OXFORD – Nate Hansen of Oxford beat a returning Section IV champion, and Frankie Garcia of Norwich rolled over the competition. The two juniors shared Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 51st Annual Clyde Cole Wrestling Tournament at Oxford Academy Saturday.
Hansen (113) was one of four Blackhawks to reach the finals, but the only one to finish on top of the podium. Coming off a dual meet loss earlier in the week, Hansen showed no adverse effects on his way to a 10-6 decision over B-G/A/H’s Chris Cirigliano.
Cirigliano showed an aptitude for explosive moves in winning a sectional title this past February, but it was Hansen who roused a partisan, capacity crowd getting a nearfall in the opening period, then adding a reversal and another nearfall in the second period to build a 9-5 lead. It was the second straight year Hansen beat Cirigliano in this tournament, a fact that must have crossed his mind before the finals match.
“The thing about Nate is that he is not afraid of the moment to hit the big move,” said Oxford coach Craig Tefft. “Sometimes it works in his favor, and sometimes it doesn’t Tonight it did a couple of times. We knew going in we had a good shot, and Nate wrestled like that.”