Wrestling
ILION – Norwich carried the momentum of nine straight dual meet wins into the Leo J. Sammon Memorial Tournament this weekend.
The Tornado won four individual titles to nail down the overall team championship in the 12-team tourney. Tristan Rifanburg (120), Frank Garcia (132), Anthony Vitello (160), and Kegan Levesque (195) topped their brackets in leading NHS to nine overall top-four finishes.
Norwich racked up 187 points besting runner-up Lowville by seven. “One of the first years we went to this tournament was when I was wrestling, and I don’t think we’ve ever won it,” said Norwich coach Joe Downey, a 1999 NHS grad of the Sammon crown. “There are always some good teams there, and we were banking on that. We just wrestled really well.”
Rifanburg and Levesque had little trouble in winning their weight classes, and were not extended the full six minutes in any of their victories. Garcia, down 2-0 after two periods to Lowville’s Tim Pargo, picked up a reversal and two sets of back points to rally for a 6-2 victory.
Vitello continued his rapid improvement pinning Berne Knox’s Josh Richards in 4:34 for his title. “This was awesome for Anthony to win,” Downey said. “He was the third seed, and he beat the number one and number two seeds to win this. He’s just rolling right now.”
Norwich was able to capture the title in large part due to its wrestlers’ breaking their seed. Cole Rifanburg (99), Trey Muserallo (113), Matt Thompson (138), and Chandler Rifanburg (220) all exceeded their pre-tournament seedings, Downey said.
Norwich wrestles Oneonta on Tuesday and Greene on Thursday.
Results
Team scores: Norwich, 187; Lowville, 180; Copenhagen, 169; Berne Knox, 160.5; Ilion, 140.5; RFA, 132.5; Mohawk, 119.5; Whitesboro, 104.5; Little Falls, 61; Oswego, 54.5; Mount Markham, 25; Utica Proctor, 15.
Norwich Place finishers
First: Tristan Rifanburg (120) pinned Joe Murtha (C), 3:06. Frank Garcia (132) dec. Tim Fargo (L), 6-2. Anthony Vitello (160) pinned Josh Richards (BK), 4:34. Kegan Levesque (195) pinned Tyler McLean (LF), 1:01.
Second: Tanner Cummings (152); Cody Bradbury (170).
Third: Trey Muserallo (106); Matt Thompson (138)
Fourth: Cole Rifanburg (99).
Ross Cordell Rotary Tournament
ONEONTA – With a quarter of its lineup out of action, Sherburne-Earlville used three championship wins and six top-three finishes to place fourth at the Ross Cordell Rotary Tournament at Oneonta this weekend.
Kevin Dunshee (113) continued his surge for the Marauders with a title; Spencer Franklin (120), who has just one loss this season, cruised to three wins, and Cody Santiago (220) overcome a pair of tough opponents in the semifinals and finals to earn a spot on the top of the podium.
“The kids just wrestled unbelievable,” said S-E assistant coach, Brian Hicks. “Bim (Palmer, S-E head coach) was just ecstatic. With three kids out of the lineup, we hoped to get into the top six or eight in team scores. On Friday, we only lost three matches, and we had two kids wrestle back for third.”
B-G/Afton also won a pair of championships with Jesse Griswold (138) and Mark Viviano (182) taking their respective weight classes.
The Marauders travel to Mohawk on Tuesday.
Results
Team scores: Burnt Hills 225, Levittown 161, Saugerties 146, Sherburne-Earlville 143.5, Sandy Creek 142.5, Oneonta 138, Owego 126.5 Schoharie-Middleburg 106, Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton 100, Susquehanna Valley 81, Unadilla Valley 61, Cobleskill-Richmondville 53, Unatego 48.5, Eldred/Fallsburg 39.
Local place finishers
First: Kevin Dunshee, S-E (113); Spencer Franklin, S-E (120); Jesse Griswold, BGA (138); Mark Viviano, B-GA (182); Cody Santiago, S-E (220).
Second: Kalvin Abrams, UV (99); Justin Cirigliano, BGA (132); Garrett DuVall, S-E (195).
Third: Hunter Owen, S-E (99); Dustin Mosley, S-E (126); Dustin Badger, UV (132).
Fourth: Caleb Simonds, UV (106); Billy Holden, BGA (285).
