COLLEGE WRESTLING: TIOGA'S WORTHING SIGNS LETTER-OF-INTENT TO WRESTLE AT DIVISION I CLARION (3 PHOTOS) (2019-05-01)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportTIOGA CENTER "” Tioga senior John Worthing will take his wrestling talents to a much bigger stage - Division I Clarion University - next year after signing a National Letter-of-Intent during a brief ceremony Wednesday afternoon in the high school foyer.
Worthing, a three-time Section IV champ and a three-time New York State place-winner, capped his career with his first state title in February. It was the 206th win in his brilliant career.
Worthing chose Clarion over a few other Division I programs that showed interest, including Edinboro and Buffalo.
"They have a good program, and the coaches wanted me," he said. "I just want to go there and show them what I can do.
"I saw some of their practice, and I liked the look of it," added Worthing. "I think it's going to be a good environment."
Worthing won his state title at 138 pounds, and believes he will wrestle collegiately at 141 or 149 pounds. He also knows he has plenty to work on.
"I need to maintain my weight, get in shape, and hit the weight room.
"And, I need to get better on offense," said Harrington. "At that level, you have to have a top-notch offense if you want to be good."
Kris Harrington, who has coached Worthing at Tioga for the last three years and has been closely associated with the Cornell wrestling program for years, believes Worthing is deserving of the Division I label.
"I think it's a testament to all the time and work he's put in, especially considering he's had to overcome some adversity in the last year-and-a-half.
"He's well-prepared for the next level, and he's very coachable, but he's going to have to work really hard to make the adjustments for the next step," said Harrington. "His big adjustment will be having to do it every day, six days a week, and have a competitive balance with his school work, too.
"It's a year-round commitment, he's made a life commitment at that level, but he's done a lot of that already, so that won't be a big adjustment," added Harrington. "I think the culture will be more of an adjustment, but I think being around more like-minded people, with the same goals he has, will only benefit him."
Harrington said Worthing is ready for the next level.
"He doesn't have many gaps. He's still growing, so he's going to have to find the right weight class.
"Getting in the weight room is going to be a big key for him," said Harrington. "From there, it's about making adjustments with his new coaches."
Former Tioga head coach Josh Roe, who is now the high school principal, is not a bit surprised by Worthing success after coaching him in 7th- and 8th-grade.
"We had a really good idea of how good he was going to be even back in his youth days. He was an All-American at the MAWA AAU Nationals," said Roe. "He was a kid who was placing high in the high-leverage tournaments.
"He had an uncanny gift of athleticism and technique, but he also seemed to shine in the pressure moments," he noted.
"We definitely had high aspirations for the entire crew that came through last year, even when they were young," added Roe. "You could see the athleticism and work ethic that was going to carry them through."
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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga senior John Worthing. IN PHOTO 2: Tioga senior John Worthing signs his letter-of-intent as his parents - Nicole and Willie "” look on. IN PHOTO 3: Tioga senior John Worthing is surrounded by family and coaches. From left: Brandon MacWhinnie, coach; Lou and Joyce Neira, grandparents; Brady Worthing, brother; Nicole Worthing, mother; John Worthing; Willie Worthing, father; Debbie and John Worthing, grandparents; Ryan MacWhinnie, coach; and Kris Harrington, Tioga head coach. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
