Jan.
15, 2008: The Salt Lake Tribune
Cyprus' Brown Takes Moving Up in
Stride
by John Coon
MAGNA — Fresh off winning his first state
title, Cyprus wrestler Matt Brown faced a formidable task
coming into last season. If he wanted to add another
championship to his wrestling resume, he had to do it
against bigger competition.
Summertime growth mandated Brown move from
119 pound class to 135 pound class. Facing a set of larger
wrestlers — with less speed, but more muscle — meant
tweaking his strategy for matches and offered no guarantee
of continued success.
"I had to jump up three weight classes
because I got bigger," Brown said. "I was a little
apprehensive, but I was able to do well — even at the
state tournament."
Brown performed as well as any wrestler
could have — winning his second straight 4A title at
season's end. Now the Pirates star is gunning for a third
title in his third different weight class. Just like a
year ago, he feels motivation to show he can dominate at
145 just as easily as he did at 135.
"You got pressure on you or expectations
and that helps a little bit to fuel the fire," Brown said.
"You know you got to get another one."
Based on his work ethic alone, Brown is a
legitimate state title contender. Cyprus wrestling coach
Eddie Berrest describes Brown as a bit of a perfectionist
in practice. He strives for the best workout everyday,
simply because Brown wants to match the levels of
improvement he anticipates seeing in potential opponents
on the mat.
"There's no quit in him," Berrest said.
"No matter if he's sick or tired or sore, he still gives
100 percent. He fights through what the average kid won't
to achieve what his goal is. And his goal is improving
every single day."
Brown's efforts to improve himself have
already paid off in the form of a wrestling scholarship to
Iowa State. Besides the Cyclones, he also considered Army
and Wyoming. What ultimately sold him on the Big 12 school
was a chance to wrestle under the tutelage of Cael
Sanderson.
Sanderson, a gold medal winner in the 2004
Summer Olympics in Athens, is the only NCAA wrestler to
compile an undefeated record (159-0) during his four-year
career. Brown feels like he can maximize his potential
under him.
"I was thinking about Army until I made my
visit at Iowa State," Brown said. "They really helped me
believe I could be a national champ there. So that's why
I'm going there."
It remains to be seen what Brown can do
for Iowa State. For Cyprus, however, he has spurred quite
a renaissance in its wrestling program. The Pirates have
become much more of a factor in Region 6 and the rest of
4A since Brown joined them on the mat.
Cyprus is counting on things to stay that
way for a while.
"He's kind of brought the spotlight back
to us and other kids have stepped up to the challenge
because they've seen Matt do it," Berrest said.
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