ALJ Wrestling Coach Rick Ortega Named County Coach of the Year

This release was submitted by the Clark School District.

On Saturday, January 19, 2013, at the U.C.I.A.C. Wrestling Tournament Arthur L. Johnson High School’s Head Wrestling Coach, Rick Ortega, was named Union County Wrestling Coach of the Year. It is an annual award that honors one County Coach each year for their achievements both on and off the mat. The award is voted upon by Union County’s Wrestling Coaches, making it an even greater accomplishment as he was designated by his colleagues.

Ortega, a Governor Livingston alumnus, won the State Championship at 130 pounds as a senior in 1993. He has been involved with the Arthur L. Johnson High School Wrestling Program for the past seven years, the last two as a head coach.

In addition Arthur L. Johnson High School had a wonderful showing at the U.C.I.A.C. Tournament, as they won two individual County Championship bouts behind the efforts of Charlie Hudak (126 pounds) and John Coler (138 pounds). This was the first time in years that Arthur L. Johnson High School has had multiple County Championships in the same year.

Supervisor of Athletics, Health, and Physical Education Gus Kalikas had this to say about Coach Rick Ortega: “Rick is a model of what we want and expect from our coaches. In only two short years, Coach Ortega has turned our wrestling program around not only with results, but with numbers as well. He is heavily vested in both the recreation wrestling program in the community of Clark. We are thrilled that he was honored by his peers as the Union County Wrestling Coach of the Year and are extremely proud of his wonderful achievements in the sport of wrestling.”