The weekend in Albany proved to be the perfect ending to Nick Gwiazdowski's wrestling season.
It was fitting considering the
Duanesburg (Delanson) senior also got off to a perfect start and everything in between was equally flawless.
Gwiazdowski won a New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship in the Division II 215-pound class the same way he won every one of his previous matches this season — by pin. He pinned Cole Tristam of Clifton-Fine in 1 minute, 49 seconds to cap an unparalleled season: a 50-0 record consisting of 43 pins and seven victories by forfeit.
"I knew I was the favorite to dominate a lot of the competition," Gwiazdowski told The Times Union. "I figured, why not pin everyone? You can't get more dominant than that."
Gwiazdowski, who will attend Binghamton University in the fall, was on the mat for just 8:12 in his four weekend victories.
Oddly enough, his performance wasn't enough for him to garner top honors for the meet.
Peru 112-pounder Arik Robinson decisioned Tristan Rifanburg of Norwich 7-2 in the final and earned most outstanding wrestler honors in Division II.
Palmyra-Macedon was the only school to bring home two individual titles. Senior twins Owen and Craig Scott, both Cornell recruits, made it two state titles apiece by defending in Division II at the Times Union Center. Owen Scott decisioned Burke Paddock of Warsaw 3-1 in the 161-pound final. Craig Scott decisioned Tony Lock of Pioneer 3-0 at 171.
Section XI took home team honors in Division I with 269.5 points to 199.5 for Section I. Suffolk County placed 10 competitors in the finals, with five seniors bringing home championships: Nigel McNeil of
Huntington (119 pounds), Anthony Abidini of
Half Hollow Hills East (Dix Hills) (125), Kyle Wade of
Islip (152), Chanse Menendez of
Hauppauge (171) and Warren Bosch of
Kings Park (215).
McNeil closed out his scholastic career on an 80-match winning streak via an 8-3 decision over Fox Lane's Danny Ventura. "I worked too hard for anything to stop me," McNeil told Newsday.
New Rochelle senior heavyweight Malcolm Allen capped his career with an improbable run to the top of the podium at 285. Allen, a two-time runner-up in Section I, received a wildcard entry into the meet and upset St. Anthony's Jonathon Desir 6-4 in the final.
Although
Shenendehowa (Clifton Park) did not advance any competitors to the finals, all seven Plainsmen in the tournament placed in the top six. Shenendehowa finished the season unbeaten in dual meets and ranked No. 1 in the state in Division I.
Somers (Lincolndale) junior Brian Realbuto was selected the most outstanding wrestler in Division I following a 9-7 decision in overtime vs. Wayne senior Bobby Dierna, who reached the top-six podium for the fifth straight year.
Section V prevailed in Division II section-by-section scoring with 266.5 points to 221.5 for Section VI.
Holley junior Quinton Murphy secured his third state title with a technical fall against A.J. Rue of Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk in the 135-pound final. He'll have a chance next winter to join 2009 Palmyra-Macedon graduate Alex Eckstrom as the only four-time state champions from the Rochester area.
Tioga (Tioga Center) senior Derak Heyman was a 4-2 winner over Derek Pfluger of Sandy Creek at 140 pounds to end his career with 255 victories.
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