(Editor’s Note: Since our print publication went out, the girls varsity volleyball team at OFA won the regional’s, and will advance to state competition on Saturday)
The first week in November was an extraordinary week for the record books at three Tioga County high schools. Owego Free Academy, Tioga Central and Newark Valley all celebrated sectional championships. Some regional play has since been played and some teams are gearing up for championship games this weekend.
The OFA boys’ and the girls’ cross-country teams return to OFA as champions. The boys won the section championship, and the girls’ cross-country team finished second in the sectional championship. (Photos provided by OA Schools)
In Owego, three Owego Free Academy (OFA) sports teams, the boys’ cross country team, girls swim and dive team and girls’ volleyball team each won sectional championships between Thursday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 4.
On Nov. 7, the girls’ volleyball team won their regional semi-final match and will compete in a regional final on Nov. 12.
OFA Boys Cross Country: The first time in school history, the OFA boys cross country team won the Class B sectional title on Nov. 2. The girls cross country team finished strong as well, and brought home a second place finish.
Next up for Owego is the NYS XC Championship meet at Wayne High School on Nov. 11, where seven boys and two girls will complete. Should the runners do well, Coach John Heath commented that they have a realistic shot at qualifying for the NYS Federation Meet of Champions on Nov. 18, which would also be a new achievement by an Owego cross country team.
Heath, who has coached varsity cross country at Owego for 13 years, commented, “I have had the pleasure of working with many talented boy and girl runners during that time. The boys’ sectional team championship this year has been a work in progress. Many young athletes want quick results and become frustrated when they do not experience that. A distance runner that becomes committed to a program understands that big changes take time and as a coach I know that program wide change is a process as well. Kids that ran for me ten years ago paved the way for what we celebrated last Thursday.”
He continued, “We have worked hard to develop a team first mindset where athletes make great sacrifices, stay committed to year round training and pass along a high quality work ethic to the younger members of the team. This formula has helped our team become quite competitive over the past six years. We have celebrated many successes both individually and as a team in the recent past but we have always looked to the next level to keep us hungry and motivated. It was so rewarding to be part of this banner season and to experience the team win on the day that we had our sights set on all season long! We are quite proud of the accomplishment but are very eager to mix it up at the state level this weekend.”
Pictured is the OFA Varsity Girls Volleyball team. The team won its sectional title on Nov. 4, and then a regional semi-final on Nov. 7. OFA Volleyball faces Spackenkill on Sunday, Nov. 12 at SUNY-New Paltz for the regional final. The winner of that match will go on to the state tournament. (Photo courtesy of OA Schools)
OFA Girls Volleyball: The OFA Girls Varsity Volleyball team won its seventh straight sectional title on Nov. 4. Owego persevered at the Section four Class B final versus Windsor, taking a 3-1 victory (25-15, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19), and then went on to defeat Section One Westlake in the regional semi-final played at Croton-on-Hudson on Nov. 7.
Regarding the sectional final, Coach Brittney Race shared, “This final was by far the biggest battle we have had! Windsor played their best game of the season. I tell my kids that it doesn’t have to be pretty, and that a win is a win.”
Race further commented that the team battled for every point and that, in the end, it was enough to win. Additionally, she said the team has been working all season long to be mentally tough, and she believes it showed versus Windsor.
The team traveled to Croton-Harmon High School to play Westlake in the regional semi-final on Nov. 7.
Race stated, “We played Westlake last year in our regional final match and won it in three. We did not know much about them going in this year, but we knew if we played our best it was going to be difficult to beat us. After a three and one half hour bus ride the girls got off the bus full of energy.”
Race added that OFA dominated game one with a score of 25-9, and won game two 25-14. After a big start of 11-4 in the third game, OFA won 25-20.
“The team played very well and with a lot of intensity,” Race said.
OFA Volleyball faces Spackenkill on Sunday, Nov. 12 at SUNY-New Paltz for the regional final. The winner of that match will go on to the state tournament.
Pictured is the OFA Girls Swim and Dive team who recently brought home a Section IV, Class B championship. Next up is a state event at Ithaca on Nov. 17 and 18. (Photo courtesy of OA Schools)
OFA Girls Swim and Dive Team: The OFA Girls Swim and Dive team recently brought home the Section IV, Class B championship.
Coach Jason Westervelt, in his 13th season, shared, “We’ve had a tough schedule. This year has been a good year all around,” adding, “We made some changes in the strength and conditioning program and it paid off.”
Westervelt said the Section IV win was a team effort; Kailee Payne was the champion diver. Six swimmers will participate in the state event at Ithaca on Nov. 17 and 18. Within the state, OFA’s Summer Pierce is a Top 5 ranked swimmer, and Katie Shoen and Emma French are both Top 10 ranked swimmers.
Over at Tioga, the girls’ volleyball team and boys’ football team both won sectional titles, and on Nov. 7 the Lady Tigers were victorious again.
Willard Cook, Tioga Middle School principal and Tioga Central School District athletic director, commented, “Tioga Central is tremendously excited to see our football and volleyball teams continue their tradition of competing for State Championships. Both Coach Aiello and Coach Ford have compiled outstanding competitive successes while providing leadership to the athletes entrusted to their care.”
Pictured is the Tioga Tigers Varsity Volleyball team, who won its Section IV, Class C title on Nov. 4. Next up is a regional final versus Millbrook on Nov. 12 at SUNY-New Paltz. (Photo courtesy of Tioga Central School District)
Tioga Girls Volleyball: Tioga won its third-in-a-row Section IV, Class C title and fifth in six years versus Trumansburg on Nov. 4. The Lady Tigers won by scores of 25-15, 25-9, and 25-20.
On Nov. 7, the Lady Tigers pulled off a 3-0 win in the first round of the New York State Class C volleyball playoffs versus Haldane, with scores of 25-20, 25-13 and 25-15.
Next up for Tioga is a regional final versus Millbrook on Nov. 12 at SUNY-New Paltz.
Pictured is the Tioga Tigers Varsity Football team, who took the Class D championship on Nov. 3, the sixth title in seven years. A regional game is scheduled this weekend. (Photo courtesy of Tioga Central School District)
Tioga Football: Tioga football celebrated a sweet win in Section IV, Class D play on Nov. 3 versus Sidney, running to victory with a final score of 63-42. This marks Tioga’s sixth Class D title in seven years.
Next up, Tioga plays a Class D regional championship versus Dolgeville at U-E’s Ty Cobb Stadium this weekend.
Newark Valley Football: And then in Newark Valley, the Cardinals football claimed victory versus Oneonta on Nov. 4 at the Section IV, Class C championship game. The final score was 26-14. Newark Valley is slated next to play at U-E’s Ty Cobb Stadium this weekend.
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