Wrestling

Section IV Class B

ONEONTA – Norwich won its first Class B title in 19 years a season ago. After Saturday’s second straight title, this one by a whopping 70 points, the team title is becoming an expectation.

Five NHS wrestlers earned championshipa, and 13 kids placed among the top five in their respective weight class to advance to this weekend’s Section IV Tournament.

“It’s been our expectation all year long,” said Norwich coach Terry Hagenbuch of the team title. “That was our goal, now we’ve moved on to a higher goal.”

Dalen Geislinger (113), Tristan Rifanburg (145), and Frankie Garcia (152) repeated last year’s championship wins, and for the two latter athletes, Class B titles have become old hat. Winning their first Class B crowns were Ty Rifanburg (120) and Cole Rifanburg (132).

Winners by just 15 points in team scoring a season ago, Norwich outpolled runner-up Susquehanna Valley for a clearcut victory. “The way we’ve been wrestling, and I felt pretty comfortable about our chances,” Hagenbuch said. “But you never know for sure; that’s why you wrestle the matches.”

All five Norwich champions won as number one seeds, and other than Cole Rifanburg’s 4-1 decision win over Maine-Endwell’s Austin Sullivan, none of the finals matches were close.

Team scoring: Norwich, 233.5; Sus Valley, 163.5; Oneonta, 159.5; Chenango Valley, 147.5; Owego, 140.5; Windsor, 136; Maine-Endwell, 121; Waverly, 85; Dryden, 70.5.

Norwich top five place finishers