Former NJ Prep Star Patrick Hunter turns his life around

SOUTH PLAINFIELD — Expelled from one high school and barred from competing in interscholastic sports at another, Patrick Hunter’s dream of earning a Division I scholarship to wrestle for a Big Ten Conference power was dealt a series of setbacks.

The former South Plainfield and St. Benedict’s Prep star, however, turned his life around at Iowa Central Community College, where he was named an academic All-American, won an individual national title, led the school to its fourth consecutive national team title and recently signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Wisconsin.

“You don’t go from a pretty vibrant area in New Jersey to a rural setting in Iowa unless you are committed to changing your life,” said Wisconsin associate head coach Donny Pritzlaff, whose Badgers are coming off a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

“Patrick really made a lot of changes. That speaks about his character and the goals that he’s had. He’s done very well and improved every year in the classroom and on the mat. We know that he wants to be here bad and we want him just as bad, so it’s going to be a perfect union.”

Hunter’s partial athletic scholarship to one of the nation’s top wrestling programs culminates what those close to him consider a remarkable transformation.

Read the entire article by GREG TUFARO of www.mycentraljersey.com here…