Mat was 30-6 as a freshman, with at least 3 (if not 4) of those losses coming at the hands of Norton's 2x champ J.B Harding. Mat went on to earn a win over the very talented Harding in the state finals that year. If my failing memory serves me correctly, Mat had a loss or two in the Beloit Tournament his freshman season too. But I can't remember to who - Charbonneau, maybe?
As a sophomore, Mat was 38-1 with his sole loss coming to Doug Hoover in the finals of the Hoxie Invitational. He then rattled off 35 in a row to win his second title that season. Mat did lose a 1 or 2 point match at kid's state that season to Earl Jones.
Last season he was 37-0, which is impressive to say the least when competing in the NWKL and picking up undefeated tournaments at the Colby Dual Tournament, Goodland Dual Tournament, Hoxie Invitational, Norton Invitational, Phillipsburg Invitational and Beloit Invitational.
Perhaps part of the reason that Mat does not get mentioned in this group by people who do not see him compete on a weekly basis is that his style is not flashy. He just goes out on the mat and grinds his opponent until he gets a takedown. And then he drills his opponent into the mat until he gets exposure points. He can beat you with a five point throw if he has to. But he is so technically sound that he usually has already done the same thing with a double leg followed by a basic half nelson before he got that far in his progression of shots.
And, while he can turn up the heat when he needs to, sometimes when he is done the final score of his match might be closer than one would expect. That score might surprise people reading the results in the paper, but those in attendance are able to see how he controls, smothers and frustrates a quality opponent. Mat can make a 4-1 or 7-2 match appear just as dominating as a fall or tech fall.
The best way in which to gauge how talented Mat truly is might be to watch him defeat a very talented wrestler and then observe what that opponent is able to do to everyone else in the bracket.
