Don't know how many people out there follow high school sports or wrestling but was just down in Atlantic City this weekend for the NJ State Wrestling Finals. Never in the history of the state has a wrestler won the title every year, up until now at least. Pretty amazing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
125 POUNDS
Victorious Grey is pure gold
Monday, March 13, 2006
BY BOB BEHRE
For the Star-Ledger
They had come to see history unfold, and the subject of their adoration did not disappoint.
Mike Grey of Delbarton fought off a game Jimmy Conroy of South Plainfield, himself a state champion, 13-7, to become New Jersey's first four-time state champion and draw three separate standing ovations from the 11,772 in attendance at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Grey's championship at 125 pounds capped a remarkable career in which he also won titles at 103 as a freshman, 112 his sophomore season and 119 a year ago. He was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler for the second straight year.
Conroy, who won a state title at 103 pounds as a sophomore in 2004 and lost to Grey, 9-4, in the state final at 119 last March, took Grey down near the edge with nine seconds remaining in the second period to cut Grey's lead to 8-6 and send a tremor through Boardwalk Hall.
"I knew I could get out right away," said Grey, who decisioned Conroy, 14-7, in the Region 3 final on March 4.
After a restart, Grey, who had taken Conroy down three times in the first period and again in the second, slipped free quickly to take a 9-6 lead into the third.
"He sat out and grabbed my head," Conroy said. "I knew I was going to have to do something big after that. He's just a good wrestler. There's a ton of things he does that are hard to stop."
Grey, starting on defense in the third, reversed Conroy 39 seconds in. Conroy escaped, but Grey took him down for a fifth time to extend the lead to 13-7 with 32 seconds to go.
"You can't take anything for granted with Jimmy," Grey said. "He's tough."
Grey concluded his career with a record of 157-2, which placed him atop the state's all-time victories chart. He is nine victories ahead of Andrew Flanagan of Bound Brook, who had jumped to the front on the all-time victories list a year ago. Grey never lost to a New Jersey wrestler. His only losses came in the Beast of the East Tournament in Delaware the past two Decembers.
Grey concluded his high school career 5-0 against Conroy. Grey had defeated Conroy over a week ago in the Region 3 final, 14-7. It is possible that Grey and Conroy could meet at the collegiate level. Grey will wrestle at Lehigh and Conroy is bound for Pittsburgh in the fall.
"It could happen," Grey said. "It would be fun."
125 POUNDS
Victorious Grey is pure gold
Monday, March 13, 2006
BY BOB BEHRE
For the Star-Ledger
They had come to see history unfold, and the subject of their adoration did not disappoint.
Mike Grey of Delbarton fought off a game Jimmy Conroy of South Plainfield, himself a state champion, 13-7, to become New Jersey's first four-time state champion and draw three separate standing ovations from the 11,772 in attendance at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Grey's championship at 125 pounds capped a remarkable career in which he also won titles at 103 as a freshman, 112 his sophomore season and 119 a year ago. He was named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler for the second straight year.
Conroy, who won a state title at 103 pounds as a sophomore in 2004 and lost to Grey, 9-4, in the state final at 119 last March, took Grey down near the edge with nine seconds remaining in the second period to cut Grey's lead to 8-6 and send a tremor through Boardwalk Hall.
"I knew I could get out right away," said Grey, who decisioned Conroy, 14-7, in the Region 3 final on March 4.
After a restart, Grey, who had taken Conroy down three times in the first period and again in the second, slipped free quickly to take a 9-6 lead into the third.
"He sat out and grabbed my head," Conroy said. "I knew I was going to have to do something big after that. He's just a good wrestler. There's a ton of things he does that are hard to stop."
Grey, starting on defense in the third, reversed Conroy 39 seconds in. Conroy escaped, but Grey took him down for a fifth time to extend the lead to 13-7 with 32 seconds to go.
"You can't take anything for granted with Jimmy," Grey said. "He's tough."
Grey concluded his career with a record of 157-2, which placed him atop the state's all-time victories chart. He is nine victories ahead of Andrew Flanagan of Bound Brook, who had jumped to the front on the all-time victories list a year ago. Grey never lost to a New Jersey wrestler. His only losses came in the Beast of the East Tournament in Delaware the past two Decembers.
Grey concluded his high school career 5-0 against Conroy. Grey had defeated Conroy over a week ago in the Region 3 final, 14-7. It is possible that Grey and Conroy could meet at the collegiate level. Grey will wrestle at Lehigh and Conroy is bound for Pittsburgh in the fall.
"It could happen," Grey said. "It would be fun."
