Notre Dame’s Ungar has more than a title on his mind
All the time lost on the wrestling mat because of a knee injury seemingly hasn’t affected Notre Dame-Green Pond’s Brett Ungar since his return.
All the senior 120-pounder has done is win five matches and pin all three opponents he faced last weekend at the PIAA District 11 Class AA tournament.
That moved him one step closer to what is expected to be a loaded field at states that includes Bishop McCort freshman Mason Gibson and Reynolds senior Gary Steen, who beat Ungar in an ultimate tiebreaker in last year’s state semifinals on his way to a second straight state title.
That one still stings, Ungar admits, and the pain likely won’t be relieved unless or until he has a chance to make up for it.
But to get there Ungar and seven of his Notre Dame teammates, all district champions, will have to make it through Saturday’s Southeast Regional at Central Dauphin East, which also features the best of Districts 1, 2 and 12. The top five from each weight class will advance to the East super regional at Pottsville’s Martz Hall on March 6.
From there, the top four in each class advance to their respective state tournament fields, which have been reduced from 16 to eight for safety reasons during the coronavirus pandemic.
Ungar on Thursday admitted to looking two steps ahead.
“I was the most upset ever after that [semifinal] loss,” Ungar said. “This year, I’m really looking to redeem that loss.”
Ungar also has a state championship on his resumè, but it was won in New Jersey at 106 when he was a sophomore at Hunterdon Central. Now he has one last chance to win in another state before heading to yet another one, New York, as a member of Cornell’s freshman class in the fall.
“I feel like I’m more poised this year,” Ungar said. “I’m just more motivated and more confident in what I can do.”
He will need to be. Although Ungar is ranked No. 5 in the nation by Trackwrestling, Steen is No. 4. Gibson lurks just behind at No. 6.
“Just kind of seeing how he trained through the spring and through the summer into the fall, kind of on his own, his motivation has changed [and] his will to win has changed,” Notre Dame coach Matt Veres said. “And I think going into the state tournament this year, he is just solely focused on winning.
“And I know how he felt last year when he lost in the semis to Steen. And a couple of teammates lost also in that round. He doesn’t want to have that feeling again.
“He’s doing everything he can with his training and outworking competition, and hopefully he’ll be on top of the podium in Hershey.”
Specifically, Ungar has been working to get better in the neutral position.
“He’s known for his top wrestling,” Veres said. “He’s got some really good tilts. But in the past couple years he’s really improved on his feet.
“He’s a leg attacker now, and I think that’s added a whole other level to his game. And he’s going to get better and better.”
Said Ungar: “Last season I was able to get away with just kind of hanging and keeping the match at 0-0, but now I feel like I train with the best partners in the whole country. They’ve really got me more comfortable on my feet. Coach Matt has been emphasizing it ever since I got back from my injury.
“You know, you can’t keep the match at 0-0 on your feet; all it takes is one bad call by the ref and that’s it. So I really am focused on moving my feet better, my hands, my hand fighting, really just getting to my attacks.
“If I dictate the match, I’ll have no regrets after the match and I won’t be upset. Last year really left a bad taste in my mouth because I didn’t dictate the match. I kind of let him dictate the match.”
And ultimately the result. Veres called Ungar a class act. “I couldn’t ask for a better student-athlete,” the coach said. Or a better all-around team. “Of all the kids for the past three years that I’ve been here, this is the best group,” Veres said. “Every kid that we have, they just want to get better every day, they want to become better individuals, they want to become better athletes. The team is clicking on all cylinders and I know they’re excited.”