Althenn, Hegi lead Mepham's success

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Undefeated senior Kyle Althenn and rising junior Matt Hegi led an exceptional performance by Mepham last weekend at the Nassau County Division 1 wrestling championships at a jam-packed LIU Post.
Althenn followed three All-County seasons with his first-ever title, taking the 138-pound crown with a 7-0 decision over Long Beach’s Matt Maquet in the finals on Sunday night, while Hegi outlasted Farmingdale’s Nick Franco, 10-7, to capture the 195-pound championship. In addition, the Pirates had three others reach the All-County podium (top six) for their best finish since the 2012-13 campaign.
“When you’re right up there near the Wantaghs, Long Beach’s and Massapequas, it’s pretty special,” Mepham coach Sean Arresto said. “We set a goal to finish in the top 10 in the team standings and we ended up fifth, so it’s really exciting.”
Althenn, who only recently returned from ankle and knee injuries, had a quick takedown against Maquet to set the tone in the finals. He added an escape point in the second period and capped his 24th win of the season without a defeat with a reversal in the third.
“I didn’t want to leave here without a county championship,” Althenn said. “It was my last chance. I wrestled all the top contenders ranked behind me and I didn’t let any of them score. I had the same goal in the finals and was able to keep him from scoring a point against me.”

Althenn, who since Feb. 1 has competed with a brace on his right leg, didn’t complete the qualifier tournament at Syosset after reaching the finals and said he felt serious pain throughout the county tournament, including during his 10-6 semifinal victory over Port Washington’s Dan Gibson on Sunday morning. “Getting injured was probably the most heartbreaking thing to ever happen to me,” Althenn said. “I was hoping to get a few school records, but I’ll take the county championship. It feels amazing. I was worried the injury could keep me from winning.”
Althenn and Hegi both advance to the state tournament at the Times Union Center in Albany Feb. 22-23.
Arresto said it seemed like Hegi and Franco were on a collision course to meet in the county finals after two thrilling battles during the regular season. Hegi won both in come-from-behind fashion and did so once again, though his deficit was never greater than two points. “Matt’s really developed into a technical wrestler to go with the strength and athleticism he’s always had,” Arresto said.
Hegi went 4-0 on the weekend, including two pins. “I’m not sure why but I wasn’t as nervous as usual,” he said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet, but it’s great to be a county champ.”
The Pirates also had seniors Jack Molloy and John Koenig, and junior Ryan Hegi, Matt’s twin brother, earn All-County honors. Hegi placed third at 220, Molloy took fifth at 132, and Koenig finished sixth at 182.