Dwayne A. Lobdell Photos

ALBANY, NY – All roads lead to Albany. That was the thought process of two Chenango County Section IV DII teams all season long – Norwich and BGAH – however, much like the rest of the Section IV stock for the NYSPHSAA Wrestling State Championships for 2016-2017, neither local team cracked the mold as all nine local wrestlers fell short of a finals berth on the weekend.

For the first time in two decades, Section IV wrestling – and that includes Chenango County – did not bring home a State Champion at either division, at any of the 15 weight classes.

Just seven total Section IV DII wrestlers – and just one Section IV DI wrestler – appeared in semifinal matches this year in Albany – all but one of the eight wrestlers failed to earn wins in their semifinal bouts – instead getting tossed back into the wrestle-backs.

“It is hard sport, but the greatest sport on earth,” said Norwich head coach Bob Hagenbuch. “We just got a little humble pie this weekend.”

Norwich brought five wrestlers to Albany on the year, four by way of Section IV Champions at their respective weight classes – Mikey Squires, Eli Rodriguez, Ty Rifanburg, and Brennan Slater – one by way of a wild-card in Cole Rifanburg.