8th Annual WUSA Magazine / Cliff Keen Dream Team Classic Dual Meet 2004

The Dream Team Classic wrestling match has headed to the West Coast for the first time in the event's history. On March 27 at 6:30 pm at Clovis West High School in Fresno, California, the nation's best wrestlers will be taking on the best senior wrestlers the Golden State has to offer.

The head coaches for both teams have roots in California. Dream Team Coach, Russ, Cozart, from Brandon High School in Florida has amassed an amazing record of 306-0 during his coaching tenure at Brandon. The Brandon Eagles are currently ranked #3 in the nation by many publications. Russ, a several time Masters Division World Champion, grew up in Upland, California. and wrestled his prep career for the Upland Highlanders. He will be returning to coach America's All-Star Team against his native California. His counter part from California is Poway High School's, Wayne Branstetter. Coach Branstetter has had a remarkable career at Poway. He has run a record of 281-3-1 for the Titans., included two state wrestling championships. He has won a whopping 27 San Diego Section CIF Championships. Poway has finished in the top 5 at the state tournament, more than any other program in the state's history.

This match traditionally features the number one ranked wrestler in the United States against the top senior of the host state. Mr. Lanny Bryant, the editor of Wrestling USA Magazine and founder of the event, has already announced the Dream Team. The National line-up, along with more information, can be seen on the event website, dreamteam.iwarp.com. The Cali-fornia Team will be selected after the state tournament on March 5-6.

Dream Team Classic Dual Meet Coach and USA Dream Team

Coach Russ Cozart
Brandon High School
Brandon, Florida
Coaching Record: 301-0

Russ Cozart has been the head wrestling coach at Brandon High School, in Brandon, Florida for the last twenty-four years. During that time, his dual meet record at Brandon is 306-0 with 13 state championships. Over that time his team have been ranked in the top twenty-five of the US several times. He is highlighted by this years team that finished second in the lronman wrestling tournament in Cleveland, Ohio, and is ranked number three in the US.

Russ is also the coach of the Brandon Wrestling Club, which has produced several All-Americans and National Champions, in Freestyle and Greco-Roman styles of wrestling.

He is also still active in wrestling, competing in the Veterans Division. He has won six world championships and seven US National championships. Russ Cozart is married to wife Jeanna and has two sons, Rocky, 17 and Joseph, 13.

103 lb. Joe Weygand
Archbishop Wood High School
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
G.P.A. 3.7 Class Rank 88/295
Career Record: 128 - 20
Senior Year Record: 21 - 0
College Plans: Drexel University or the University of Pennsylvania
College Major: Mathematics
Joe has been wrestling since the age of 7. He acknowledges the coaches of both the Hatboro-Horsham and Warm-inster wrestling clubs for cultivating his love of the sport.

When Joe enter-ed Archbishop Wood High School in the 2000-2001 school year, he was anxious to make his mark on both his team and his league. He did not disappoint. As a ninth-grader, he set the school's freshman win record by posting a 32-12 record despite weighing 88 pounds.

He continued in his sophomore year with a 43-3 record (tying the school's season win record) and placing 2nd at the National Prep Wrestling Tournament held at Lehigh University. Joe's junior year was a slight disappointment to Joe. With early season bouts with the flu and other minor set backs, Joe wasn't able to compete post-season at his desired weight. He wrestled National Preps at 112 and placed 5th at that weight class. Joe's senior year is presently underway and he is 21-0.

In addition to his high school accomplishments, Joe has achieved 4-time All-American status in National Greco-Roman and Freestyle. He was runner-up in the Cadet Greco-Roman competition in 2002. This culminated this past summer with a Junior National Greco-Roman championship in Fargo, North Dakota. Joe is also a 3-time PA State Freestyle and 2-time Greco-Roman champion. He has also won the AAU Ironman Triple Crown title in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2001,

Joe credits his high school coach; Mr. Todd Mullin and his club coach, Mr. Dale Irwin for helping him develop and remain focused.
112 lb. Paul Donahoe
Davidson High School
Davidson, Michigan
GPA 3.3
Senior Year Record: 21-0
Career Record: 1x State Champion
Win/Loss Record: 153-7
College Plans: Univ of Nebraska
College Major: Pre-Med

I started wrest-ling when I was 6 years old. Youth coaches Roger Bailey and Dennis Storrs convinced me to wrestle in the AAU Grand Nationals in Amarillo, Texas. I won freestyle and Greco and have been wrestling ever since. I ended up winning 14 youth national titles (AAU, USA).

Coach Roy Hall is my high school coach. He also coaches freestyle in the summer. I think having the same coach all year around helped me develop a solid wrestling style. After winning at Fila Cadet Nationals in 2001, I was invited to the Olympic training facilities in Colorado Springs, during the summer of 2002. It was a great technic camp. I practiced with the best wrestlers in the country and was coached by guys that were on the senior USA team at on time or another.

I also was on the 2003 FILA Junior National Team. We trained for two weeks in Varna, Bulgaria. Then we stayed and wrestled in Istanbul, Turkey, in the FILA Junior World Championships. Internation-al Freestyle is less aggressive than in the U.S.

I am going to wrestle at Nebraska in college. My wrestling goals are to win NCAA individual and team championships and to be on a USA Senior team.

119 lb. Charlie Falck
Apple Valley High School
Apple Valley, Minnesota
GPA: 3.0
Senior Year Record: 27-1
Career Record: 3x State Champion
Win Loss: 191-10
College Plans: University of Iowa
College Major: Communication

When you are born in Iowa during the "Gable heydays" of the late 80s and your father was a college wrestler, joining the sport is almost required.

Charlie Falck cannot recall whe-ther he was 4 or 5 years old when he started competing. What he does know is that wrestling has been a critical part of his life for as long as he can remember. From his early years in Strawberry Point, Iowa, to his high school career in Apple Valley, Minnesota, Charlie has been a dominant force on the wrestling mat. His career record of 191-10, including 90 wins by fall, are testament to that dominance. Going into his senior season, Charlie has already accumulated 7 state champion medals (3 individual titles, 4 team titles). If all goes well, he will leave high school with an amazing 9 gold medals. In national competition, Charlie is a 3-time national finalist in the Cadet/Junior Freestyle Champion-ships. Charlie was a national champion in 2000, and national runner-up in 2001 and 2003. Above all that however, his leadership as a captain of the Apple Valley wrestling team shows his character as a quality young man. Charlie is always concerned more about the success of his team than personal statistics, pushing his teammates to go above and beyond.

When away from the mat, Charlie enjoys time outdoors. Hunting, especially turkey hunting, consumes his free time. He also loves spending as much time as he can with his family, especially his brother Jake and his sisters Bobbi and Molly. Charlie is a gifted and well-rounded young man who will take his talents to the University of Iowa for his collegiate career.

125 lb. Coleman Scott
Waynesburg High School
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
GPA: 3.75
Senior Year Record: 17-0
Career Record: 2x State Champion
Win/Loss Record: 132-12
College Plans: Oklahoma State Univ.
College Major: Business

I hail from Waynesburg, Penn-sylvania. My mother and father are Mary and Jamie Scott. I have two sisters Amelia, a recent graduate of Old Dominion University and Kaitlin, a sophomore at Waynesburg Central High School. My wrestling career began at six years old and my enthusiasm for the sport has gradually intensified throughout my ensuing years of participation.

My accomplishments during my high school career are as follows:
2-time Pennsylvania State Champion
1-time 6th Place Finish
Junior National Freestyle Champion
Cadet Greco-Roman Nat. Champion
Cadet Freestyle 3rd Place Finish
Career record 132 - 12

In the fall of 2004 I will be attending Oklahoma State University as a member of their wrestling program and will be majoring in business. My future aspirations are to wrestle beyond college and to open a chain of restaurants patterned after our family business of 24 years.

130 lb. Joe Gomez
Glenbard North High School
Carol Stream, Illinois
GPA: 3.4
Senior Year Record: 25-0
Career Record: 1x State Champion
Win/Loss Record: 169-5, 48 pins
College Plans: University of Illinois
College Major: Education

Ever since I was six years old, wrestling has always been a major part of my life. My uncle, Hector, got me started in the sport and coached me, along with Jim Considine, until I reached high school. My first team was a kids' club in Illinois called the Villa-Lombard Cougars.

As a senior at Glenbard-North High School, Carol Stream, Illinois, I have been coached by Mark Hahn over these last four years. I am also coached by Sean Bormet in Naperville, Illinois, at his Overtime School of Wrestling during the summer.

Interscholastically, I have achieved a record of 172-05 over my four years; two months still remain in my season. I have had the honor of being named, voted on by my teammates, as a three-time varsity co-captain, a two-time team Most Valuable Wrestler. I have also earned a varsity letter for each of my last three seasons. Likewise, over these last three seasons, I have captured three DuPage Valley Conference (DVC) Individual Championships, three Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Individual Regional Championships, and three IHSA Individual Sectional Champ-ionships.

I am a three-time IHSA individual state place-winner: Freshman year (2001) I was a state champion at 119 pounds (48-02); sophomore year (2002) I placed third at 125 pounds (48-01); Junior year (2003) I was the state runner-up at 125 pounds (46-02); and, currently, I am ranked number one at 130 pounds in this my senior year in Illinois, and number two nationally, with an undefeated record. I also have 50 career falls.

During the summer and spring I compete for the Illinois National Team (Team Illinois) where I have been a two-time Cadet Greco-Roman All-American (5th place in 2000 and 6th place in 2001). I have also been a Fila Cadet National Freestyle All-American (2002) and a Junior National Freestyle All-American (3rd place in 2002) likewise, I have been an Illinois State Freestyle Champion and a Greco-Roman state runner-up.

Aside from my individual accomplishments, I have also been a part of three Illinois Team State medals: in 2001 we were state runners-up; in 2002 and 2003 we placed third. We are currently rated number 11 in Illinois and 36 in the country. Additionally, we are also going after a DVC team record of six straight conference championships in a row.

I am now a senior and trying to grasp another IHSA Individual State Champion-ship. These last four years have changed me dramatically, going from a cocky freshman to a humble, modest senior. Through all of my years of wrestling, both pre-high school and now into my final year, I would not be the wrestler or the young man I am without the support of my family, my team, and my coaches. Everyone has played a major role in my development.

Lastly, this past November, I signed with the University of Illinois, Cham-paign-Urbana, Illinois, where I will pursue my dreams and goals of becoming a four-time NCAA Individual National Champ-ion and the first college graduate in my family.

135 lb. Jeff Jaggers
St. Peters High School
Northfield, Ohio
GPA: 3.0
Senior Year Record: 25-0
Career Record: 3x State Champion
Win/Loss Record: 149-3
College Plans: Ohio State University
College Major: Undecided

I started wrest-ling at the age of 5 under the Firebird Youth Wrestling Pro-gram, which is the feeder program for the high school I now attend.

I won two junior high state titles in the 7th and 8th grade and have won three high school state titles making me eligible to be the first ever 6x Ohio state champion, if I win again this year. I have pinned my way through states my sophomore and junior year. I received the Most Valuable Wrestler Award of the state tournament my junior year. I started wrestling freestyle my freshman year and have been going to Fargo every year since. I finally made the podium this past summer at 130 pounds by taking third. I also have been on Ohio's Junior National Dual Team twice.

I plan to attend Ohio State University on a wrestling scholarship, and will work hard to be a success in the state of Ohio.

140 lb. Alex Tsirtsis
Griffith High School
Griffith, Indiana
GPA: 2.85
Senior Year Record: 37-0
Career Record: 3x State Champion
Win/Loss Record: 218-0, 138 pins
College Plans: University of Iowa
College Major: Business

Alex started wrestling freestyle at the age of 6 for the Calumet Wrestling Club, headed by high school coach Jim Wadkins. Under the direction of Coach Wadkins he compiled an 18-2 record and qualified for the Indiana Freestyle State Tourney. At state Alex went 1-2 and did not place, but the experience made him hungry to win the tournament in future years. Since that first season, he has won 11 Indiana freestyle championships, suffering only one loss in that time span.

At the age of 10 he started wrestling folkstyle with the Dolton Park Falcons in Dolton, Illinois. He capped off his 7th and 8th grade season with state championships in Dalton.

Before high school, at the national level he competed in AAU and USA events in all three styles. He is a former USA Triple Crown winner, AAU champion in freestyle and folk, and a Tulsa National champion.

After his freshman high school season he competed in the National High School Duals for Team Indiana at 119 lbs. The event held at Battle Creek, Michigan, was one of his most memorable events. He had the opportunity to wrestle several high school state champs from around the country. Alex went 7-0 and was voted Most Outstanding Wrestler for the tournament.

Recently, in freestyle competition, he placed third at 58 kg. in the 2002 FILA Junior World team trials and in 2003 at 60 kg. he placed third again in the same tournament. He placed third at 135 lbs. at the Junior Nationals last July.

In high school he is seeking his fourth state title his senior year. Alex's career record thru January was 218-0.

145 lb. Trevor Chinn
Canandaigua Academy
Canandaigua, New York
GPA: 4.0
Senior Year Record: 30-0
Career Record: 1x State Champ
Win/Loss Record: 218-22
College Plans: Lehigh University
College Major: Business/Computer Science

Trevor began his wrestling career as a 6 year old after initially tagging along to watch his older brother, Theron, participate at pee-wee tournaments. Trevor displayed quickness and good body position early on and by age 8 had become involved with a wrestling club spending 8-9 months each year wrestling. At the urging of his coaches he competed in freestyle and Greco-Roman, winning at the state and regional levels. Family vacations soon became planned around wrestling camps and wrestling tournaments. In 1997, Trevor competed in the inaugural USA Kid's National Championships finishing 1st in freestyle and 4th in Greco-Roman, then attended a wrestling camp along with his brother at the University of Iowa while mom and dad explored what Iowa had to offer. In 1998, 1999, and 2000, Trevor won the freestyle championships at the AAU Grand Nationals. He was selected to the OHIO All-Star team in 1998, based on his performance at the Tournament of Champ-ions in Columbus, OH that spring. The team (23 kids age 8-14) toured the western U.S. for 7 weeks, competing first at the AAU Grand Nationals in FL, then wrestling opponents in SD, WY, CO, UT, NV, and CA.

Trevor had an opportunity to begin his scholastic career as a 7th grade student at Canandaigua Academy. Canandaigua, a community of some 20,000 is located in upstate NY, approximately 30-45 minutes drive from Rochester. Canandaigua has a storied wrestling tradition producing several state champions and dominating NY wrestling in the 70s and 80s. Trevor finished his initial season at 32-4, winning both the sectional and state qualifying tournaments then losing in the state finals 12-9. He remains the youngest finalist in NY history at age 12!

Trevor is currently 30-0 and has not surrendered a takedown in 58 consecutive matches. He is a 3-time state finalist, was the champion at 135 lbs in 2003 and has a career record of record of 218-22. He won the 11th Annual Beast of the East tournament in December and finished 2nd the year before. He is currently ranked nationally, signed early, and will attend Lehigh University in the fall. He is a member of the National Honor Society.

He has competed for Team NY at the NWCA/DWA Scholastic Duals held at the University of Delaware finishing 8-1 in 2002, 8-0 in 2003 and being named the Most Outstanding Wrestler. He has also been a member of Team NY competing at both the Cadet Nationals (2001, 2002) and the Junior Nationals (2003). He finished 3rd in freestyle in 2002 and 5th in 2003

152 lb. Mike Poeta
Highland Park High School
Highwood, Illinois
GPA: 4.0
Senior Year Record: 29-0
Career Record: 1x State Champion
Win/Loss Record: 157-5
College Plans: University of Ilinois
College Major: undecided

I started wrest-ling when I was 5 years old. From then until 8th grade I wrestled for the Highland Park little giants, an IKWF (Illinois Kids Wrest-ling Federation) team that was coached by my dad, Domenic. As a freshman in high school I wrestled 103 pounds and took 3rd in state. Later that year, I won Fila Cadet Nationals at Northwestern and Cadet Nationals at Fargo, both in freestyle. My sophomore year was very similar. I again took 3rd in the Illinois state tournament and later went on to win Cadet Freestyle Nationals in Fargo for the second time. I got extremely lucky my junior year in having former University of Illinois wrestlers Griff Powell and Tony Siebert to work out with as they became coaches at my high school. I went on to win the Illinois state tournament that year and took 2nd at Junior Nationals in freestyle. In my 12 years of wrestling I think I'm most proud of being named a first team Asics All-American and being named the number one recruit in the country by Intermat. I will continue my wrestling next year at the University of Illinois.

160 lb. Steve Luke
Perry High School
Massillon, Ohio
GPA: 4.1
Senior Year Record: 21-0
Career Record: 2x State Champ
Win/Loss Record: 133-14
College Plans: Univ. of Michigan
College Major: Pre-Med

I began wrestl-ing in third grade. I was more involved in football at that time because my two older brothers had been playing it for several years. My dad encouraged me to wrestle because he believed it would help me to be more successful in football. However, as I got involved on the Perry Youth Wrestling team, coached by Andy Morgan, I discovered that wrestling was more physically demanding and found it to be my favorite sport. Although I did not make the varsity team my first year of youth wrestling, I worked hard and continued to improve. I won the prestigious Tulsa Nationals, the Mid-Atlantics, and the junior high state championship.

I decided to focus on only wrestling by the time I was in eighth grade, giving up both football and baseball. I began my high school career as a 112 pound freshman. The adjustment from junior high to high school proved challenging as our season began with the Ironman and Beast of the East tournaments. I continued to improve through my freshman year and took first place at Top Gun and Brecksville tournaments and second place at the Ohio State Tournament.

That summer I worked extra hard in the off season and placed third at the Cadet Freestyle Nationals. I enjoyed continued success during my sophomore year and became the youngest wrestler in my high school to win the state tournament at 135 pounds. As a junior I was 39-3 winning the Medina and Mayfield Big "8" tournaments, and the 160 pound state championship.

Last summer I was a runner-up at the junior national freestyle championships and ended the year ranked third nationally in the 160 pound weight class.

Entering this, my senior season, I am ranked number one nationally at 160 by Wrestling USA Magazine and Amateur Wrestling News Magazine. I have won the Ironman, Beast of the East, Medina, and Mayfield Big "8" tournaments and I have compiled a 11-0 record thus far. With the help of my coach Dave Riggs, who has been coaching me since I was in grade school, and Brian Dolph, my current head coach, I have been able to make huge improvements this year.

I have two brothers and two sisters. Although my two older brothers are serving our country in the military overseas, they follow my wrestling career closely and are very supportive of my accomplishments. My youngest sister, now eight years old, has followed me through the many wrestling tournaments and is my biggest fan.

I have signed to attend the University of Michigan next year. Last year I was inducted into the National Honor Society and attended Buckeye Boy's State. I maintain a 4.2 GPA due in part to the many great teachers at my high school, such as Mrs. Patron, Mrs. Whetstone, and Mr. Van Wey.

171 lb. Kurt Brenner
Freedom High School
Rochester, Pennsylvania
GPA: 2.9
Senior Year Record: 24-1
Career Record: 2x State Champ
Win/Loss Record: 131-13
College Plans: West Virginia Univ.
College Major: Education

Kurt Brenner started wrestling for Freedom Youth wrestling when he was 6 years old. His first two trips to PA Junior Olympics was when he was 10 and 12 years old, and he placed 4th in both seasons. He joined the Cobra Wrestling Club and was invited to be on the PA Schoolboy Team, which traveled to Indiana. The PA team captured both Freestyle and Greco titles, and that excited Kurt about competing nationally against wrestlers from other states.

Kurt's high school coaches John Rosa and Andy Phipps encouraged him during his freshman season to go to extra practices, and Kurt gained confidence in his wrestling abilities. His record was 31-9 during his freshman season, and Kurt fell one match short of the state tournament. Kurt was disappointed, but since he was still only 14, he was able to compete in the Junior Olympics again, and this time he claimed the state title. Following that season, Kurt decided to start competing more in freestyle and Greco to help him prepare for his Sophomore season. That summer at Fargo, he placed 6th in freestyle and 7th in Greco. Kurt then joined the Angry Fish Wrestling Club coached by Ty Moore and Ray Brinzer, and trained with some of the best wrestlers in Pennsylvania. Ty and Ray gave him the confidence that he could compete with the best wrestlers in the country, and possibly become a state and national champion. Kurt set his goals high. During his sophomore year, he posted a 38-1 record, and won the state title. He became the first Beaver County wrestler to ever win a state wrestling title. He also was a Powerade Champion in his sophomore season. The following summer, Kurt became a Cadet National Champion in both freestyle and Greco. During his junior season, Kurt was 38-2 and won his second state title. This past summer in Fargo, he was a runner up in the Junior Division in both freestyle and Greco.

Kurt is currently in his senior season, and preparing for a shot at his 3rd consecutive state title. In December, he won the Beast of the East Tournament, upending one of the wrestlers who beat him in Fargo last summer. He has won over 130 high school matches, and could reach the 150 win total this season. Kurt attributes much of his success to his parents, Dan and Joyce Brenner who have supported him for the past 12 years. Kurt has accepted a full wrestling scholarship to West Virginia University.

189 lb. Ryan Goodman
Absegami High School
Cape May Court House, New Jersey
GPA: 3.5
Senior Year Record: 7-0
Career Record: 1x State Champion
Win/Loss Record: 113-8
College Plans: Undecided
College Major: Engineering

I have been blessed with my athletic ability throughout my life. Through the support of my father and older brother, Randy, who have pushed me and helped me to go to another level, and with the dedication of my two sisters, Tiffany and Krystle, all of which helped to make me the athlete I am today.

I started wrest-ling in my 7th and 8th grade years. I was able to travel to Pennsylvania two nights a week to practice with the Renegades, and was selected to go to Finland with them. I also wrestled with Team Pennsylvania at Chicago and became an All-American. Also, I became the North Carolina State champ which allowed me to wrestle many other places in my middle school years.

During high school, I was very nervous. My goals were to play football as quarterback and to wrestle. My freshmen year playing football, I became the first freshmen to play varsity football. After seeing all my accomplishments playing football I knew I would have what I needed to become the best wrestler. My freshmen year my record was 28-0 during the regular season. I took second in districts, third in region and first in states at 33-4. My sophomore year, I still played quarterback with much success and again wrestled. I knew going into this wrestling season there would be more competition and I must be dedicated to come out on top. I took 5th at the Beast of the East, 1st at districts, 1st at regions, and 2nd at states at 35-4. My junior year, I still played quarterback and wrestled. I attended the Beast of the East where I took 2nd place, 1st in districts, 1st at regions, and 1st at states at 38-0. My senior year, I still played quarterback and wrestled. During the Beast of the East, I pinned four wrestlers and won the final match which ranked me the No. 1 wrestler in the country. I am at 128-9 with 18 matches left to the New Jersey state title as becoming New Jersey's top winning record holder and trying to become U.S.A. Wrestler of the Year.
Right now, I am planning to wrestle and play football in college and I have been looked at by many universities and colleges. Now, I am looking forward to taking my athletic ability to the next level and beyond.

215 lb. Joe Dennis
Graham High School
Urbana, Ohio
GPA: 2.7
Senior Year Record: 23-0
Career Record: 2nd State
Win/Loss Record: 136-16, 41 Pins
College Plans: Cleveland State Univ.
College Major: Computer Networking/Criminal Justice

It all started when I was 3 months old. My mother took me to Vince DiSa-bato and asked him to make me a wrestler. I started wrestling at the age of 5 for the Westland Youth Athletic Ass-ociation, coached by Hiawatha Golden. Wrestling there helped make me the wrestler I am today. I learned technique, mental toughness, and developed the desire to win. I progressed over the years and ventured to national tournaments, including the Tulsa Nationals, AAU Nationals, and the Tournament of Champions. After many trips, many wins, and many losses I became better every year. The middle school programs around my area were not real advanced so I often attended Westland High School's practices, the Power Wrestling Club at DeSales High School and often traveled to Jeff Jordan's Wrestling Club to practice with his wrestlers. My technique and overall ability grew greatly with the training I was receiving.

As a freshman, my parents sacrificed everything and moved to the Graham School District so I could wrestle at St. Paris Graham High School under the guidance of Coach Jeff Jordan to better improve my wrestling skills. Thus far I am a 3-time state placer. As a freshman I took 4th place, as a sophomore I took 2nd place, and as a junior I placed 5th. In addition, I have been a four-time All-American placing 2nd at the Cadet Freestyle Nationals, 2nd at FILA Cadets, 2nd as a Junior National, and 4th at Junior Nationals.

I have chosen to continue my wrestling career under Cleveland State University's wrestling coach, Jack Effner and assistant Brian Keck, who both coached me the past 2 years on the Ohio Junior National Freestyle Team.

275 lb. Matt Fields
North Cedar High School
Lowden, Iowa
GPA: 3.43
Senior Record: 13-0 (12 falls)
Career Record: 1x State Champion,
1 x Runner up
Win/Loss Record: 132 -11 (88 pins)
College Plans: University of Iowa
College Major: Business

Matt began his wrestling career at age 9, wrestling for the Tipton Kids Club through 6th grade, when he moved to Lowden and joined the North Cedar Kids Club. Matt remained successful, winning 2 State AAU titles as well as placing 6th and 3rd in earlier years. His AAU success propelled him to remain undefeated in both his 7th and 8th grade years.

Entering high school, Matt had grown substantially over the summer and would fill the new 215 lb. weight class. He compiled a 36-8 record, finishing 5th in the state tournament and was the only freshman to place in the 215 lb. weight class. Returning as a sophomore, Matt lost only twice during the dual season, bumping up to face a two-time state champion, Ryan Fuller, at heavyweight. During the state tournament, Matt experienced a heartbreaking (5-4) loss in the finals. After the last second defeat in the state finals, Matt pushed himself more than ever to be the best. He began a rigorous weight lifting program and started Freestyle, entering every national competition he could.

Matt has compiled a 60-5 Freestyle record over the past 2 years, winning the Northern Plains Regional twice, Fila Nationals and Western Regional once. He is a 2x All-American placing 8th at 215 lb class in Fargo, North Dakota, as a sophomore in 2002 and 1st as a junior in the 275 lb class in 2003. Matt's performance at the 2003 Freestyle Nationals brought attention from many top college programs.

Currently, Matt is in his senior year and undefeated in his last 57 matches. Matt has a career record of 132-11, with 88 pins. He is a 3x Sectional and 3x District champion and he placed 5th, 2nd, and 1st in his freshman, sophomore and junior years at the Iowa High School State Tournament. Matt has not allowed an offensive point other than an escape in the past 57 matches and he is on track to become the school's first 2-time state champion. Matt is currently ranked number one nationally by Intermat Wrestling and Wrestling USA Magazine.