BINGHAMTON – The Tornado mat-men stormed their way into the new year as they took on Chenango Valley with depleted numbers due to some athletes being out sick – and still pulled off the win over the Warriors by a score of 43-34.
Norwich got off to a hot start on Jan. 3, when at the 99 weight class when youngster Dante Geislinger sprung the Tornado for a :39 second pin over Dominic Napoli to start out the matchup. Norwich tacked on two more wins following Geislinger – drawing their lead to 15-0 – as Mikey Squires at 106 pounds defeated Nathan Lehr by a score of 4-2; followed by Eli Rodriguez dominating his match for the early pin over Richard Champion in just 1:00 flat.
That is when things started going south for Norwich, they dropped four straight matches – all by way of pin – surrendering their 15-0 lead to CV who then climbed to a 24-15 lead over Norwich.
However, the grit of one of New York State's best Division II dual meet teams, as Norwich was recently ranked seventh in the state by the New York Sportswriters Association, did show through as the Tornado was able to secure six of the last eight matches.
It all started when Austyn Hatton stepped onto the mat at 145 pounds. Hatton decisively grabbed some extra points for Norwich with his late pin over Mike Mettler at 5:27 into the match. Hatton was then followed by by the Rifanburg brothers who each saw wins go their way – Ty grabbing a win at 152 pounds, when he won 15-1 over Nathan Aylward, and Cole at 160 pounds by way of pin in just :35 seconds over Kobe Parks.
It was the heavier weights that truly secured the match – up 34-24 – and heading into the final four matches of the night, Norwich's Jake Franklin, Brennan Slater and Tyler Rice each nailed the coffin shut on the Warriors with their decisive win to pull away.
Franklin earned a win by forfeit at 182 pounds, followed by two tough, hard-fought matches at 195 pounds and 220 pounds – Norwich forfeited the 285 pound weight.
Slater snagged a one point win at 3-2 over Nate Aurelio when he secured a late third period escape and takedown for the win, after trailing 2-0 for much of the match. Norwich's eighth grader Tyler Rice found himself in a battle with Jack Riegal at 220 pounds, as the two wrestlers failed to break the stalemate at 0-0 for the first two periods. It was Rice who pulled ahead late with the escape and takedown in the final period to secure the individual and Norwich win at 3-0.
Next up for Norwich (8-2 overall) they will be home against fellow Chenango County dual meet powerhouse Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton-Harpursville this coming Thursday, Jan. 5, at 6:30 p.m. BGAH was just recently ranked along with Norwich as one of the best dual meet teams, pulling up a ninth place ranking according to the New York Sportswriters Association.
“We are going to need all hands on deck for that one,” said Norwich head coach Bob Hagenbuch. “Great match-up for Thursday.”

Norwich defeated Chenango Valley at Chenango Valley High School by a score of 43-34
99: Dante Geislinger (NOR) over Dominic Napoli (CV) (Fall 0:39) 106: Mikey Squires (NSH) over Nathan Lehr (CV) (Dec 4-2) 113: Eli Rodreguez (NOR) over Richard Champion (CV) (Fall 1:00) 120: Caleb Wiggins (CV) over Nick Glanville (NOR) (Fall 1:42) 126: Dan Tester (CV) over Cristobol Cabalero (NOR) (Fall 4:27) 132: Derek Goga (CV) over Seth Wessels (NOR) (Fall 0:20) 138: Brady Hope (CV) over Dakota Powers (NOR) (Fall 5:11) 145: Austyn Hatton (NOR) over Mike Mettler (CV) (Fall 5:27) 152: Ty Rifanburg (NOR) over Nathan Aylward (CV) (MD 11-1) 160: Cole Rifanburg (NOR) over Kobe Parks (CV) (Fall 0:35) 170: Trenton Gates (CV) over Dakota Hall (NOR) (Fall 0:59) 182: Jake Franklin (NOR) over (CV) (For.) 195: Brennan Slater (NSH) over Nate Aurelio (CV) (Dec 3-2) 220: Tyler Rice (NOR) over Jack Riegal (CV) (Dec 3-0) 285: Will Blewett (CV) over (NOR) (For.) (CV Misconduct -2.00)