Wrestling: Ungar, P'burg frosh transfer to Pa. power

It's one thing to lose a blue-chip freshman, and quite another to lose a returning high school state champion.

Brett Ungar atop the podium at 106 pounds in AC.

The Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex was dealt a blow on both fronts as Hunterdon Central junior Brett Ungar, who won a New Jersey state title at 106 pounds this past season, and incoming Phillipsburg freshman Holden Garcia have transferred to Notre Dame of Green Pond High School in Easton, Pa., a rising power in Class AA.

Central coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm and P'burg coach Dave Post confirmed the transfers via text messages on Wednesday afternoon. Several other area wrestlers from the Hunterdon-Warren area, including incoming freshmen at Delaware Valley and North Hunterdon, have also been rumored to be heading to Notre Dame, but according to head coaches Andy Fitz and Chris Hrunka, they have not been informed that any of their wrestlers are leaving those respective Hunterdon County programs.

"It is what is is. I want to coach kids who want to be here and represent our program," said Cantagallo-Rohm, who has guided the Red Devils to Group 5 state final appearances in two of the past three seasons.

Ungar was among 5 HWS wrestlers to win state titles in '19.

Ungar was well on his way to becoming the most decorated wrestler in Hunterdon Central's proud history that spans 63 seasons. The two-time district, region and Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex champion, who also finished sixth in the state as a freshman, went 42-0 and capped an outstanding sophomore campaign by capturing the Hunterdon County school's 13th state title and first since 2010 with an impressive 13-6 decision over Middletown North junior Tyler Klinsky. Ungar and Voorhees ace Lewis Fernandes gave Hunterdon County two champs in a season for the first time since 1993.

"This is huge," Ungar said after his victory in March in Atlantic City. "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."

Ungar, who logged a two-year mark of 83-2, also becomes the second straight sophomore to leave Hunterdon Central after winning a state championship. Alex Shaffer, who won the 119-pound title in 2010, left Central that following fall to pursue an acting career. Shaffer scored a major role in the 2011 film, "Win, Win," whose character was a high school wrestler, ironically, one who transferred into a district.

The loss of Ungar is huge for a Hunterdon Central team that is expected to enter the 2019-20 season as a favorite to win Group 5. The Red Devils, who have won one state team championship (Group 4 in 1989), now have six returning starters from last season's sectional championship and state runner-up squad, including state qualifier Colton Washleski and district champion Tanner Peake.

Phillipsburg, which was hit hard by graduation and will be a young, but talented team in 2019-20, also took a hit with the loss of Garcia, whose father, Jason, was a 100-match winner and a three-time state placewinner, finishing third at 171 pounds as a senior in 1996, for the Stateliners.

Holden Garcia, who was expected to make an immediate impact in the middle of the P'burg lineup, enjoyed quite an accomplished youth career, winning a championship at 130 pounds in the rugged New Jersey Grade School Wrestling League. Phillipsburg, which finished 18-3 this past season and won their sixth straight North 2, Group 4 sectional title (the program's 38th championship overall), also is gaining a very talented freshman in Hunter Cleaver, who is transferring in after winning the 140-pound title in the NJGSWL wrestling for the Washington Y (Warren Hills feeder) middle school team.