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.