If there was any doubt that Austin Meys was the best all-around high school wrestler in New York this year, he put that to rest.
The Shenendehowa senior heavyweight needed only 2 minutes and 36 seconds to pin all of his opponents on his way to the Division I (large school) 189-pound title and the Outstanding Wrestler award at last weekend’s New York State Wrestling Championships at Albany’s Times Union Center.
It’s really something, said Meys, who picked up his third state title. `Even at the state tournament, it’s amazing.`
The biggest battle Meys received was from Wantagh’s Matt Loew in the finals. Meys needed nearly one minute to take Loew down, but once he got him to the mat, the only thing left for Meys to do was secure the pin. Loew squirmed vigorously to avoid the fall before Meys got both of Loew’s shoulders on the mat to record the pin with one second left in the first period.
`I was trying to figure out a move that would work (to get the pin), and I found one,` said Meys.
`He’s physical ` that’s his style,` said Shen wrestling coach Rob Weeks. `He wins matches because of it. He’s done that his whole career.`
Meys concluded his high school career with several impressive statistics. He won 263 of his 271 bouts and didn’t lose a match in his junior and senior years. Only one of his 45 bouts this season went the full three rounds as he became one of three Section II wrestlers to win three state titles. Salem’s Frank Fronhofer and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake’s Jon Cardi are the only other three-time state champions from the region.
`I definitely do feel good (about my legacy),` said Meys, who will attend Lehigh University on a wrestling scholarship this fall. `It definitely is special.`
`He’s arguably the best wrestler to come out of our school ever,` said Weeks.
Meys’ third state title highlighted another solid effort by Section II’s Division I team at the state tournament. Section II placed second in the team standings with 191 points. Section XI (Long Island) breezed to the team title with 237.5 points.
Two of Meys’ Shen teammates placed in their weight classes. Junior John Belanger finished fourth after losing to Newburgh Free Academy’s Taylor Laraia in the 119-pound third-place bout, while senior Luke Popolizio settled for fifth place at 112 pounds after beating Hauppauge’s Kenneth Collado 5-0 in his final career high school match. Nick Kelly (103 pounds) did not place after losing twice in three bouts.
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake’s Zeal McGrew finished third in the 215-pound division. McGrew bounced back from a 4-2 overtime loss to Steven Butler of Port Jervis in the semifinals to win his two consolation bracket matches including a 6-5 victory over Spencerport’s Paul Glover in the third-place bout.“