Wrestling

Norwich 46, Oxford 33

NORWICH – Norwich continues to build its case for a spot in the Section IV Dual Meet Tournament winning its 12th match of the season Tuesday night against visiting Johnson City.

Norwich made up a 27-10 deficit finishing the match with three pinfall victories and two forfeits to improve to 12-4 overall.

“Johnson City is similar to use as far as giving away points (to forfeits),” said Norwich coach Terry Hagenbuch.

However, the Tornado had a little more versatility in moving its middleweights up a weight class, and even in bouts that it lost, Norwich contained the Wildcats’ aggregate. “Their three studs, Brazinski (Tyler), Colgan (Isaiah), and McCormick (Corey), we only lost three-point decisions,” Hagenbuch said. “All of the guys we put out there wrestled well.”

Carter Hubbard (126) started the Norwich comeback with a third-period pin of Donovan Costick. Hubbard was well on his way to a major decision or technical fall, but picked up the critical pin – and additional team points finishing off Costick with an armbar.

Brennan Slater (145) started a string of three straight Norwich pins planking Blake Bried in 2:27. After that, returning state champions Tristan Rifanburg (152) and Frank Garcia (160) needed all of 67 combined seconds to earn back-to-back pins with Garcia’s giving Norwich the lead for good, 34-33.