ALBANY, NY – The biggest stage of the 2016-2017 season, the New York State high school wrestling state championships is upon us, and Chenango County will be represented by nine wrestlers.

These nine wrestlers are all from powerhouse local DII teams Norwich and Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton Harpursville (BGAH).

The two-day tournament at Times Union Center in Albany – the site of the state championships since 2009 – gets underway early on this morning, 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 24, and continues until the completion on the night of Saturday, Feb. 25.

Friday's schedule:

8:30 a.m. – Gates open

9:30 a.m. – Parade of Champions, National Anthem, Sportsmanship Awards

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. – Preliminary Round of wrestling

2 p.m. - 4 p.m. – Championship Quarterfinals

4 p.m. - 8 p.m. – Consolation Wrestle-backs

Saturday's schedule (Session 1)

8:30 a.m. – Gates open

9:30 a.m. – National Anthem

10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Championship Semifinals, Consolation Wrestle-backs

12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. – Consolation Wrestle-backs and Semifinals

2 p.m. - 3 p.m. – Consolation Finals

Saturday's schedule (Session 2)

5 p.m. – Gates Re-open

5:50 p.m. – Championship Ceremonies Begin

6:30 p.m. – Championship Finals (Two-mats DI and DII) and Podium Awards every five matches

Representing Section IV Athletics, Chenango County, and their respective schools are the following wrestlers: Norwich – Mikey Squires 106 pounds, Eli Rodriguez 113 pounds, Ty Rifanburg 145 pounds, Cole Rifanburg 152 pounds, and Brennan Slater 182 pounds; BGAH – Brody Oleksak 106 pounds, Ben Bivar 138 pounds, Madison Hoover 160 pounds, and Austin Carr 170 pounds.