Wrestling

Owego Duals

OWEGO – Norwich shrugged off a tough start to the Owego Duals winning its final six matches to finish with a 6-3 mark over the two-day event, while placing fourth out of 10 teams.

First-place Union-Endicott, second-place Pittsford, and Northrose Wolcott – the top three teams in the tourney – were Norwich’s first three matchups Friday night. After losses to those clubs, the Tornado picked up momentum blanking Binghamton, 75-0, to set up a perfect 5-0 record on Saturday.

“The kids were really excited with the way we performed, and I was proud of them,” said Norwich coach Joe Downey. “We set a goal in the tournament to win five matches, and we exceeded our goal. It’s fantastic any time you can exceed your goals.”

Norwich beat Candor (72-18), Owego (63-24), Newark Valley (48-30), Unatego (48-35), and Ithaca (48-40) to round out the day. “The teams we beat on Saturday, they weren’t slouches at all,” Downey said. “I mentioned earlier in the week that what we were doing in the practice room was not transferring to the meet. Saturday, everything was clicking for us. We were getting off the bottom and we had some nice takedowns. The kids were doing what they were supposed to be doing.”

Tristan Rifanburg (126), Frank Garcia (132), Tanner Cummings (152), Cody Bradbury (182), and Kegan Levesque (195) all had perfect 9-0 records over the weekend.

Rifanburg knocked off Pittsford’s Brady Baron to highlight his day. Baron, the number one ranked Division One wrestler in Section V this season, led 2-0 until the late stages of the match. Rifanburg, from the top position, secured three back points with less than 20 seconds remaining in the final period to rally for the win.

Returning to the lineup and providing a big boost were returning starters John Mavin and Matt Thompson. Showing improvement during the tournament as well were Cody Thompson, Anthony Vitello and Chandler Rifanburg. “We’ve pretty much been forfeiting two weight classes,” Downey said. “It really helps to have our lineup back at full strength.”

Norwich (6-5) hosts Susquehanna Valley on Wednesday.

Cuneen-Doane Tournament

WALTON – Sherburne-Earlville had seven wrestlers place among the top three, and seniors Spencer Franklin along with Cody Santiago brought home individual titles to lead the Marauders to a runner-up finish in the 13-team Cuneen-Doane Tournament at Walton Saturday.

Franklin (120) earned a bye into the finals, and he pinned Liberty’s Luis Rivera in 4:32 for the crown. Santiago (22), in just his second varsity season, won three matches in the tourney, the capper a pin of Marathon’s Andrew Gillette in 4:28.

Zack Montgomery (160) paced Unadilla Valley to a sixth-place team finish capturing the 160-pound title. Montgomery blanked Sidney’s Nick Jump, 5-0.

Team scores (13 total teams): Chenango Valley, 159.5; Sherburne-Earlville, 142; Walton 132; Maine-Endwell, 117.5; Delhi, 113; Unadilla Valley, 83.