Wrestling
ILION – Norwich had nine out of its 10 wrestlers place at the Leo J. Sammon Tournament winning five titles Saturday, its best showing at the Ilion-based tournament in years.
Frank Garcia, wrestling in the 119-pound division, was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler. Garcia defeated Rome Free Academy’s Antonio DeLuco, 5-1, in the finals for the title. DeLuco was a Section III Division I runner-up in the 2010 sectionals. Three other wrestlers in Garcia’s class came into the tournament with three losses or less, said Norwich coach Joe Downey. “(Frankie’s) whole weight class was just loaded,” Downey said. “Frankie wrestled phenomenally. He was tough on his feet and took everybody down at will.”
Landon Cummings (96), Tristan Rifanburg (112), Tanner Cummings (130), and Kegan Levesque (215) added championship wins. Cummings scrambled off his back in the opening 20 seconds to turn the tide sinking in a cradle on Copenhagen’s Breven Jacobs for the first-period pin.
Rifanburg (112) was not seriously tested cruising to his title, Cummings was especially dominant from the top riding position, and Levesque earned a third-period pin as he continues to open up his offense, Downey said.
Cody Bradbury (171) had the Tornado’s next-best finish placing third. Taking fifth were Matt Thompson (135), Eli Oliver (145), and Damian Marvin (152). “It was a great showing, and we came in prepared to win,” Downey said. “We were missing about a third of our guys, and just didn’t have enough guys to win it. The guys we did take, they all did their jobs, and all met or exceeded their pre-tournament seeds.”
Norwich (7-3) returns to action in a intradivision matchup at Susquehanna Valley Wednesday night.
Top-five team scores (out of 11 teams): Colonie 220.5; Rome Free Academy, 172; Ilion, 171; Norwich, 167.5; Whitesboro, 139.5.
Finals
96: Landon Cummings, Norwich pinned Breven Jacobs, Copenhagen, 1:14
103: Jon Stefano, West Genesse pinned Mike Bonderchuck, Whitesboro, 3:09
112: Tristan Rifanburg, Norwich tech fall. Nick Fetterolf, West Genesse, 2:53
119: Frankie Garcia, Norwich dec. Antonio DeLuco, Rome Free Academy, 5-1
125: Mike Sardo, Whitesboro dec. Tyler Hill, Lowville, 9-4
130: Tanner Cummings, Norwich dec. John Mazza, Mohawk, 7-2
135: Keith Hacker, Ilion dec Phil Bazicki, Colonie, 7-6
140: Brandon Barbero, Colonie dec. Kyle LaBarge, Mohawk, 14-0
145: Eli Cooks, Colonie dec. Kyle Salvagni, Ilion, 6-1
152: Phillip Clarke, Copenhagen pinned Josh Knapp, Rome Free Academy, 1:34
160: Josh Fuchs, Colonie dec. Jeremiah Casler, Little Falls, 16-6
171: Joe Shell, Colonie pinned Dan Secor, Rome Free Academy, 3::16
189: Jon Treen, Ilion dec. Matt McCarty, Colonie, 8-4
215: Kegan Levesque, Norwich pinned Zach Smith, Ilion, 4:21
285: Brandon Fayle, Lowville pinned James Alsheimer, Ilion, 2:37
Other Norwich finishers
Third Place
171 Cody Bradbury, Norwich dec. Matt Sowers, Whitesboro, 14-12 OT
Fifth Place
135: Matt Thompson won by dec.
145 Eli Oliver, Norwich dec. Mike Duffer, Lowville, 6-5
152 Damien Marvin, Norwich dec. Nate Cowles, Colonie, 0:33
