Myers happy to prove doubters wrong

by Bill Keen, The Intelligencer

Posted on March 9, 2009

HERSHEY — He was visibly exhausted after going six minutes with an opponent who was a little bit taller, a little bit heavier and, as it turned out, a little bit better.

Although he was disappointed he lost his final high school wrestling match, 9-2 to Easton's Justin Grant, Hatboro-Horsham's Alex Myers was extremely happy after doing something very few people outside his immediate circle of family, friends, coaches and teammates thought was possible.

Myers proved wrong the Doubting Thomases who gave him very little chance of coming away from the PIAA Class AAA state wrestling championships with a medal.

"It must be a real mind-blower for people who thought I wasn't going to do that well," said Myers, whose 3-3 record for the three days in Hershey earned him the sixth-place spot on the awards podium. "I'm really surprised and happy for myself, but I had a great time in high school wrestling; it's what I really enjoy and I'm happy I could come here and finish it up."

As he talked about his feelings, the seventh Hatter to ever win a state wrestling medal was even prouder he did something older brother Andrew could not do when he went to states in 2007.

Then again, Myers The Younger had a special workout partner the last few months — Andrew — who was literally in his corner for all six matches at Hershey, seated next to Hatters head coach Glenn Kaiser.

"That's kind of hard for me, Kirk Holt has been my assistant for a long, long time," Kaiser said. "But (Kirk) said, 'That's what Alex wants, he's comfortable,' and it worked out. It was a good formula for success.

"But, hey, you look over and see your brother and your brother's been (to states) and you're trying to outdo him, that's something (Alex) has been building on."

When the final bout was over and Alex was busily answering reporters' questions, Andrew was smiling almost as broadly as he might have if he was the one about to get a medal. He is in the United States Army's 56th Striker Brigade and some of that unit's members are on duty in Iraq.

"This was a better experience than I've ever had," said Andrew, wearing a smile that reflected his pride that his little brother bested him. "I was more nervous now than I was when I wrestled at states, and to see him get a medal, something that I never did; it was awesome, probably the best experience of my life."

What's next for Alex Myers? He's following in Andrew's footsteps — he's joining the Army.

[ return to previous page ]