Cam Sontz Wins Third State Title, Eyes History with Fourth in Reach

photo by: Joey Martin 

For Cam Sontz, winning isn’t the goal anymore. It’s the standard.

This past weekend in Atlantic City, Sontz captured his third state championship as a junior at the NJSIAA State Wrestling Championships, putting himself in rare company and setting up a chance to join an even more exclusive group next season with a fourth title.

But if you ask him, the job isn’t finished.

“4 has always been the goal for me,” Sontz said. “While 3 is cool, it was never the end goal. I’m happy with my title from the weekend, but I won’t be satisfied until I get that fourth one next year.”

Sontz’s path to the finals showed exactly why he’s in that position. From the opening round, he separated himself from the field with a dominant run that included three straight technical falls over Jaydon Sulca (22–5), Jacob Richardson (19–4), and Eamon Fry (19–4), followed by a semifinal pin over Carmine Sipper in a rematch of the Region 3 finals. Every match felt controlled, with Sontz dictating the pace and consistently creating scoring opportunities.

“I think it’s a mindset,” Sontz said. “Anyone can go out there and sneak by with a one-point win, but my goal isn’t just to win anymore, my goal is to dominate these guys. I think I did a great job doing that up until the final.”

That mindset didn’t come from just one place. Sontz credits the people around him for helping shape how he approaches every match.

“My coaches at Delbarton have a lot of belief in me, and I’ve got a lot of belief in them,” he said. “My club coach Ernie Monaco has been telling me for years, even before high school, that I can take these guys out of the match. That it’s me against myself rather than me against the guy.”

The finals, though, required something different.

Across from him stood JoJo Burke, a former state champion capable of matching Sontz in every position. The match played out as expected. It was tight, physical, and controlled through three periods, with neither wrestler able to break things open. That pushed the bout into sudden victory, a spot Sontz hadn’t found himself in often this season.

“So that was actually my second time going into overtime all season,” Sontz said. “My first thoughts were I want to get a takedown right now and end it before it gets to the mat for ride outs.”

He understood the situation clearly. If the match extended further, it could shift in Burke’s favor.

“I knew he scored the first point, so if it came down to it he would have choice,” Sontz said. “He’s a good mat wrestler too, so if it got down to that it was a gamble. I knew I wanted to settle it on my feet because that’s where I’m the best.”

What followed was the defining moment of the match.

Burke got in deep on a takedown that nearly ended it, putting Sontz in a dangerous position. But instead of giving up the points, Sontz stayed composed, fought through the hold, and reversed the situation. As Burke continued to press, Sontz capitalized, exposing him and turning the sequence into a scoring opportunity that completely flipped the match.

“I just kept thinking to push the pace,” Sontz said. “I did it throughout the whole match and could tell it was wearing on him.”

Moments later, it was over. Sontz secured the points and closed out an 8–1 sudden victory win, earning his third state title in a match that demanded patience, awareness, and trust in his preparation.

Now, with one season remaining, the focus shifts to what’s next. The goal is clear, and so is the plan to get there.

“I’ll change over to freestyle for a bit,” Sontz said. “I’m going out to Vegas for the U.S. Open, then looking for my get-back in Fargo. I took second there last year, so I’ll be working to get to the top of that podium.”

Along the way, he’ll continue building on the same routine that’s brought him this far.

“Lifting, wrestling, running — just doing what’s always worked for me,” he said. “I’m excited to train with Lehigh this offseason too. My plan is just to keep getting better every single day. It’s me against myself at this point, and if I can beat myself, I’ll be in a good spot.”

Three titles down. One to go.

And if everything continues on this path, Cam Sontz isn’t just chasing history. He’s right on track to make it.