Wrestling: JCR leaving Central for Mendham AD job

Hunterdon Central's wrestling program has enjoyed stability for the past 11 seasons with head coach Jon Cantagallo-Rohm at the helm. 

But it's been widely known around Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex circles that he's coveted an administrative position in the high school ranks. That became a reality on Monday night when Cantagallo-Rohm was officially hired as Mendham High School's supervisor of athletics and activities.

Central celebrates its 23rd and last sectional title in 2024

"It's bitter sweet," Cantagallo-Rohm said in a text message of leaving his longtime wrestling post and teaching position as a health and physical education instructor.

Central (4-19), which is coming off just its second losing season in the program's 69-season history and first since going 12-13 in 2005-06, will now begin the search for just its fourth head coach. Cantagallo-Rohm, who will take over at Mendham on July 1, guided the Red Devils to an overall mark of 184-60 in his 11 seasons, including four sectional (2015, '17, '19, '24) titles and three Group 5 runner-up finishes (2015, '17, '19), along with its only HWS Tournament championship in '24. He also oversaw a major milestone as Central captured its 1,000th win -- 46-30 over Washington Township on Feb. 15, 2020 -- joining Paulsboro and Roselle Park as the only other New Jersey schools to reach that mark. Phillipsburg, which won its 1,000th dual on Jan. 6, 2022, sits one victory behind Central (1,065) as the leaders among HWS programs. Delaware Valley will enter next season at 877, followed by Newton at 863 in 99 seasons. North Hunterdon (836), Warren Hills (829) and High Point (809) are the only schools to reach 800.

JCR (far left) with Washleski at the Beast of the East in 2024

Cantagallo-Rohm, who coached 93 district (42 champs), 53 region (13 champs) and 14 state placewinners, including Brett Ungar who became Central's 13th and last state champion in 2019 before transferring to Notre Dame-Green Pond (Pa.) after that historic sophomore season. Cantagallo-Rohm, who was gracious with his time and respected by local media members, succeeded Steve Gibble (348-119 in 23 seasons) following the 2013-14 season. Legendary coach Russ Riegel (533-89-6 in 35 seasons), a four-time state finalist for Washington (Warren Hills) High School, founded the program in 1956.

Hunterdon Central, which is coming off its least amount of dual meet wins in its history, is set to return 12 starters next season, including ace Rhett Washleski (41-5), the program's lone state qualifier this past season (seventh at 150 pounds) who is 111-15 overall and will enter his senior season needing 33 wins to surpass Hunter Graf (143-29 from 2014-18) as the school's all-time wins leader. The Red Devils are also getting some incoming talent from the youth ranks and figure to once again be a force in the area and statewide public ranks.