ND’s Ungar caps career with state title

HERSHEY – Brett Ungar saved his best for last.

The Notre Dame Green Pond senior capped a remarkable PIAA Wrestling Championships with his most impressive performance of the day, pinning Bishop McCort’s Mason Gibson in 4:12 to win the Class 2A 120-pound title.

Ungar led 1-0 heading to the third period, but was able to catch Gibson and finish the match with a pin.

“Electric,” Ungar said. “Couldn’t believe it. I had no idea that was going to happen. If you wrestle that match 100 times, it might not happen again.

“But it just feels great, capping off my senior year like this. No one thought I was going to do this; absolutely no one predicted me to win. They all saw me taking third, second, whatever; no one predicted me to win. Coming out here, I really just wanted to prove everyone wrong and that’s what I did.”

Ungar entered the match unbeaten this season and 142-5 in his career.

Gibson, a freshman, was also undefeated season.

“I tried to stay in my ties and dictate my pace,” said Ungar. “Shots are coming in, just have to stay disciplined. I’m a very disciplined wrestler. You can come at me however fast with whatever you want, I will slow you down because I feel like that’s just my pace, and my ties are dictated like that. I just felt like I wrestled a good match. On my feet, I probably could have wrestled better, but it happens.”

The senior was third last year, a result that was stuck in his mind.

One that served as plenty of motivation for this season, one that ended with a state title and the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler award in Class 2A.

“Last year, during my semifinals on Friday night, I’ll never forget it,” Ungar recalled. “I get beat in an ultimate tiebreaker, I’m laying on my back and everyone’s cheering, going crazy. I’ll never forget that.

“My coach (Matt Veres) brings it up quite often this season. I wanted to come back this year and prove that I’m the best guy in this bracket, and one of the best in the country.”

Ungar also recovered from a knee injury suffered during the offseason that delayed his preparation for this his senior campaign.

“I was out about eight weeks with that, I tore my LCL and came back in late January, early February,” said Ungar. “But I just kept chugging. I had to get better and better fast, because this was coming really quick.

“I only had five or six weeks to prepare for this, but I made every single day count. I wanted it more than anyone out there.”

Ungar rolled to a 17-0 (5:11) technical fall against Ft. Leboeuf’s Jojo Przybycien in the 120-pound quarters.

The senior turned in another stellar performance, knocking off Gary Steen of Reynolds 3-1 in the semifinals.

Steen entered the tournament 26-1 and placed third.

Ungar was able to score a takedown in the final 0:15 to secure the win.

“As soon as I got on top, I was like, ‘Wow, I got it. Let’s do it,’” said Ungar. “I was happy for like 30 minutes then got back to the room and refocused to get ready for the next one, because this kid (Gibson) might be even better. So I just had to get to my offense and do my work.”

Ungar did that and then some.

“I knew it was my last chance and had to make it the best I could,” he said. “And it just happened to work out. I’m so thankful for every person that got me to this point and everyone that really helped me because without them I wouldn’t be where I am.”

In addition to Ungar, Brandon Chletsos also advanced to the finals for the Crusaders.

The junior dropped a 10-3 decision to Jackson Arrington of Forest Hills in the 132-pound final.

“He was an excellent wrestler,” Chletsos said of Arrington. “I think I didn’t really get to my positions I need to get to; I couldn’t really get to my attacks. He had really good position on his feet, on bottom, even on top, he was real tough.

“But I think I wrestled well throughout the tournament. Definitely not what I came here for. But there are just some things I need to improve on for next year. I’m just excited that I got to at least compete at the state tournament this year.”

The result was an improvement for Chletsos, who was third last season and sixth as a freshman.

Seeing Ungar accomplish his goal of becoming a state champion was also special fro Chletsos.

“Brett has been my practice partner since Day 1 when he came here,” said Chletsos. “I would say he is probably who I am closest with on the team, and it’s really touching to see him accomplish his goals, especially being his last year.

“I remember talking to him two days ago and telling him, ‘This is your year. Go out and do it.’”

Chletsos powered past Beth-Center’s Kyle McCollum with a 16-0 (6:00) technical fall in the 132-pound quarterfinals.

The junior followed that with a 5-0 decision over Harbor Creek’s Connor Pierce in the semis.

The Crusaders had five wrestlers medal at the tournament.

Ayden Smith placed fourth at 106 pounds, while Holden Garcia was sixth at 160, and Adam Schweitzer took seventh at 113.

Notre Dame won the team title with 59 points over Montoursville (54) and Burrell (53) in second and third, respectively.

Saucon Valley put three on the medal stand with Ty Csencsits (189), Jacob Jones (172) and Dante Mahaffey (215).

Jones placed fourth, Mahaffey sixth and Csencsits eighth.

Palisades, Allentown Central Catholic and Tamaqua each had one wrestler at the tournament. Ben Haubert (172), David Kreidler (138) and Nate Wickersham (215), respectively.

Wickersham was third for the Blue Raiders, while Haubert placed fifth for the Pirates. Kreidler was sixth for the Vikings.