LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY – The Eastern States Classic – known for attracting some of the toughest, most prolific wrestlers from all over Northeast – saw six Norwich Purple Tornado wrestlers step onto the mat this past weekend, with two coming away as medalists.

Norwich elected to bring six wrestlers to the weekend tournament in Loch Sheldrake this past weekend – Mikey Squires 106 pounds, Eli Rodriguez 113 pounds, Ty Rifanburg 145 pound, Cole Rifanburg 152 pounds, Jake Franklin 160 pounds, and Brennan Slater 170 pounds – to which Ty and and Squires emerged with a eighth place medal each.

“Eastern States is tougher than the New York State tournament. It's a tournament where only a few slots per team are available. We had six this year and chose to

fill all six,” said Norwich varsity wrestling head coach Bob Hagenbuch. “The tournament is full of strange champions and state place finishers. You have athletes there that are ranked number one in the country, and others in the top five. The competition is unbelievable.”

Despite the increased competition, and subsequent losses when faced with a higher caliber of wrestlers, Hagenbuch is hoping that his wrestlers take their lumps now and learn from the losses as they go forward in search of potential state titles come February.