VIDEO: BATTLE FOR THE GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMPIONSHIP HYPE VIDEO
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NORTHFIELD, Vt. – The Norwich University wrestling program will take on its counterparts from Castleton University on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. – both squads will battle for the newly-created "Green Mountain Championship" in what is hoped to become an annual Vermont wrestling tradition.
The only two collegiate wrestling programs in the State of Vermont will battle on a yearly basis for not only bragging rights, but also to hoist the Green Mountain Championship trophy that is currently being formed out of a large slab of stone, donated by Pete Tatko from the Sheldon Slate Company.
Mary Beth and Jerry Hadeka of Hadeka Stone Corporation received the stone and designed the plaque affixed to the stone itself. Fans of both programs will have the opportunity to see it in person as the event's venue will rotate on a yearly basis, allowing Cadets and Spartans fans an equal opportunity to root on their own wrestlers.
"Castleton University is extremely excited to host this event in 2016," remarked Castleton Head Coach Scott Legacy. "We are humbled that an established wrestling program like Norwich University and Head Coach [Alex] Whitney have agreed to come to us for this historic day in Vermont wrestling history.
"This match is a win-win for wrestling in Vermont. We believe the fans from both universities will not be disappointed in the quality of wrestling they will witness," said Legacy.
"We are excited to add this marquee dual to our schedule," said Whitney, who enters his fourth season piloting the Cadets wrestling program. "It will be a great opportunity to showcase both of our programs while allowing the Vermont wrestling community to witness wrestling is at the next level. We hope to aid the growth of wrestling in the Green Mountain State and inspire its wrestlers to continue their careers into college."
Many long-standing rivalries are being celebrated and recognized with informal championship events – for example, Princeton and Rutgers will compete in the "Battle at the Birthplace" on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Johnson & Wales (R.I.) and Rhode Island annually compete for the "Providence Rivalry Cup".
The aforementioned rivalries have been in existence for quite some time, but with Castleton debuting its intercollegiate wrestling team in 2016-17, it is expected that Norwich will battle the Spartans on an annual basis in the coming years.
