THE SPORTS REPORTS: ATHENS' HICKS, CORNING'S ABEL NAMED 'GOLFERS OF YEAR;" STSR WELL-REPRESENTED ON ALL-REGION TEAMS (2025-07-17)

The Sports Reports
There were a number of impressive performances turned in by our regional golfers, both back in the fall in Pa., and this spring in New York, highlighted by The Sports Reports All-Region Boys’ and Girls’ "Golfers of the Year” — Athens sophomore Eli Hicks and Corning freshman Delaney Abel. 

In 14 matches, Hicks averaged an 18-hole round of 78, which was second in the NTL to teammate, senior Dylan Saxon. He had a low round of 69 at Shepard Hills on the day Athens clinched its fourth straight league title.

Hicks shot a 73 at the District 4, Class AAA team championships as Athens shattered its school scoring record and won the team title.

At the District 4, Class AAA individual championships, Hicks shot an opening round of 73 and led the field, but shot an 85 on the second day to finish second with a two-day total of 168.

At States, Hicks shot rounds of 75 and 79 for a two-day total of 154, and a 51st-place finish in the field of 72.

The All-Region boys "Golf Coach of the Year" is Athens’ Lenny Pientka, who directed the Wildcats to its third consecutive unbeaten season in the NTL, and its fourth consecutive league title. 

Athens is currently riding a 22-match win streak in the NTL. On top of that, Athens won its first-ever District 4, Class 3A team championships.

The boys "Newcomer of the Year" is Towanda freshman Boom Thompson, who had an 18-hole average of 81.22 over 12 rounds with a season low of 76.

(The Sports Reports covers 24 school districts in four counties, and Corning.)

The Sports Reports 2024-25 All-Region Boys Golf Team
First Team

Dylan Saxon, Athens, senior: Saxon led the NTL with a scoring average of 77.75 over 12 rounds, including a low round of 72. He finished third at the District 4, Class AAA Championships with a two-day total of 160 (80-80).

Boom Thompson, Towanda, freshman: See above.

Andy Hermansen, North Penn-Mansfield, junior: Hermansen was third in the NTL with 79.36 average, and shot a low round of 71. He was  State Qualifier.

Noah Banks, Candor, senior: Banks had a nine-hole scoring average of 40.75 during the regular season, and finished second at the IAC Small School Championships. He tied for sixth at the Section IV Medalist Tournament, and shot a two-day total of 182 at States.

James Luther, Tioga, senior: Luther led the Tigers with a plus-4.8 scoring average over 9 holes (81.6 over 18). He finished seventh at the Section IV, Class D Championships with a round of 84.

Jack Fesetch, Horseheads: A state qualifier for the Blue Raiders, he won the season-opening Dinunzio Tournament, which featured all the STAC teams. Fesetch shot a 79 at the state qualifier to make states, and finished 55th at the state championships with a two-day total of 161. 

Jackson Cavalier, Elmira: Cavalier made it to the state qualifier this year. He averaged 40.5 on the season for nine holes. 

Graham Wells, Towanda: Wells averaged of 81.81 over 11 rounds with a low round of 75.

Second Team
Ty Owen, Athens, freshman: Owen averaged 84.36 strokes over 18 holes, which placed sixth in the NTL. He placed 14th at Districts.

Brady Darrow, Athens, senior: scoring average of 87.5 during the regular season, which was good for 10th in the NTL. He finished eighth at Districts with a two-day total of 175.

Tayton Strange, North Penn-Mansfield, senior: Strange was seventh in the NTL with an 84.64 average. He had a low round of 73, and was a State Qualifier.

Owen Savercool, Towanda, freshman: Savercool had an 84.72 average over 13 rounds with a low round of 81. 

Connor Smith, Wyalusing: Smith had an 18-hole average of 86 over 12 rounds with a low round of 81.

Syler Pietrzyk, Wellsboro, sophomore: Pietrzyk was 11th in NTL with an 18-hole average of 88.38. He had a low round of 80, and was a District 4 Qualifier.


Third Team
Ethan Ford, Corning: Ford average 5.1 over-par for nine holes.

Jackson Potter, Notre Dame: Potter finished sixth at the Class D Championships for the Crusaders as the team took second. He was third at the IAC meet and was a first-team IAC all-star. 

Logan Demember, Elmira: Remember averaged 43.5 (9 holes) on the season for the Express.

Griff Walter, Waverly, freshman: Walter averaged 45.12 over nine holes (90.25 over 18 holes). He shot a 90 for a top-25 finish at the STAC Championships.

Alex Davis, North Penn-Mansfield, senior: Davis was 13th in NTL with an 89.63 average. He had a low round of 78, and was a District 4 Qualifier.

Talon D’Angelo, North Penn-Mansfield, senior: D'Angelo was 14th in the NTL with an 89.75 scoring average. He had a low round of 85, and was a District 4 Qualifier.

Hunter House, Wyalusing, senior: House had a 91.24 average (18 holes) over 11 rounds with a low round of 82.

Danny Smith, Cowanesque Valley, sophomore: Smith was 17th in NT with a 92.10 scoring average. He had a low round of 84, and was a District 4 Qualifier.

Bradyn Woods, junior, Newark Valley: Woods paced the Cardinals' golf team in 2025, averaging a 47.4 scoring average over nine holes. Woods went on to take 14th for Large School at the IAC Championships.

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ABEL NAMED ALL-REGION "GIRLS GOLFER OF THE YEAR"
On the girls side, the "Player of the Year" is Corning freshman Delaney Abel.  

Abel was a state third-place finisher, had a scoring average of 36.4 for nine holes and shot a round of 72 at the sectional meet to win the Section IV title for the second time in three years. 

She was under-par after day one of the state championship and tied for the lead after one round. 

Abel was more than five shots better than any other girl in the section, and had the best scoring average of any local golfer — boy or girl. 

Athens freshman Brooke Lyon is the Girls "Newcomer of the Year." 

Lyon was a consistent starter for the Wildcats, who won their fourth straight NTL title and the program's first-ever District 4 title. She had a scoring average of 101.8 in nine matches. She set a school record with a round of 85, and also shot an 86.

The girls "Golf Coach of the Year" is Towanda’s Paul Lantz, who led his Lady Black Knights to a District 4 title.

The Sports Reports 2024-25 All-Region Girls Golf Team
Delaney Abel, Corning, freshman: See above.

Breanne Robinson, Waverly, senior: Robinson had a nine-hole average of 45.5, and finished sixth at the Section IV Championships with a round of 92 to qualify for States for the second time in three years.

She shot a 95 on Day 2 of the New York State Championships to move up 17 spots on the leaderboard. She had a two-day total of 202 for 79th place.

Brooke Lyon, Athens, freshman: See above.

Laila Hackett, Cowanesque Valley, junior: Hackett had a scoring average of 105.75. She shot a low round of 91, and was a District 4 Qualifier.

Evelyn Wheeler, Notre Dame: A New York state qualifier, Wheeler averaged 41.8 (9 holes) on the season, fifth best in Section 4. 

Mady Weigand, Horseheads: Weigand averaged 45.6 on the season (9 holes) for the Blue Raiders.

Lauren Gillette, junior, Spencer-Van Etten: Gillette was the team leader for Spencer-Van Etten girls' golf in 2025, averaging 49.64 per nine holes and pacing the Panthers in the majority of their matches this spring.

Amanda Hall, Corning: Hall averaged 50.4 for nine holes on the season.

Emma Steed, Notre Dame: A New York State qualifier, Steed averaged 48.2 for nine holes. 

Tess Barber, Corning: Barber averaged 52.5 for nine holes on the season. 

Izzy Schoonover, Canton, senior: Schoonover not only qualified for districts for the first time as a senior this year, she also earned a state berth. 

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