Christian Barber

Apex North and Central Instructor

Christian Barber is yet another Apex alum who has invested back into The Apex Wrestling School system as a coach.

As a high school student-athlete wrestling for Westfield High School, Barber captured a 2011 NJSIAA State Title at 152 pounds. Barber posted a 41-1 record as a senior, and was a two-time team captain. Barber turned in a 112-21 record during his four-year high school career and was a perennial honor roll student.

Barber continued his wrestling career at The University of North Carolina, where he achieved the following:

2014-2015: Qualified for NCAAs for the second straight season, finishing 13-12 overall and 6-6 in duals • Knocked off second-seeded, and fellow NJ native Sal Mastriani of Virginia Tech in the ACC semifinals to earn an automatic bid to nationals • Opened NCAAs with a 10-3 win over Clayton Ream of North Dakota State • Finished 2-2 in ACC dual action with wins over Mastriani and NC State's Sam Melikian • Pinned No. 8 Dylan Cottrell of Appalachian State in sudden victory overtime to help the Tar Heels to a tight dual victory • Finished the season with one pin and one major decision • Took fourth at the Hokie Open to start the year with a 2-2 showing.

2013-14: Had a breakout season as a redshirt sophomore, finishing 32-12 overall and 13-3 in duals • NCAA qualifier at 149 pounds • Defeated Ohio State's Ian Paddock 6-5 at nationals • Champion at the Wolfpack Open with five wins, part of a 15-match winning streak that stretched over a month • Finished fourth at the ACC Championships after going 5-1 in regular season action • Had wins over ranked opponents No. 20 Justin Arthur of Clarion and No. 26 Brian Haman of NC State • Also finished fourth in his weight class at the Reno Tournament of Champions and fifth at the Hokie Open • Finished the season with one pin, one tech fall and four major decisions.

2012-13: Compiled a 22-14 record at 149 pounds, including a 7-4 mark in duals • Finished second at the Wolfpack Open and sixth at the Nittany Lion Open • Scored a pair of wins in ACC action over opponents from Maryland and NC State, including a major decision over NC State's Tomas Gantt • Collected pins against Clarion's Zachary Ross and Indiana's Preston Keiffer.

2011-12: Went 21-14 in his redshirt year at 149 pounds • Bounced back after losing his first match at the Hokie Open to win three matches all by pins • Won five matches at the Appalachian Open including two by major decisions • Collected three major decisions and three pins on the season.

Christian currently lives in Cranford with his wife, Kaitlyn, and works as a real estate broker with Terra Living. He is also an assistant wrestling coach at Westfield High School.

Barber’s proudest moment as a wrestling coach: “There is no specific moment in particular, but seeing the wrestlers I train execute techniques I taught them in big matches and seeing our athletes grow into great wrestlers and great people makes me feel proud as a coach.”