Dec. 28, 2006: The Salt Lake Tribune

Brown's Intensity Leads the Pirates
by Patrick Commisky

From another room coach Eddie Berrest called out: "Left side half, right side half, right side arm bar."

Matt's head lowered as if he were trying to bore a hole into the ground.

"When you're at Matt's level he trains year round because he knows he's a wanted man," said Berrest, who is also a psychology teacher. As a returning state champion at 119 pounds, Brown wrestles heavier, stronger teammates like Keith Williams during practices to push himself on technique, which is already his forte.

"He shoots fast and has the most technique," said Cyprus High School's athletic public relations manager, Cindy Brown, "and I must tell you that I'm his mother." Added Cindy: "He learned different styles from a variety of coaches."

Many are former Olympians. In the Utah-Moscow games, a youth run-up to the Olympics, Matt competed against older athletes in Moscow while gaining valuable athletic and intercultural experience.

"A lot of kids here enjoy wrestling. But they don't live it. Matt lives it," Cindy Brown said.

Said Matt Brown: "It teaches you a lot of good things - discipline, hard work, how to reach goals. Life, you know, it's hard."

During a recent match against West, Berrest stood on the side of the mat and hollered useful commands and observations to his athletes as they competed. When Brown prepared to faced off against his opponent, then 12-2 Marcus Mayeda, Berrest sat down for the first time.

Brown loosened his muscles, shaking each arm gently in the air above his ears, and shifting weight between his legs. His introduction was keyed by the special dip and raise in the announcer's voice. On the sidelines, he had been subdued while watching his teammates in action. When his name was called, he came alive. He air-sparred before stepping onto the mat and moved with assurance.

"You can beat Matt Brown with chain wrestling," one strong move after another, said West coach Dan Potts. "But it's not easy. He basically pins everyone he touches."

After a 7-0 victory, Matt said once he realized his opponent wasn't going for a win, he aimed to score as many back points as possible. The opponent put up an unusually stubborn defense, and although he had trained with Brown before, he fell victim to aggressive ties and passes.

Matt wasn't always known for his aggressive style, according to Olympic training coach Ivan Ivanovic. He used to wait for his opponent's errors and weaknesses, and counterattack. Two years ago Ivanovic cultivated his "natural aggressiveness" and Matt is now "always first in contact, always tries to get the best position, always first to attack," said Ivanovic.

At the onset of the championship match at the Viewmont Tournament, Brown drove his opponent off the mat and stayed in control for the rest of the match, despite a bloodied nose. And it was yet another victory for Brown. Throughout the tournament, including a win in overtime, he moved with concentrated vigor and attacked with the same precise aggressiveness he is now known for.

His impact on local high school wrestling will be felt for some time, said the coach.

"Other kids see the superstar - he brings the team up," Berrest said.