Wrestling

OWEGO – Norwich won four out of six matches at the Owego Duals Friday and Saturday, and finished second overall out seven teams, a marked improvement over last season’s result.

Norwich secured its second-place finish winning its first two matches Saturday over Elmira (54-31) and host Owego (60-30). Friday, the Tornado upended Ithaca and Union-Endicott.

“We had some huge wins, and the difference is just confidence and believing in themselves,” said Norwich coach Joe Downey. “Every one there was a quality team, and the kids loved it.”

In beating Ithaca to start the tourney, Eli Oliver set the tone with an opening pin. The Tornado followed that up with an exciting victory over the Tigers. Landon Cummings (103) won a hard-fought overtime decision, 8-6, over veteran sectional place-winner, Kyle Hughes. John Marvin and Matt Thompson followed up with key victories . “One of the reasons we were able to beat U-E is because Marvin and Thompson pulled out big pins,” Downey said.

Norwich’s lone losses came to Section V’s Pittsford, and the tournament-ending loss to Newark Valley that Downey termed as a “bad matchup.”

Overall, Tristan Rifanburg, Frankie Garcia, Tanner Cummings, and Kegan Levesque and perfect 6-0 days to lead the Tornado. Norwich also brought home a second-place team trophy, the type of reward Norwich’s wrestling team has not received in quite a while, Downey said.

Norwich hosts Chenango Forks Tuesday, then has back-to-back home dual meets against Greene and Sherburne-Earlville on Thursday.