Wrestling

JOHNSON CITY – Norwich is already ahead of last season's pace, and the 2013-2014 season was a pretty good one for the Tornado grapplers.

Norwich captured its first STAC championship in 24 years winning three individual titles and placing nine wrestlers among the top five.

Tristan Rifanburg (145), a finalist in all six of his STAC tourneys, won his fifth league title and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler. Rifanburg won by pin or technical fall en route to his crown, and blasted U-E's Tristan Martin, 16-0, win by technical fall in just 3:25 for the crown. "It was typical Tristan – he didn't make mistakes," said Norwich coach Terry Hagenbuch. "It was a very deserving honor."

Frank Garcia (152) captured his third STAC title, and Dalen Geislinger (113) shook off a dual meet loss from earlier in the week to nail down a trio of NHS championships.

Just a season ago, Norwich came up short in this event, but followed that up with Class B and Section IV Division II titles. The first leg of this triple crown is already in the books, and Norwich is likely the favorite to repeat the next two weeks.

"There are different dynamics between dual meets and tournaments, and things have to happen that are out of your control," Hagenbuch said. "I think this team is definitely a better tournament team than a dual meet team, but we're still a good dual meet team. (This win) is definitely satisfying, and any time you beat the Triple Cities teams, including the defending champions, it's good for our program."

Geislinger lost to Chenango Forks' Pat Borelli earlier in the week, but easily dispatched Borelli, 9-2, to reach the finals. Geislinger then upended Paddy Lupole by a wide margin for his first STAC crown. "It was an emotional night earlier in the week, not just for the seniors, but for the rest of the guys on the team. 'Gunny' is close to the three seniors, and it took its toll," Hagenbuch said. "We knew he would wrestle much better this weekend, and the Dalen that wrestled this weekend is the one that we know."

Garcia plowed forward with a technical fall win over Vestal's Rob Mastronardi for his third title. Meanwhile, Ty Rifanburg (120) had his best STAC tournament in three seasons placing second to top-seeded Derek Osman of Vestal. Rifanburg lost a 5-3 decision, but nearly earned the decisive back points in the final minute.

Five other Norwich wrestlers placed among the top five to pad the Tornado's point total.

"For the most part, I think we met or exceeded expectations," Hagenbuch said. "We had a little bit of a lull (during the season), but our goal is to peak at the end of the year, and we're starting to wrestle the way we need to for the end of the year."

Norwich is at Greene on Tuesday for its final dual meet of the season.

STAC Championships

Team scoring

Norwich, 197.5; Vestal, 185.5; Elmira, 169; U-E, 144.5; Susquehanna Valley, 141.5; Johnson City, 133.5; Windsor, 121; Chenango Valley, 116; Chenango Forks, 108; Owego, 94.5; Horseheads, 84; Corning, 77.5; Maine-Endwell, 77.5; Binghamton, 47; Oneonta, 36.5; Ithaca, 12.

Norwich results

First place: Dalen Geislinger (113), Tristan Rifanburg (145), Frank Garcia (152)

Second place: Ty Rifanburg (120)

Third place: Cole Rifanburg (132), Nick Murphy (138)

Fourth Place: Elijah Rodriguez (99)