Not many high school student-athletes can claim that they've had a better senior year than Cristian Alvarez.
A product of St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey, Alvarez's senior year started off with a bang, helping guide the Green Knights to a Non-Public A football state title, helping the program secure its first title since 2018.
For those not familiar with New Jersey football, Non-Public Group A is one of the best leagues in the entire country, featuring powerhouse programs (including St. Joe's) who compete at a national level annually.
Alvarez wasn't done winning titles, as he put his football cleats aside to step back onto the wrestling mat. After losing in the state finals a year ago (a loss that came to one of his former teammates at St. Joe's), Alvarez put on a revenge tour, capping off his high school wrestling career as a state champion.
Now that his high school career is ready to close, his next chapter is set to begin, one that will take him to Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Cristian Alvarez commits to North Carolina
I’m super excited to announce my commitment to the University of North Carolina to both wrestle and play football! #GoTarheels 🐏@Belichick_B @mlombardiuncgm @CoachWillFriend @CarolinaKoll @ThisGuyFoca @SJRCoachAug @SJRFB @CoopTrained @SJRWrestling @rednosewrestler @DCTrained pic.twitter.com/32W4J3AgHV
— Cristian Alvarez (@cristian_alv628) April 2, 2026
Alvarez's recruitment has been a bit of a whirlwind, one that initially began with him committing to UMass in June of 2025. He later flipped his commitment and signed wih Delaware, but then elected to explore his other options once again.
That led him to North Carolina, where he will continue both his football and wrestling careers.
A 6-foot-4, 295-pounder, Alvarez played on both the offensive and defensive line during his time at St. Joe's. When the Green Knights needed a spark on defense, it was Alvarez that head coach Augie Hoffmann turned to for it. As he's done throughout his athletic career thus far, Alvarez answered the call and delivered, bringing a state title back where it belongs in Montvale.
On the wrestling mat, St. Joe's has dominated the heavyweight division for quite some time. Jimmy Mullen (now at Virginia Tech) put together one of the most dominant runs in NJ wrestling history while wearing the green and gold, while Rocco Dellagatta (now at Cornell), carried the torch for a year before transferring elsewhere.
Alvarez continued the narrative that the heavyweight division is dominated by St. Joe's, capping off his career with an individual state title of his own.
This is a really strong pickup for both the football and wrestling programs. Alvarez defines toughness, as he should be a guy who can make an impact for both teams moving forward.
Don't let his three-star rating in football fool you: this is the type of guy you want competing for your university.