Evening Sun Report
Wrestling
NORWICH – On the strength of six finalists and three champions, Norwich captured the Section IV Class B wrestling tournament at Norwich High School Saturday afternoon. It was the Tornado’s first Class B championship since the 1994-1995 season ending a 19-year span between class championships.
“Every kid contributed to our championship, and every kid was wrestling the best they have all year long,” said Norwich coach Terry Hagenbuch. “That’s important this time of year, and I am proud of all of the guys’ effort.”
As expected, returning Section IV champions Tristan Rifanburg (138) and Frank Garcia (152) breezed to titles. Rifanburg had just two matches, and needed two minutes and 10 seconds of mat time to claim his crown.
Garcia, too, was dominant with two pins and a superior decision. Adding the third crown was first-time sectional champion Dalen Geislinger (99, who edged Chenango Valley’s Caleb Wiggins, 4-2, in the finals.
“Frankie and Tristan are leaders on our team, and they knew they needed to go out and get bonus points in their matches to help us win the team title,” Hagenbuch said. “And they did.”
Nailing down runner-up finishes were Zach Mills (106), Cole Rifanburg (120), and Brad Chesebro (220). Five other Norwich wrestlers grabbed top-four finishes giving Norwich 11 entries in the sectional tournament next week, its largest contingent in several years.
“Being at home this weekend was most definitely a big advantage for us,” Hagenbuch said. “Everything worked out perfect.”
Team scores: Norwich 167, Maine-Endwell 151, Windsor 146, Whitney Point 108½, Susquehanna Valley 106, Owego 88½, Oneonta 84, Chenango Valley 78½, Dryden 30.
Finals
(Norwich results)
99: Dalen Geislinger (Norwich) dec. Caleb Wiggins (CV), 4-2. 106: Jacob Lehr (CV) dec. Zach Mills (Norwich), 9-7. 1120: Ryan Kwiatkowski (Owego) pinned Cole Rifanburg (Norwich), 1:09. 138: Tristan Rifanburg (Norwich) pinned Brock Post (M-E), 1:10. 1152: Frank Garcia (Norwich) pinned Brady Wisniewski (M-E), 2:37. 220: Tristan Roche (SV) dec. Bradley Chesebro (Norwich), 8-0.
Third-fourth
99: Ty Rifanburg (Norwich) dec. Paddy Lupole (SV), 14-0. 126: Carter Hubbard (Norwich) pinned Noah Gehring (Owego), 3:18.145: James Longo (Oneonta) pinned Nick Murphy (Norwich), 1:39.70: David Lopez (Owego) dec. Colton Langille (Norwich), 6-5. 182: Jacob Perrone (Norwich) dec. Cordell Woolfolk (M-E), 5-2.
Class C
GREENE – Returning Section IV champions Christian Dietrich of Greene and Chris Cirigliano of B-G/Afton/Harpursville maintained their course toward another Division II championship with dominant title wins at the Class C Tournament Saturday.
Dietrich, a state-runner-up as a freshman last year, remained unbeaten on the season topping Watkins Glen’s Ian Chedzoy in the 182-pound finals, 12-1. Cirigliano, who hasn’t lost since early December, flattened Lansing’s Hunter Oblinski in the 106-pound title bout with a pin in 1:05.
The Bears placed second in team scoring 8 1/2 points behind first-place Tioga. Adding a second title was Jamie Griswold at 145 pounds. Griswold, who has surged since his moved down in weight, pinned Watkins Glen’s Nick Cocola in 3:01.
Greene’s Jeff Pornbeck (195) followed up Dietrich’s victory with his first Class B title edging Tioga’s Mike Melella, 7-4.
The Bears will send 12 wrestlers to the Section IV Division II tourney, while the Trojans had four qualifiers.
Team scores: Tioga 182½, Bainbridge-Guilford/Afton/Harpursville 174, Sidney 117, Waverly 96, Unatego 86, Greene 85, Watkins Glen 79½, Lansing 77, Spencer-Van Etten 49, Thomas A. Edison 21.
Local results
(BGAH, Greene)
Finals
106: Chris Cirigliano (BGAH) pinned Hunter Oblinski (Lansing), 1:05. 120: Kaleb Stone (Tioga) pinned Ryan McMahon (BGAH), 1:46. 126: Dan Hosking (Tioga) dec. Kevin Hubbard (BGAH), 11-1. 138: Greg Lee (Lansing) dec. Madison Hoover (BGAH), 3-0. 145: Jamie Griswold (BGAH) pinned Nick Cocola (WG), 3:01. 182: Christian Dietrich (Greene) dec. Ian Chedzoy (WG), 12-1. 195: Jeff Pornbeck (Greene) pinned Mike Melella (Tioga), 7-4.
Third-fourth
