Voorhees senior Lewis Fernandes and Hunterdon Central sophomore Brett Ungar were a cut above all weekend at their respective weight classes as they cruised to titles in the 86th State Wrestling Championships on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall. In all, 16 area wrestlers earned medals.
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| The HWS area went 5-for-5 in this year's state finals. |
"I was trying to get the match over with quick," said Fernandes (47-0), who is the school's third two-time finalist and all-time wins leader at 153-22 overall, just two shy of the county mark held by Ryan Pomrinca of North Hunterdon (155-13 from 2011-15). "It feels great [to repeat as heavyweight state champion]. This is a stepping stone to the next level [at Cornell University]."
Ungar also capped a perfect season with an impressive 13-6 decision over Middletown North junior Tyler Klinsky at 106 pounds -- becoming Hunterdon Central's 13th state champion and its first since 2010 (Alex Shaffer at 119 pounds). In addition, it gave the county two winners in the same year for the first time since Delaware Valley's Brent Conly (119) and Ricky Krieger (189) won titles in 1993.
"This is huge," said Ungar (42-0), who will enter his junior season at 83-2 overall. "I knew that I was the most dominant wrestler in the bracket. I have two more years so hopefully, I can be a three-timer."
Quick hitter
Not only was Fernandes quick to finish off his opponents, but a quick takedown in the title bout set the tone. Off the whistle, he converted a low single by snatching Gashi's left leg before getting three back points for a 5-0 lead.
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| Lewis Fernandes back on top of the podium at 285. |
"This means a lot," said Fernandes, who planned to shoot that low single right off the bat if Gashi led with his left leg. "Voorhees is a great program with a lot of championships. It's something special that pushed me a little bit. My coach [Eric Hall] lost in the state finals [in 1996]. To put my name up with his, that's really special to me. My coaches are amazing people. I love them. They're probably the best coaches I will ever have."
Turn around
Ungar was strong in all phases throughout his title run, but a roll-through tilt was his best asset, as he turned Klinsky twice after getting the opening takedown for an 8-0 lead after one period. Instead of deferring the choice in the second, Ungar took bottom and was twice warned for stalling.
In the final period, Ungar converted another takedown for a 10-1 lead and stayed pretty much in total control despite giving up a takedown and a reversal in the final minute.
"I was ready for what he had," said Ungar, who finished sixth at 106 as a freshman. "Once I got [the tilt] twice for three points apiece, I knew he wasn't coming back from that one."
Central coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm, who got his first two state champs on the same day as junior Stephanie Andrade won the first female title at 127 pounds, said the tilt was something that Ungar worked on in the offseason.
"You saw he was bouncing back and forth [to both sides] with it. Last year, he would get caught on one side, when the [opponent] shifted his weight, it would kind of stop [the move]," Cantagallo-Rohm said. "It was a good day. Hopefully, we can make it a tradition. It's been awhile [for Central to have a champ]."
Ungar is thrilled to add his name with some of the program greats, including Tom Gibble (the only two-time champ for the Red Devils in 1979 and '81) and more recently Gary Dinmore (a three-time finalist from 2012-14).
"It's crazy to think about," said Ungar, who projects he will be at 120 pounds next season. "It's a great feeling, but I'm not done yet. I still have two more years to get bigger and better."
CHAMPIONSHIPS
152 -- Robert Garcia (Pope John) md. Nicholas O'Connell (Southern Regional), 13-5.
160 -- Robert Kanniard (Wall) d. Connor O'Neill (DePaul) , 9-4.
170 -- Brandon Green (Paulsboro) d. Shane Reitsma (Howell), 13-9.
182 -- Christopher Foca (Bergen Catholic) d. John Poznanski (Colonia), 7-4.
195 -- Jacob Cardenas (Bergen Catholic) d. Kyle Jacob (Paramus), 6-3.
220 -- Zach DelVecchio (South Plainfield) d. Michael Filieri (Garfield), 8-4.
285 -- Lewis Fernandes (Voorhees) p. Bardhyl Gashi (West Essex), :46.
106 -- Brett Ungar (Hunterdon Central) d. Tyler Klinsky (Middletown North), 13-6.
113 -- Dean Peterson (St. John Vianney) d. Nick Babin (Emerson/Park Ridge), 3-2
120 -- Eddie Ventresca (Pope John) d. Anthony Clark ( Delbarton), 7-3.
126 -- Sammy Alvarez (St. Joe-Montvale) d. Robert Howard ( Bergen Catholic), 4-3 SV.
132 -- Nicholas Raimo (Hanover Park) d. Luke Mazzeo (Emerson/ Park Ridge), 8-4.
138 -- Joseph Aragona (Pope John) d. Jacob Perez-Eli (Paulsboro), 7-1.
145 -- Lucas Revano (Camden Catholic) p. Ricky Cabanillas (DePaul), 6:35.
Donald Ringler Award (Outstanding Wrestler) -- Sammy Alvarez, St. Joe-Montvale.
Coach of the Year Award -- Mike Barikian, Kingsway.
THIRD-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
106: Joseph Cangro (Bergen Catholic) d. Kelly Dunnigan (Don Bosco), 3-0.
113: Vincent Santaniello (Brick Memorial) d. Nick Kayal (Bergen Catholic), 9-4.
120: Devin Flannery (High Point) p. McKenzie Bell (Kingsway), 1:12.
126: CJ Composto (Westfield) d. Joey Olivieri (Hanover Park), 4-3.
132: Mark Montgomery (Roselle Park) d. Andrew Clark (Collingswood), 9-3.
138: Dylan Weaver (Lyndhurst/No. Arlington) d. Alec Bobchin (Princeton), 8-1.
145: Wade Unger (Bergen Catholic) d. Wyatt McCarthy (Newton), 1-0.
152: Cody Harrison (Phillipsburg) d. Dante Stefanelli (Delbarton), 5-2.
160: Tony Asatrian (Paramus) d. Corey Fischer (West Deptford), 10-5.
170: Martin Cosgrove (Camden Catholic) d. AJ Lonski (Delbarton), 4-3.
182: Santino Morina (Paulsboro) d. Nick Addison (Rumson-Fair Haven), 6-2.
195: Luke Niemeyer (South Plainfield) d. Luke Chakonis (Delbarton), 3-1.
220: Gage Armijo (West Morris Mendham) d. Niccolo Colucci (St. Peter`s Prep), 10-6.
285: Dean Setticase (Saddle Brook) d. Jervey Sistrunk (Bound Brook), 1-0.
FIFTH-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
106: Joe Manno (St. Joe-Montvale) p. Jack Maida (Shore Regional), 1:52.
113: Quinn Melofchik (Belvidere) d. Nicholas Nardone (Delbarton), 5-3.
120: Justin Bierdumpfel (St. Joe-Montvale) d. Dylan Cedeno (Bergen Catholic), 2-1.
126: Nicky Cabanillas (DePaul) d. Eddie Hummel (Roselle Park), 7-6.
132: Kaya Sement (Pope John XXIII) md. Cooper Pontelandolfo (Cherokee), 9-1.
138: Billy Talmadge (High Point) d. Alex Strashinsky (Bergen Catholic), 8-5.
145: Matt Sacco (Bridgewater/Raritan) by forfeit over Joe Sacco (South Plainfield).
152: Brandon Mooney (Camden Catholic) d. Nick Bennett (Delsea), 7-4.
160: Vincent Andreano (Delbarton) d. Matt Benedetti (Manalapan), 4-0.
170: James Cruz (St. Peter`s Prep) d. Ethan Craft (Rancocas Valley), 1-0.
182: Zach Mafaro (Kittatinny) p. Kieran Calvetti (Delbarton), 1:21.
195: Jacob Anderson (Middletown North) d. Drew Bowker (Rancocas Valley), 4-2.
220: P.J. Casale (Delbarton) d. Benny Dahdah (Westwood), 7-1.
285: Jayvon Davidson (Mount Olive) d. Marcus Estevez (Franklin), 3-2.
SEVENTH-PLACE CONSOLATIONS
106: Shane Percelay (Pope John XXIII) d. Louie Gagliardo (Toms River North), 6-3.
113: Alex Almeyda (Fort Lee) d. Brandon Spellman (Pingry), 5-2.
120: Vincent Scollo (Jackson Memorial) d. Spencer Stewart (Sparta), 3-2.
126: Dom DiGena (West Morris Mendham) d. Gianni Manginelli (Dumont), 6-2.
132: Christian Vertedor (Passaic County Tech) d. William Grater (Don Bosco), 4-3.
138: Anthony Croce (Camden Catholic) d. Tim Spatola (Delsea), 3-0.
145: Rhise Royster (Rahway) d. Nick Boggiano (Toms River North), 7-3.
152: Justin LeMay (West Morris Central) d. George Worthy (Paulsboro), 6-5.
160: Michael Wilson (North Hunterdon) d. Colin Morgan (West Orange), 4-2 SV.
170: Garrett Bilgrav (Robbinsville) md. Reid Colella (Wayne Valley), 10-0.
182: Christian Murphy (Howell) d. Mike Misita (St. Augustine Prep), 7-5.
195: Kyle Epperly (Jackson Memorial) md. Anthony Franden (Eastern), 12-4.
220: Luke Fischer (Newton) p. Jajuan Hayes (Bordentown/Florence), 3:56.
285: Paul Liseno (St. John Vianney) p. Deshon Alexander (Overbrook), 1:20.
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