From NYU Athletics

When John Messinger walks off the wrestling mat for the final time this weekend, a chapter of his life will reach its end.

Messinger's result at Friday and Saturday's NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships won't define the chapter, it may only serve as a bonus to an already successful four-year career as a student-athlete at New York University.

A two-time NCAA Qualifier and three-time All-University Athletic Association (UAA) honoree, Messinger has been able to succeed both on the mat and in the classroom. The neuroscience major currently boasts a near-perfect GPA in a discipline that requires countless hours of class and lab requirements.

"I figured out in high school that I wanted to be pre-med in college," explained Messinger. "When I got to NYU I knew it was important to start off strong in the classroom as my GPA would go a long way in determining my post-graduate plans."

To say Messinger started strong is an understatement. His GPA speaks for itself and the Putnam Valley, NY, native honed his studies while also making a name for himself on the wrestling mat.

As a freshman, Messinger won 21 matches and earned UAA Rookie of the Year honors. He took it a step further as a sophomore, winning 29 matches and placing fourth at the NCAA East Regional. While the fourth-place finish would be looked at as a success to many, all it meant for Messinger was he was one win away from qualifying for the NCAA Championships, as the top three wrestlers in each weight class earn a berth.

"A lot changed for me after that season," added Messinger. "For starters, I was no longer an underclassman and now had a role as a team leader. I also moved into an apartment early in the summer, which allowed me to be closer to the wrestling room and to train harder."

Messinger's summer wasn't just focused on wrestling; in fact, it was far from it. For the second consecutive summer, he spent time at Weill Cornell Medical Center where he did research on Alzheimer's Disease.

"For me, it's always important to be doing something," Messinger revealed. "It forces me to be more efficient. It can be easy to fall into a lull when you're just sitting around, so I always made sure my days were filled with an appropriate amout of activity, whether it be work, training or studying."

The busy summer in the Big Apple translated to another successful season for Messinger, who won 28 matches as a junior and also earned UAA Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. He was able to take it one step further by qualifying for the 2016 NCAA Championships. After entering the regional tournament as a six-seed and suffering a narrow defeat in the quarterfinals, Messinger won three consolation matches to finish third and qualify for the national tournament.

"To be able to punch that ticket to nationals really solidified a lot for me," explained Messinger. "It validated a ton of training I did going into my junior season. Wrestling in that atmosphere was a great experience."

Messinger went 1-2 at the national tournament in 2016 and returned to the wrestling room as a senior with the goal to not only get back to the big stage, but to dominate on his way there. This season, the second-year captain is 34-2 against Division III wrestlers, with both losses coming to the same opponent. Twenty-three of his 34 victories have been bonus-point wins (12 by fall, 3 by technical fall, 8 by major decision), a dominating performance, indeed!

On Friday, March 10, Messinger will look to continue his domination when he takes the mat in a preliminary bout against SUNY Cortland's Colin Barber. Although unseeded, Messinger knows he is only a few wins away from ending his career as an All-American.

"There are 18 wrestlers in each weight class and eight will be All-Americans," concluded Messinger. "I'm going to take this weekend like I've taken everything my entire career; one match at a time. I'm going to lay it all out there."

All-American or not, Messinger's career as a NYU student-athlete can already be deemed a success. This chapter of his life assures to one day serve as a footnote among even greater success.

NOTE: Messinger and three teammates –freshman Blaise Benderoth, junior Jacob Donato and senior Nathan Pike- will represent NYU at the 2017 NCAA Division III Championships, which will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, at The La Crosse Center in La Crosse, WI. Tournament brackets can be found here.

GoNYUAthletics.com will have recaps following each day of wrestling in Wisconsin.

What They're Saying About Messinger:

"Guys like John are the reason why coaches choose to coach. He has put 100% into everything he has done for us, and we can't be thankful enough. You look at his work ethic and you look at the way he carries himself and you know he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do going forward. John is a leader by example, and in his case that speaks way louder than any words.
- Head Coach Bruce Haberli

"John is the total package you look for when recruiting the ideal student-athlete for your team. He's been counted on several times throughout his career to put big points on the board for us and was always been up for the challenge. What I will remember most about him is his strong work ethic and the type of person he is. John is someone who will be very hard to replace."
- Senior Assistant Coach Corey Luce

"When I arrived at NYU two years ago as a transfer from Bucknell University, John welcomed me with open arms. I think I can speak for everyone on our team when I say he is a role model and someone we all look up to. Being a captain has been a learning process, and he has helped me through it. He genuinely cares about the guys on the team and wants the best for everybody."
- Junior Matthew Coppola, a fellow captain and three-year teammate

"John has taught me how to be mentally and physically tough on and off the mat. He works hard in the wrestling room, and getting the opportunity to be his drill partner has forced me to bring that same mentality day-in and day-out. I've had many captains during my wrestling career, but John has easily inspired me the most. He not only trains hard, but also trains smart. There are moments when he is going hard, but will stop to slow me down and break down my movements. Similar to how he's been extremely helpful on the mat, he has also been there for me off the mat, even going out of his way to help me with calculus problems. I don't think I'd be the same person without him this year."
- Freshman Jack La Corte, one-year teammate