Matt Moore is a different person on the wrestling mat as opposed to off of it.
When he’s not competing, Moore is a typical 16-year-old high school student. He enjoys telling jokes and poking fun at his classmates in a good-natured way.
“He’s amusing to be around,” Apalachee High School Wildcat coach Jim Stoudenmire said. “Then he gets you on the wrestling mat and it’s not amusing anymore.”
In fact, no member of the AHS program can really give Moore any type of adequate workout on the mat so Stoudenmire and assistant coach Jake Gurley (a former state wrestler himself) work out with him.
“He has beat us to death,” Stoudenmire said. “In one sense, I’m glad the season is over so I can recover. He is such a monster, he always has something going on the mat. He doesn’t look like a scary guy until he picks you up and throws you on the mat.”
Moore has already made a name for himself in two seasons at AHS. After placing sixth as a freshman at the state tournament, Moore dominated the competition at state as a sophomore and won the 220-pound championship Saturday at the Gwinnett Arena.
While off the mat, Moore is something of a jokester, when’s he on the mat, he’s all business. Any one of his opponents can tell you that.
Going into the state tournament, Stoudenmire was cautiously optimistic about Moore’s chance. That was what he said to the media. Down deep, I have to think Stoudenmire knew it would be an upset if Moore didn’t win it all.
“Matt’s always cracking jokes and having a good time,” Stoudenmire said. “Once he starts wrestling, however, he becomes a beast. He is a true monster on the mat.”
Moore’s dominating performance Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Duluth was something which automatically puts him as one of the top wrestlers in Mat Wildcat program history. He will have a chance to become the best in program history over the next two seasons.
While work will begin this summer for next season, for now Moore can bask in the spotlight which comes from winning a state wrestling title.
The 16-year-old said Sunday he never takes any match for granted and wrestles as if he is facing his toughest opponent ever on the mat.
“I never think I am going to automatically win,” Moore said. “Anything can happen in wrestling and it doesn’t take long for you to lose. You always have to be focused on your opponent and be aware you can be beaten at anytime.”
No one could beat Moore at state, however. He proved what he was capable of doing.
Said Stoudenmire: “He may be 16, but he’s already a man. There’s no doubt about that.”
Chris Bridges is sports editor of the Barrow Journal. You can reach him at cbridges@barrowjournal.com.
