2005 State Wrestling Tournament

By Mike Fahey

In the spring of 1999 this writer attended a graduation party for his goddaughter where he was introduced to a lad by the name of Nate Matousek, a sixth grader. The goddaughter's parents, Kirk and Mary Newman of Watertown, made the statement that this Matousek kid was quite a wrestler, and he should be watched when he started seventh grade wrestling with Glencoe Silver Lake the following winter. Who would have imagined that spring evening, that six seasons later, high school wrestling fans everywhere across the state would be watching their televisions and reading the newspapers about Nate Matousek setting the all-time Minnesota high school record with 234 wins on February 1?

How does an athlete prepare for such a momentous event, knowing that very few wrestlers get to experience setting a state record? Nate Matousek, even though he didn't realize it then, probably started preparing for such a success back in elementary school when he first stepped on the mat in second grade as part of the Glencoe youth program. Nate brought values from his parents, friends and work on the farm to the mat, and ultimately to the record.

The values of the two-time defending state champion for the Glencoe Silver Lake Panthers can be best described by former Pacific Lutheran University head football coach Frosty Westering, a coach of four national championship teams, "You can learn something about a person's character during the game, and everything about it when the game is over." A phenomenal wrestler on the mat, Nate Matousek is an even better person off the mat.

Nate's superior work ethic came from watching his parents, Linda and Mike, run a dairy farm in rural Glencoe. Nate realized quickly that being in the dairy business was a seven day commitment, a commitment comparable to what wrestling is like now, and will become even more so when he puts on the Gopher wrestling gear next season at the University of Minnesota.

The work on the dairy farm, like carrying the feed pails for cows, also helped Nate develop physical strength early that he carried over to the mat. According to Matousek's former coach Jim Beshey, who mentored him in youth wrestling in 5th and 6th grade, and then on varsity grades 7 through 10 at GSL, Nate "has always had great natural strength. His opponents often remarked, 'He was stronger than I expected.'" The farm boy duties enhanced his natural strength.

Nate's dad saw early on the impact that the hard work at home had on his only son. Noted Mike Matousek, "Nate knew the work was always going to be demanding and that it had to get done. He was never fazed by the hard work in the wrestling room. He had already experienced it at home, and knew what to expect."

The involvement of friends in his wrestling success started in third grade. At that time the record setter became involved with the youth wrestling program in Watertown through the Newman family. Kirk Newman, who worked in New Germany then, would take Nate home to Watertown so he could attend the youth practices there in the evenings. The next morning, Newman would get Nate back to his work place where his dad picked him up for school. Nate wrestled with the Watertown program through sixth grade.

It was at the Newman residence where Nate got to know and learn from Dave, John and Mark, the sons of the Newmans. Those sons were all very successful wrestlers. Dave and John each placed third in the state tournaments for Watertown, while Mark was a state champion at Mora. John also went on to win a NCAA Division III national championship at St. John's, whereas Mark wrestled for the United State Naval Academy and was team captain. All three helped Nate get to where he is today.

According to Mary Newman, her sons all shared the same room. She remembers the first night Nate stayed over. Noted Ms. Newman, "Very late the first night, we found him wide awake, with all the lights on, studying all the wrestling mementos of my sons. We encouraged him to work hard, and told him he could do the same or better. Upon hearing this, his eyes lit up and a big grin came over his face. We knew he had caught the 'wrestling bug' too."

The Newmans, along with Craig and JoAnn Kohls of Watertown, also introduced Nate to the High Flyers, a premier youth wrestling program originally in Mound and then Wayzata. It was through the High Flyers that Matousek met Marty Morgan and Brandon Paulson, coaches for the program. Through their coaching Nate developed his freestyle skills, and then later the Greco-Roman techniques, participating with the club spring and summer through the tenth grade. According to Matousek, it was an experience that only enhanced what he had learned at home, and at his home away from home with the Newmans. "The emphasis was on hard work and dedication. It was great to be around positive people who wanted me to succeed," said Matousek. Once again, Nate learned values by those he associated with.

One of his best associates in wrestling has been his former coach Jim Beshey. Commented Matousek, "Coach Beshey took me to the nationals in Iowa when I was in 6th grade. He got us into great varsity tournaments like The Clash. He is one of the most important contributors to the success I have been so fortunate to have."

What made the record setting evening of February 1 at Glencoe Silver Lake High before a packed gym even more momentous, was an appreciation by Nate that there can be setbacks for anyone. His setback came in the ninth grade when he wanted to be the state high school champion in 2002 at 140. He went 2-2 in the state tournament. Another setback occurred last year when wanted to achieve All-American status at the Jr. Nationals in Fargo, and finished one round short from this goal.

A champion like Nate Matousek knows how to come back to the top of the victory stand. After he fell short in the state tournament in 2002, he won the USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman and freestyle Cadet championships at 152. We already know what he has done to make up for the Jr. Nationals last year. Everyone present February knows it. Everyone present at the Minnesota state high school tournament, be it fan or opponent, will know it.

All should also know that Nate Matousek is an exemplary person off the mat. According to Loren Mathews, whose son Craig is a Panther teammate of Nate, he "is a tough, tough competitor on the mat, but someone who shows great sportsmanship. He had not let his

success go to his head. He is an excellent example of what a coach and fans want to see from their wrestlers. He never puts down opponents, and he doesn't broadcast to everyone how good he is. You can see this in that he doesn't get many forfeit victories. Other teams' coaches know Nate will wrestle their wrestler with respect. Therefore, they do not hesitate to send someone out to face him."

Matousek credits his enhanced sportsmanship to his upbringing. "My parents taught me to respect people. You are not always going to be the winner. I have experienced that. You want the same level of respect coming back to you that you give to others. It is disgusting to see someone throw their headgear. It doesn't get you anywhere with the coaches, fans, or the community you represent."

The impact that the character and wrestling skills of Nate Matousek has on wrestling and the community was best demonstrated the evening he set the win record. The gym was packed with people who filled bleachers that had been pulled out on both sides of the mat. Noted Nate, "The Glencoe Silver Lake support has been unbelievable, and has continued to grow the last six years. People like Gale Hoese have been instrumental in getting myself and the Panthers to where we are today. Gale, along with many others in the community, helped raise $25,000 to build a wall between the upper level wrestling room and the gym. We are so fortunate to have the fans that we do."

Jim Bartels, the former owner of The Guillotine, and present to do the play-by-play for KARP radio stated, "I've broadcast wrestling matches since 1972. This was a top five memory for me. The crowd was so excited to be there. You could feel their happiness for Nate when he got the pin. Wrestling fans from a sixty mile radius drove to Glencoe that night to be a part of that special record breaking moment. That crowd roar and standing ovation when it happened said it all!"

After his match had ended, Nate was given the microphone to say a few words. His words said it all. "I would like to thank everyone in the community, the opposing teams here tonight, my teammates, coaches, staff and my parents. Thank you for the support."

His coach Kelly Lipinski calls his record setter a "natural leader and someone he can rely on to act as a captain, coach and mentor toward the whole team." It would be safe to say that Nate Matousek, in the manner that he acts both on and off the mat, is a captain, coach, and mentor for any kid in Minnesota who wrestles.