THE SPORTS REPORTS: TIOGA'S BELLIS, HORSEHEADS' HUNTLEY NAMED ZIFF LAW FIRST REGIONAL 'ATHLETES OF THE WEEK' (2023-02-28)

The Sports Reports
Tioga junior Caden Bellis won his first New York State Division 2 wrestling title Saturday, while Horseheads senior Emily Huntley had a dominant day at the Section IV girls bowling State Qualifier. They are The Sports Reports / Ziff Law Firm Regional “Athletes of the Week,” for the week ending Feb. 25.

BELLIS NAMED ZIFF LAW FIRM REGIONAL BOYS “ATHLETE OF THE WEEK”
Bellis, now a three-time state place-finisher, was fourth in the State as an 8th-grader, and a runner-up last year. On Saturday, Bellis beat Honeoye Falls-Lima Nick Noto, 6-1, to claim the NY State Division 2 138-pound title.

Bellis opened the tournament Friday with a pin of Locust Valley’s Justin Dvorak in 1:38, then edged Pioneer’s Xander Kirsch, 3-2, in the quarterfinals.

He advanced to the finals with a pin of Hackley’s Cole Joseph in 5:35 in the semifinals. It was the 150th win of his career.

Bellis finished off his junior season with a 33-2 record, and a career mark of 151-17.

Honorable Mentions: Tioga’s Ousmane Duncanson (wrestling), Elmira’s Donovan Smith (wrestling), North Penn-Liberty’s Derek Litzelman (basketball), Towanda’s Sawyer Robinson (wrestling), and Owego’s John Bangel (basketball).

HUNTLEY NAMED ZIFF LAW FIRM REGIONAL GIRLS “ATHLETE OF THE WEEK”
Huntley posted the highest score of anyone in the section, regardless of division, at the girls’ bowling state qualifier, earning a trip to the New York State Division 1 Championships.

Huntley had the high nine-game series, and also had the high three-game series, and the high individual game of the day.

Huntley shot a 1,948 for nine games, including with a 775 series, which is a season-high series in Section IV. She also had the highest game of the day with a 279.

Honorable Mentions: Waverly’s Peyton Shaw (basketball), Northeast Bradford’s Alaina Beebe, North Penn-Liberty’s Haley Litzelman, and SVEC’s Janelle Marsh (girls bowling).