It was quite year for the spring sports as records fell and medals won, there were plenty of tight battles on the diamond, with a few ending in tears, while on the tennis court one area player proved to be unbeatable.

TOP 7 STORYLINES

7. Towanda baseball wins four straight to qualify for districts - It doesn't get much more down to the wire than it was for the Black Knights. Towanda had four games in six days and needed to win all four of them to make districts. After a pair of close ones (Sayre 1-0, Edison 5-3), they rolled their final two games (Notre Dame 11-0, Neumann 13-0) to make the playoffs for the second year in a row.

6. Wyalusing's Earle climbs to new heights in pole vault - After missing states by one spot last year Earle was on a mission in the pole vault. Down the stretch of the season Earle kept setting new personal bests, won the NTL title, then claimed the District IV title as he and two other teammates all made the district podium. The senior capped his career with a trip to states.

5. Troy baseball continues string of winning seasons - Despite losing half their line-up the Trojans kept rolling, thanks to another wave of talent rolling in. They went 14-7 on the season to make districts, with key wins including a marathon game over Towanda (14-13 in nine innings) and Shamokin (13-11 in nine innings), an 8-7 win in nine innings over a CV team that made the district finals, a 6-5 win over NP-Mansfield to get the sweep, and a pair of close losses to co-league champs Athens.

4. Towanda softball has their best season in over a decade - It was the season Towanda softball had been waiting for, going 14-5 and nearly taking the NTL Large School crown. They were able to sweep their rivals Wyalusing (2-1, 8-0), and Troy (8-0, 6-0) and split with power NP-Liberty with a 4-2 win and a 1-0 loss. A pair of close losses to Athens kept them from being league champs. They also got a home district game for the first time in a decade.

3. NEB baseball comes back from year off to reach districts - Most teams that miss a year due to low numbers then have to rely on freshmen typically count their wins on one hand. NEB, though, was able to make districts as they went 10-10 on the season, highlighted with a tournament title, and taking second in the NTL Small School Division. 

2. Canton's McRoberts rewrites record books all season long - Right from the get go it was going to be a special year for McRoberts, who set school records in the shot put and discus right off the bat. She kept breaking those records, then come the postseason set new District IV records for both events en route to gold medals. She finished her season, and career, with state silver medals in the shot put and discus.

1. NTL Large School softball proves exciting from start to finish - A season for the ages for the Large School teams with it coming down to the final day with Athens' 1-0 win over Troy allowing them to retain the divisional title. Five of the six teams made districts - with Troy just one win away - while Towanda, Athens, and NP-Liberty battled to the end for the divisional title. Wyalusing was competitive with all three - including a split with Athens and NP-Liberty - while Wellsboro got back to districts. Everybody needed to bring their A-game every day, and that's just fine with the fans.

TOP 7 MOMENTS

7. Towanda freshmen qualify for states in the 3200 - It was quite a night for the young Black Knights on the first day of districts. Maris Cobb snuck in on time in a stacked 3200 field, taking fourth, then Emmett Klees challenged the leaders in the boys 2-mile race, ultimately holding on for third. The ninth-graders couldn't have asked for a better start.

6. NEB takes two at Binghamton Stadium for Tournament title - The Panthers got the rare chance to play on a minor league baseball field, and didn't waste it. They beat their rivals Wyalusing (11-1) in the opener, then pulled away from Lackawanna Trail (8-4) in the title game, to give young NEB what they hope is the first of numerous plaques in the coming years.

5. Wyalusing softball downs Athens - Addison Fluck pitched a shut out and the Rams made the most of Athens' defensive miscues to pick up a big win over a rival. At the time it put Wyalusing in the running for the league title, along with Towanda and NP-Liberty, and showed just how crazy the field was. 

4. Towanda softball edges Wyalusing in rivalry game - It's rare for March to produce diamond gems but Wyalusing and Towanda played to a 2-1 contest that saw the Knights score in the top of the sixth to pull out a key early season win. The two pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts and just five hits in a game that was more districts than a cold weather contest.

3. Troy-Towanda going nine innings over two days - Nobody wanted to lose in this wild one that saw four lead changes in the first four innings. Towanda tied it up in the sixth, took a 2-run lead in the seventh, only for Troy to rally and tie it up in the bottom half. Both teams scored in the eighth, as the Knights had bases loaded in the ninth but couldn't get a runner home. Fittingly for Troy, senior Brendan Gilliland hit in fellow senior Mason Smith for the game winner to end one of the biggest thrillers of the season.

2. Towanda's Woodruff, Canton's McRoberts bring home silvers from states - It was a good year for girls throwers from the area. Canton's Alexis McRoberts brought home two silvers from states while getting two district gold, while Towanda's Brynn Woodruff repeated as the District IV javelin champion, and then earned her second state silver in the event. These two seniors certainly gave fans a reason to walk away from the track during competitions.

1. Canton's big night on the first day of District IV Track and Field - For a small school like Canton getting gold at districts can be rare, but on the first day of the District IV Championships they brought home two of them. It started with Alexis McRoberts setting a new record in the discus to win gold, then Lawrence Halbfoerster went from third to first on the final lap of the 3200 to claim gold, making it a night to remember for the Warriors.

TOP 7 COACHES

7. Jim Schools, Wyalusing Track & Field - Schools took a young boys' team and had them competing for an NTL title by season's end. He also had several athletes make the medal stand at districts, and one state qualifier in Jonathan Earle (pole vault).

6. Casey Ellis, Towanda Track & Field - Ellis saw his girls' squad come in second at the NTL Championships to a Wellsboro squad featuring a state champion and a state runner-up. The Knights also had a state silver medalist (Brynn Woodruff), and several state qualifiers (Marin Maynard, Maris Cobb, and Emmett Klees).

5. Lyle Weskneski, Troy Baseball - Despite some roster turnover Troy kept right on rolling, beating every league opponent outside of Large School champions Athens and Wellsboro, while also earning the fifth seed in the district playoffs.

4. Brett Jayne, Wyalusing Softball - The Rams made a district final for the first time in several years, while having a strong regular season that saw them in the running for an NTL title at one point.

3. Casey Aylesworth, Canton Track & Field - Canton rewrote the record books in seven events this year between both teams as Alexis McRoberts had two district titles and state silvers (discus, shot put), and Lawrence Halbfoerster brought home a district title (32000.

2. Dean Johnson, Towanda Softball - With head coach Caitlyn Crawford out on maternity leave Johnson stepped in and the Knights didn't skip a beat as they continued to build what they'd been doing the past few years. They came up just one win short of an NTL title, and earned a home district game.

1. Brian Salsman, NEB Baseball - Not many coaches would stick around after seeing their program put on hiatus, but, buoyed by a strong freshman class, Salsman and his staff were able to get the Panthers back on track with a winning record and a district berth, their third straight not counting 2025.

Notables: Karl Raffin, Towanda, Baseball...Sadie Hardy, Troy, Softball

TOP 7 FEMALE NEWCOMERS

7. Zoey Thetga, NEB Softball - Thetga hit .375 with 13-RBI, 13 runs scored, and four doubles while holding down the catching position for a young Panthers team.

6. Lucy Proseus, Canton Softball - Proseus hit .327 with four doubles, 11-RBI, and 13 runs scored for a building Warrior squad.

5. Jenna Morningstar, Wyalusing Track & Field - Morningstar came in as a premier high jumper, but also showed off in the long jump, earning a district medal in the event.

4. Raya Preston, Canton Softball - Preston hit .400 with seven doubles, two triples, and one home run while driving in 20 as she also had 74 strikeouts in 86-innings.

3. Lia Fischer, Wyalusing Track & Field - Fischer was a strong triple jumper from the get go, but turned into a district medalist in the 110 hurdles, while also earning an NTL title in the event.

2. Madilyn Callear, NEB Softball - Callear hit .410 with 15-RBI and 19 runs scored, while striking out 30 in 47 1/3-innings in the circle for the Panthers.

1. Maris Cobb, Towanda Track & Field & Softball - Cobb was a state qualifier in the 3200 on the track, while also early being a state qualifier in the 1600 and 4x800. On the softball diamond she hit .259 with a team high 23 runs, and 14-RBI.

Notables: Riley O'Connor, Wyalusing, Softball...Karmyn McPherson, NEB, Softball...Lindley Sechrist, Canton, Softball

TOP 7 MALE NEWCOMERS

7. Griffins Sheldon, Wyalusing Baseball - The freshman hit .396 on the season with a team high 17 runs scored.

6. Pryor Teribury, Troy Baseball - taking over a starting role, Teribury hit .375 with 22-RBI, and 18 runs scored for the Trojans. 

5. Anthony Johnson, NEB Baseball - Johnson hit .323 with 13-RBI and 14 runs scored while striking out 38 in 28-innings of action.

4. Brody Ayers, Troy Baseball - The freshman hit .417 with 16-RBI and three doubles as a designated hitter for the Trojans.

3. Daniel Inman, Canton Baseball -- Inman hit .424 with 17-RBI while on the mound he struck out 46 in 38 1/3-innings.

2. Cooper Hugo, NEB Baseball - Hugo hit .390 with 20-RBI, three doubles, and 15 runs scored while on the mound he struck out 29 in 26 1/3-innings.

1. Emmett Klees, Towanda Track & Field - A state qualifier in the 3200 as a freshman, he also posted a very strong 1600 time, nearly making states in the event.

Notables: Trapper Burr, Canton, Baseball...Trey Teribury, Troy, Baseball...Eli Stanton, NEB, Track & Field...Landon Chapman, NEB, Track & Field

TOP 7 FEMALE ATHLETES

7. Addison Fluck, Wyalusing Softball & Marin Maynard, Towanda Track & Field - Fluck hit .355 with three home runs, and 17-RBI for the Rams while striking out 140 in 123 2/3-innings and positing a .23 ERA. Maynard was a state qualifier in the pole vault for the Knights, while earning an NTL title in the event.

6. Maris Cobb, Towanda Track & Field - See above.

5. Brooklyn Evans, Towanda Softball - Evans hit .456 with eight doubles, three home runs, 23-RBI, and 20 runs scored.

4. Leila Cobb, Towanda Softball - Cobb struck out 210 in 119 2/3-innings this year with a 1.287 ERA. 

3. Addisyn Bly, Wyalusing Softball - Bly hit .441 with 31 runs scored, seven doubles, and five triples, while tracking down quite a few fly balls in center field for the Rams.

2. Brynn Woodruff, Towanda Track & Field - Woodruff repeated as district champion in the javelin, while also earning her second straight state silver medal in the event.

1. Alexis McRoberts, Canton Track & Field - McRoberts set schools and district records in the shot put and discus, while claiming D4 titles in both. She earned a pair of state silver medals in the events, as well.

NOTABLES: Treanna Nickeson, Wyalusing, Softball...Lauren Reed, Troy, Softball...Erinn Knapp, Troy, Softball...Sophie Bennett, NEB, Track & Field...Kylee Roy, Troy, Track & Field...Daveian Crawley, Canton, Track & Field

TOP 7 MALE ATHLETES

7. Mason Smith, Troy, Baseball - Smith hit .438 with a team high 42 runs scored to go with 14-RBI, while also taking over catching duties.

6. Kohen Hugo, NEB Baseball - Hugo hit .371 with 18-RBI, four doubles, three triples, and a team high 31 runs scored. He also sported a 2.36 ERA and struck out 77 in 50 1/3-innings on the mound.

5. Cameron Morey, Troy Track & Field - Morey was a state qualifier in the triple jump, while also being a very strong long jumper and high jumper this season. 

4. Jonathan Earle, Wyalusing Track & Field - A district champion in the pole vault to qualify for states, he also won an NTL title in the event. He was also a district qualifier in the 110 hurdles.

3. Bailey Poll, Towanda, Boys Tennis - Poll went undefeated during the regular season, and made it all the way to the District IV Singles semifinals. 

2. Brendan Gilliland, Troy, Baseball - Gilliland hit .478 with 23-RBI, four doubles, and 31 runs scored for the Trojans, while also sporting a 2.02 ERA from the mound with 20 strikeouts.

1. Lawrence Halbfoerster, Canton Track & Field - A district champion in the 3200, and a state qualifier in the 1600 - he set two school records in those events along the way.

NOTABLES: Lucas Vincent, Towanda, Baseball...Dylan Johns, Wyalusing, Track & Field...Emmett Klees, Towanda, Track & Field...Reed Palmer, Troy, Baseball

RECAP

BASEBALL

TROY once again reloaded instead of rebuilt, and will once again have to replace big players going forward in Mason Smith and Brendan Gilliland. Reed Palmer returns, along with a bevy of talent from the younger classes, including Brody Ayers, so expect them to be in the hunt for the league title again in 2027...NEB gutted out some early wins before finding their stride later in the season. They lost in the district semifinals but after a year off they'll take it. They say good-bye to three seniors, including star Kohen Hugo, but return a very talented freshman class that now has plenty of big game experience...TOWANDA battled through a tough division to eke out a district berth, and did it with a young roster. They get most of those guys back - including hurlers Lucas Vincent and Shane Maghamez - as they look to take the next step in 2027...It may not have looked like it but Canton made ground this year with three of their four top players returning. Daniel Inman, Trapper Burr, and Bailey Gardner are a strong core to build around next season...It was a rebuilding year for Wyalusing, but the Rams sported the youngest team of all with just one senior. Griffin Sheldon showed what the young Rams can do as they look to improve in 2027.

SOFTBALL

A strong year for TOWANDA softball, but also one that had plenty of what-if moments. They have a good shot at running it back behind pitcher Leila Cobb, though they'll say good-bye to Brooklyn Evans and Caedence Wells...Behind a strong senior class WYALUSING put together a good year, making some noise in the NTL while also reaching a district final. They'll need to replace four key players, including in the circle, but they also seem to reload instead of rebuild...It was a tough year for TROY as they threw plenty of youngsters into the fray, but those youngsters showed plenty of improvement. They return all but one from the line-up, including pitcher Erinn Knapp, so expect the Trojans to improve upon this year's 9-win season...CANTON also had a young team, one that started strong but also learned some lessons. They return a strong freshman class to reteam with Jaylee Ward as they look to make a run at districts...It was a rebuilding year for NEB, which sported plenty of new faces. They had their ups-and-downs but with most of the line-up returning, including strong freshmen Madilyn Callear, Zoey Thetga, and Karmyn McPherson, expect them to much improved in 2027.

TRACK & FIELD

TOWANDA girls nearly got that league title they've been working towards. They did get three state qualifiers - Marin Maynard, Maris Cobb, and Brynn Woodruff - with Woodruff getting on the state podium. Cobb returns, and they'll make one more go for states in the 4x800 relay, while on the boys' side Emmett Klees will look to get that 3200 meter district title as the Knights return much of their roster...WYALUSING boys will say good-bye to key seniors Jonathan Earle and Dylan Johns, but return several from a team that had NTL title aspirations. The girls were young but talented, led by freshman Lia Fischer and Jenna Morningstar, as they look to take the next step to states...CANTON has about as good a year as they could with their numbers, with a 2-time state medalist (Alexis McRoberts) and a district champion (Lawrence Halbfoerster). Both are gone, along with a few supporting athletes. They do bring back Manuel Halbfoerster on the boys side, and Danah Wesneski for the girls...NEB had a rebuilding year though got strong contributions from distance runners Sophie Bennett and Jackson Martin. Both return in 2027 as they bring in a good group of junior high athletes to mix in...TROY saw senior Cameron Morey get his trip to states, but we will be looking to rebuild on both sides. The boys will have Jasper Miller in the sprints while on the girls side incoming freshman Harper Lee should give them a good jolt.

BOYS TENNIS

TOWANDA saw senior Bayley Poll go on a tear this season, but looking ahead they have to replace their top two. They'll have four returnees to do it, led by freshman Kellen Colton, as they rebuild their line-up.