Tristan Rifanburg made New York State wrestling history last February when he became the first seventh-grader to win a state championship. Rifanburg also became the first Norwich wrestler in school history to win a state championship.
Rifanburg, now with a target on his back as “the person to beat,” is in position to make history again for the Tornado. He backed up a Section IV title from a year ago with a dominating run to the 112-pound championship last weekend in the Section IV Division II Championships. A week from now, Rifanburg will attempt to become a repeat state champion.
The Norwich grappler breezed into the sectional finals with three blowout wins by pin, then upended defending 103-pound Section IV champion Jesse Holton of Windsor, 6-2 for the tile. It was the second win in as many weeks for Rifanburg over Holton, and the victory has garnered Rifanburg our weekly honor as Smith Ford, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
“He’s doing just phenomenal. In two years of wrestling he’s had around 70 wins, and the majority of those have been either pins or technical falls,” said Norwich second-year coach Joe Downey. “It just shows how ahead of the game he is from everybody else in his weight class. In sectionals last year, he breezed through the tournament. This year, he wasn’t really tested either.”
In the first meeting with Holton, Rifanburg rolled and turned Holton every which way en route to a 14-0 rout. This time around, Holton had Rifanburg scouted well, but instead of threatening to defeat Rifanburg, it appeared Holton was just trying to limit the damage in a 6-2 loss. “The Windsor coaches did a great job of preparing Holton for Tristan,” Downey said. “But (Tristan) was completely in control the entire match, and it wasn’t really close. He just stays so calm and composed, and he always stays in good position.”
In winning four matches to capture the sectional title, Rifanburg used the same formula that won him titles last year all the way to the state crown. He gets his opponent to the mat, then goes to work. Few if any wrestlers escape the spider web of Rifanburg’s top riding position. He grinds down his opponent often turning the best wrestlers for back points. From the bottom position, Rifanburg is equally dangerous. In the state finals, Ardsley’s Drew Longo had the early takedown, but Rifanburg turned the tables quickly racking up an escape, a takedown, back points, and more. Only a late takedown made the final score (10-6) seem closer than what transpired over the six minutes of the match.
