Norwich’s Garcia, Rifanburg make history
ALBANY – Norwich juniors Frankie Garcia and Tristan Rifanburg made school history.
The best friends and longtime training partners won Division II state wrestling titles Saturday night at the Times Union Arena in Albany. Rifanburg captured the 138-pound title, his second state championship, while Garcia won his first championship two weight classes later taking the 152-pound crown.
It was the first time in the eight-decade history of Norwich wrestling that two wrestlers captured state titles in the same season. "It really was a great weekend for us," said Norwich coach Terry Hagenbuch in what was clearly the understatement of the season.
Greene sophomore Christian Dietrich completed a 43-0 season with his first state title taking the 182-pound D-II championship in a splendid display of efficiency and dominance.
For Rifanburg, his second state title was four years removed from his first when he became the first seventh-grader in school history to win a state title. In the respite between his two titles, Rifanburg had a pair of runner-up finishes including last year's excruciatingly close defeat where he gave up a one-point lead in the last five seconds.
Rifanburg put that loss behind him, and shook off a midseason loss to ascend to the top. "From the first day of practice, this is what we train for," Rifanburg said. "We didn't take anyone lightly and we didn't train for second place."
Just like his first state title, Rifanburg was entered in the tournament as a third seed. After two blowout wins to reach the semifinals, Rifanburg squared off again with Sam Ward of Section VII. Rifanburg beat Ward in the semifinals last year, but dropped a 6-4 decision to Ward in the Eastern States Classic earlier this season.
Rifanburg clearly made the better adjustments coming off the loss rolling to a 5-0 win to reach the finals.
Rifanburg had the initial takedown, and once in the lead, dictated the rest of the match. "We knew that if Tristan scored first, he would be tough to beat because he doesn't give up many points," Hagenbuch said.
Before the tournament, Rifanburg and Hagenbuch eyed Ward as a potential finals opponent. Instead, it was Laken Cook of Central Valley Academy in Section III who met Rifanburg in the finals. Cook upset the number one seed in the semifinals to create a rematch of the Ilion Tournament finals in January.
Rifanburg topped Cook two months ago in that tournament, 8-4, and was more convincing in the return meeting rolling to a 7-1 victory. That one point in the finals was the only one Rifanburg allowed in the tournament.
Rifanburg’s triumph was just the first half of Norwich's daily double as Garcia hit the center of the mat in what was another rematch.
Garcia, the top seed in his weight class, squared off with Section III's Tyler Silverthorn, the number two seed. Silverthorn and Garcia clashed in the Eastern States Classic with Garcia winning by decision, 3-1.
Silverthorn rarely engaged Garcia on his feet in the second go-around, and Garcia scored twice with back points in the second period en route to a 4-0 victory.
Garcia, too, was coming off a state finals loss a season ago, and was motivated to rectify that finish from the start of the season. "I knew I was on that state championship level, I just never peaked at the right time," Garcia said. "This weekend I finally wrestled my best, and I got that championship."
Rifanburg shared in his teammate's victory and soaked in what he and Garcia pulled off. "It's just amazing to have two state championships in the same year," Rifanburg said. "Frankie's been my best friend and training partner for like six or seven years. I couldn't have done this without him."
Said Garcia: "Our styles work out perfect for practice, and to win a state title and have my partner win a state title, it's awesome."
Dietrich, too, toured many of the same youth wrestling tournaments as Garcia and Rifanburg, so it's fitting that he took his rightful place on top of the podium in the same year.
Dietrich had a perfect run through sectional and state tournament competition not allowing a point in any match. Not only that, he was never taken down in 43 matches this season as he improved on an already strong array of skills.
Following three straight pins to reach the finals, Dietrich met Daniel Smith of Section III for the third time this season. Dietrich earned 4-0 and 3-0 wins over Smith earlier this season at prestigious tournaments, and Dietrich made it a perfect 3-for-3 using a first-period takedown and an escape in the third to notch a 3-0 win.
Just one year earlier, Dietrich gave up a third-period takedown in the state finals to lose by one point. Dietrich never found himself in that situation this season. "Last year was not a good way to end, and we just wanted to put that behind us," said Greene coach Tim Jenks. "That loss really motivated him to come back and win it this year."
And the scary thing for the rest of the field is that Dietrich has two years of eligibility left and a hunger to improve. "He's still getting better, and I think you'll see a monster next year," Jenks said. "He has great technique, but hasn't reached his potential."
Chenango County wrestlers Garrett DuVall of Sherburne-Earlville and Nik Hansen of Oxford also placed Saturday.
Hansen was a mere five seconds away from reaching the D-II state finals. Leading Mexico's Trevor Allard in the 160-pound semis, Allard picked up an escape with 12 seconds left to cut Hansen's lead to 3-2. While the two were tying up, Hansen lost his footing for a brief moment, and Allard capitalized with the winning takedown. Allard went on to take the state title.
Hansen wrestled back to place fourth. "It was pretty heart-breaking," said Oxford coach Craig Tefft of Hansen's loss to Allard. "Unfortunately, it came down to a slip. He went from five seconds away of reaching the state finals to having to wrestle back."
While that close call will sting for some time, Tefft said Hansen had a marvelous conclusion to his varsity wrestling career. "It's hard to see it now, but Nik wrestled a great tournament, and he outwrestled the (eventual) state champion for five minutes and 55 seconds," Tefft said. "Nik's initial goal was to finish on the podium, and he really rose to the occasion."
DuVall, a junior for the Marauders, entered the tournament as a wild-card selection, and made the most of his second chance. After losing in the second round of the tournament, DuVall had the long road to a place finish, and pulled it off with four straight victories to place among the top three in the state at 220 pounds. DuVall capped a 36-win season pinning Section XI's Rafal Rakosz in 3:53.
"We really thought Garrett could finish on the podium," said S-E assistant coach Brian Hicks. "He was unseeded, so we knew (Garrett) would have some tough matches. To finish third was maybe beyond our expectations, but not unexpected because we know how well he can wrestle."
Also competing in the state tournament but failing to place were B/G/Afton's Chris Cirigliano and Jamie Griswold; and Oxford senior Joe Nelson.
Section III captured the overall section team title racking up 266 points, while Section IV placed third in team scoring polling 206.
The best friends and longtime training partners won Division II state wrestling titles Saturday night at the Times Union Arena in Albany. Rifanburg captured the 138-pound title, his second state championship, while Garcia won his first championship two weight classes later taking the 152-pound crown.
It was the first time in the eight-decade history of Norwich wrestling that two wrestlers captured state titles in the same season. "It really was a great weekend for us," said Norwich coach Terry Hagenbuch in what was clearly the understatement of the season.
Greene sophomore Christian Dietrich completed a 43-0 season with his first state title taking the 182-pound D-II championship in a splendid display of efficiency and dominance.
For Rifanburg, his second state title was four years removed from his first when he became the first seventh-grader in school history to win a state title. In the respite between his two titles, Rifanburg had a pair of runner-up finishes including last year's excruciatingly close defeat where he gave up a one-point lead in the last five seconds.
Rifanburg put that loss behind him, and shook off a midseason loss to ascend to the top. "From the first day of practice, this is what we train for," Rifanburg said. "We didn't take anyone lightly and we didn't train for second place."
Just like his first state title, Rifanburg was entered in the tournament as a third seed. After two blowout wins to reach the semifinals, Rifanburg squared off again with Sam Ward of Section VII. Rifanburg beat Ward in the semifinals last year, but dropped a 6-4 decision to Ward in the Eastern States Classic earlier this season.
Rifanburg clearly made the better adjustments coming off the loss rolling to a 5-0 win to reach the finals.
Rifanburg had the initial takedown, and once in the lead, dictated the rest of the match. "We knew that if Tristan scored first, he would be tough to beat because he doesn't give up many points," Hagenbuch said.
Before the tournament, Rifanburg and Hagenbuch eyed Ward as a potential finals opponent. Instead, it was Laken Cook of Central Valley Academy in Section III who met Rifanburg in the finals. Cook upset the number one seed in the semifinals to create a rematch of the Ilion Tournament finals in January.
Rifanburg topped Cook two months ago in that tournament, 8-4, and was more convincing in the return meeting rolling to a 7-1 victory. That one point in the finals was the only one Rifanburg allowed in the tournament.
Rifanburg’s triumph was just the first half of Norwich's daily double as Garcia hit the center of the mat in what was another rematch.
Garcia, the top seed in his weight class, squared off with Section III's Tyler Silverthorn, the number two seed. Silverthorn and Garcia clashed in the Eastern States Classic with Garcia winning by decision, 3-1.
Silverthorn rarely engaged Garcia on his feet in the second go-around, and Garcia scored twice with back points in the second period en route to a 4-0 victory.
Garcia, too, was coming off a state finals loss a season ago, and was motivated to rectify that finish from the start of the season. "I knew I was on that state championship level, I just never peaked at the right time," Garcia said. "This weekend I finally wrestled my best, and I got that championship."
Rifanburg shared in his teammate's victory and soaked in what he and Garcia pulled off. "It's just amazing to have two state championships in the same year," Rifanburg said. "Frankie's been my best friend and training partner for like six or seven years. I couldn't have done this without him."
Said Garcia: "Our styles work out perfect for practice, and to win a state title and have my partner win a state title, it's awesome."
Dietrich, too, toured many of the same youth wrestling tournaments as Garcia and Rifanburg, so it's fitting that he took his rightful place on top of the podium in the same year.
Dietrich had a perfect run through sectional and state tournament competition not allowing a point in any match. Not only that, he was never taken down in 43 matches this season as he improved on an already strong array of skills.
Following three straight pins to reach the finals, Dietrich met Daniel Smith of Section III for the third time this season. Dietrich earned 4-0 and 3-0 wins over Smith earlier this season at prestigious tournaments, and Dietrich made it a perfect 3-for-3 using a first-period takedown and an escape in the third to notch a 3-0 win.
Just one year earlier, Dietrich gave up a third-period takedown in the state finals to lose by one point. Dietrich never found himself in that situation this season. "Last year was not a good way to end, and we just wanted to put that behind us," said Greene coach Tim Jenks. "That loss really motivated him to come back and win it this year."
And the scary thing for the rest of the field is that Dietrich has two years of eligibility left and a hunger to improve. "He's still getting better, and I think you'll see a monster next year," Jenks said. "He has great technique, but hasn't reached his potential."
Chenango County wrestlers Garrett DuVall of Sherburne-Earlville and Nik Hansen of Oxford also placed Saturday.
Hansen was a mere five seconds away from reaching the D-II state finals. Leading Mexico's Trevor Allard in the 160-pound semis, Allard picked up an escape with 12 seconds left to cut Hansen's lead to 3-2. While the two were tying up, Hansen lost his footing for a brief moment, and Allard capitalized with the winning takedown. Allard went on to take the state title.
Hansen wrestled back to place fourth. "It was pretty heart-breaking," said Oxford coach Craig Tefft of Hansen's loss to Allard. "Unfortunately, it came down to a slip. He went from five seconds away of reaching the state finals to having to wrestle back."
While that close call will sting for some time, Tefft said Hansen had a marvelous conclusion to his varsity wrestling career. "It's hard to see it now, but Nik wrestled a great tournament, and he outwrestled the (eventual) state champion for five minutes and 55 seconds," Tefft said. "Nik's initial goal was to finish on the podium, and he really rose to the occasion."
DuVall, a junior for the Marauders, entered the tournament as a wild-card selection, and made the most of his second chance. After losing in the second round of the tournament, DuVall had the long road to a place finish, and pulled it off with four straight victories to place among the top three in the state at 220 pounds. DuVall capped a 36-win season pinning Section XI's Rafal Rakosz in 3:53.
"We really thought Garrett could finish on the podium," said S-E assistant coach Brian Hicks. "He was unseeded, so we knew (Garrett) would have some tough matches. To finish third was maybe beyond our expectations, but not unexpected because we know how well he can wrestle."
Also competing in the state tournament but failing to place were B/G/Afton's Chris Cirigliano and Jamie Griswold; and Oxford senior Joe Nelson.
Section III captured the overall section team title racking up 266 points, while Section IV placed third in team scoring polling 206.
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