The Popolizio and Meys brothers are heading back to the state wrestling tournament.
Shenendehowa’s undefeated juggernauts Austin and Hunter Meys won their weight classes at Saturday’s Section II championships in Glens Falls.
Joining them are Shen teammates Luke and T.J. Popolizio both of whom reached the state finals last year and lightweight Juliano Pabon, who will be making his first trip to states.
Hunter Meys had the toughest final of Shen’s five state representatives. Queensbury’s Jared Myhrberg battled Meys for three periods before Meys prevailed 8-6 in the Division I (large school) 189-pound weight class championship bout.
Austin Meys had less of a struggle in his title bout, as he defeated Saratoga’s Adam Winnie by technical fall for the 171-pound championship. Likewise, the Popolizio brothers cruised through their finals, with Luke easing to a 9-3 victory over Connor Sutton at 103 pounds, and T.J. pinning Queensbury’s Russell Radigan in the third period of their 119-pound title bout.
The Meys brothers will be seeking their second state titles when they compete at next month’s tournament at Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena. Hunter won the 171-pound title at last year’s state tournament, while Austin won his first title as a lightweight in 2005.
Pabon secured his spot on the Section II team by defeating LaSalle’s Jon Clemente 5-1 for the 112-pound title.
The efforts by the Popolizio and Meys brothers and Pabon helped Shen claim the Division I team title with 195.5 points. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake placed fourth with 136 points, Ballston Spa was sixth with 117 points and Saratoga Springs finished 10th with 69.5 points.
BH-BL’s Paul Martin and Ballston Spa’s Alex Steciuk also won individual titles at the Section II championships. Martin pinned Colonie’s Eliah Golding for the 145-pound title, while Steciuk outlasted Amsterdam’s John Paris 7-4 for the 160-pound championship.
Several more area wrestlers reached the finals before losing including Shen’s Nick Kelley (96 pounds); BH-BL’s Brendan McKeown (130), Spencer Miller (215) and Zeal McGrew (285); and Ballston Spa’s David Staulters (140). All of them were eligible to receive wildcard berths into the state tournament.
Ballston Spa’s Cameron Staulters (145) and Eric Simmons (152) each had third-place finishes, while Spencer Thomas (96) finished fourth. Saratoga’s A.J. Rue (112) and Eddie Davis (125) also placed fourth, as did BH-BL’s Kyle Vuillaume (135) and Shen’s Dan Peyron (215).“