the Year" won another IAC Small School title, her 13th Section IV title and fourth New York State Class D championship.

Mike Johnston Jr., Corning football, boys basketball, softball: All three of the teams Johnston coached reached the state playoffs.

He led the Corning football and softball teams to the state semifinals, and the basketball and softball teams to Section IV titles. (Football was runner-up, but received a wildcard into state playoffs.)

Jimmy McCauley, Elmira football, boys and girls bowling, flag football: McCauley coached four Elmira teams to sectional titles this year. Guided the Elmira football team, the flag football team and the girls and boys bowling teams to sectional crowns.

He also led the girls’ bowling team to a STAC title, guided the boys’ bowling team to a state runner-up finish, and the girls to a fifth-place finish at states. 

Paul Richmond, Horseheads softball: Richmond piloted the Horseheads softball team to a state runner-up finish, as well as a Section IV title. 

Devan Witman, Waverly wrestling: Witman's Wolverines posted a 12-4 record, and a runner-up finish in the Section IV, Division II Duals.

The Wolverines finished fourth in the team standings at the Section IV Championships, but advanced five the state tournament, where it claimed a state title with all five wrestlers taking home hardware.

Rusty Virkler, Owego flag football: A year after leading Owego into the State Final Four, coach Rusty Virkler led the River Hawks into the Class C state finals, where it suffered an overtime loss.

Owego finished the Section IV season at 13-0, with a win over state-ranked Susquehanna Valley in the Class C finals. The River Hawks improved to 17-0 entering the state finals.

MaKaylah Leljedal, Northeast Bradford:  In the final few weeks of the season the Panthers clinched a Small School title, won the Class A District IV title, and made program history by reaching the state final.

Bear Mattison, North Penn-Mansfield boys basketball: Mattison, along with assistant coaches Kyle Bower and Travis Oakley, led the Mounties to an 18-win season, and just their fourth NTL Small School championship ever. 

And more importantly, Mattison also led the program to its first-ever District 4 title.

Jamie St. Peter, Cowanesque Valley baseball: St. Peter led the Indians to the best season in program history.

Cowanesque Valley finished the season with a 16-5 record, but won its first-ever District 4 title, and a state playoff game, before seeing its season end in the PIAA, Class A quarterfinals.

Bob Woodward, Troy boys basketball: The Trojans dominated the league for the second year in a row, then claimed their second straight NTL Showdown title. They finished the year with their second district title in three years.

Tara Hogan, Waverly girl soccer: Hogan coached the Wolverines to their first-ever Section IV title this season, besting Chenango Forks, which beat three consecutive Hogan team's early in her career, 2-0 in the Class B finals. 

Brian Wendela, Athens softball: Wendela directed the Wildcats to a 21-2 record, its first outright NTL title since 2019 and just the second in program history, and the program's first-ever District 4 title. He also coached Waverly to a Section IV title in 2019.

Bill Sexton, Towanda wrestling: The Black Knights had one of the most dominant NTL seasons in recent history, while also winning the North Section title. They had four state qualifiers, with two medalists.

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HONORABLE MENTIONS
Brett Owen, Horseheads wrestling: Owen guided the Blue Raiders to their best finish ever at state duals, making the semifinal round. They won their fourth Section IV title this year, had seven sectional individual champions and nine wrestlers make states. They also won their fifth straight STAC West title and third straight STAC title. 

Alessio De Michele, Owego boys soccer: DeMichele has turned the River Hawks into one of the best programs in Section IV, winning the last four Section IV, Class B titles. This year, Owego won its first 19 games before falling in the state quarterfinals.

Des Ford, Tioga volleyball: Ford directed the Tigers to their second Section IV, Class C title in three years, and into the state semifinals. It was the 10th title of her career, and the fourth time she's coached a team to the state final four.

Lenny Pientka, Athens golf: Pientka guided the Wildcats to their fourth straight NTL golf title, and the first District 4 title in program history. Athens currently has won 22 consecutive NTL matches.

Ashlee Marsh, Owego girls lacrosse: March piloted the River Hawks to a Section IV title and an appearance in the state Final Four.

Darci Pollack, Wellsboro volleyball: Pollack, a member of the last Lady Hornets’ squad to win a D4 championship, led Wellsboro to a 16-4 regular season record, including a 12-2 mark in the NTL and the District IV 2A title.

Abby Manning, Owego volleyball: Manning directed the River Hawks to an unbeaten regular season, a STAC title, and a Section IV, Class A title.

Wayne Pratt, Troy soccer and softball: The soccer team earned to their fifth straight league title, and another undefeated season, as they also won their first district game in 15 years. The Lady Trojans softball went to their first district finals appearance in 15 years, as well.

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