Unforgettable experience
Matt Maupin gave wrestling a try and ended up enjoying it
By STEVE MATTHIES
SALEM – Matt Maupin took a suggestion to heart.
Because he did, the Mazama senior had an experience that he never will forget.
“He asked me if I would be his advisor for his senior project, so I suggested he come out for wrestling, “Mazama coach Scott Teeples said. “I had been trying to get him to come out for three years. “
Maupin agreed to give wrestling a try.
“I asked (Teeples) to help me with my senior project, and I’m building a go-cart, “Maupin said as he waited for his first match at the OSAA Class 3A state wrestling tournament.
“He said he would do it on three conditions – 1) I had to take the metals II class, 2) I had to do all the requirements for the project and 3) seriously consider wrestling.
“Wrestling wasn’t mandatory, but it kind of was, “Maupin said, grinning.
He played football for the Vikings and wanted a break but, at the same time, said: “I was kind of restless, so I decided to go out and give it a try.
“I wasn’t planning on being on the varsity. I just figured I’d go to the practices and be a backup guy. I never considered I’d go this far, “he said.
Opponents and coaches from other schools were stunned when they discovered Maupin had never wrestled until practice in November.
Almost everyone, including his teammates, could only conjecture what kind of career the affable senior could have had if his career had started as a freshman, sophomore or junior.
Only for a physical fluke did Maupin not only win matches at the state tournament, but came within 20 seconds of possibly placing in the 215-pound weight class.
He had a 6-5 lead with time ticking down, but said he was unable to read the scoreboard and thought he was behind.
Maupin tried to turn Justin Torgeson, lost his hold and was reversed, which gave the Estacada junior a one-point victory.
“That was a disappointment after what he had accomplished this year, “Teeples said.
Maupin said: “I’m glad I finally made it to the next level. This would not be the best time to go two and out. Because I didn’t know what to except, to win one at state, I achieved something I wanted to do.”
He finished 1-2, with one loss to Jayson Conger of Elmira, who finished in fifth place.
“It was fun, “Maupin said after he had been eliminated from the tournament.
“The last two months have been really great. I experienced it all. I hate losing, but, as long as I learn from it, I can move on. My teammates are great guys and I had great coaches. “
Maupin learned quickly that brute strength is less important to success than technique.
“After the first couple of tournaments, I realized that, “he said, adding smarts as a key to winning.
“What I also discovered is what I’m capable of as a person, both mentally and physically. Wrestling is a true test of will and determination.
“Mentally, it takes a lot of volition to do this. There were some days where it was ridiculously hard to go to practice, “Maupin said. “Then you see kids like (North Valley’s Zach) Giesen, who have their own personal trainer.
“It’s crazy how hard core some of these guys are.”
Giesen won his second straight state title, winning the 160-pound title this year.
“I never figured I’d go this far, “Maupin said. “I was not really scared, but looked at the state meet as a whole different level. Everybody’s good and hard to work hard to get here.
“You never know if you can be great until you try, and I never knew I would be wrestling. “
The hardest part of wrestling, especially at the state tournament in his first year in the sport, was learning the plethora of technique necessary to compete at a high level.
“It was little technique things that got me, “Maupin said. “It was hard to pick up some things. I know I have the physical capacity, but I didn’t wrestle enough matches to pick up little things. “
His teammates agreed and were highly supportive of Maupin’s efforts.
“I remember that, at the first of the year, he got pinned in the first round by guys he’d pin in 20 seconds now, “Erik Lentz said of Maupin. “He’s improved so much.
“Just imagine what he could do if he had come out as a freshman, or even a junior, “Lentz said.
No one will ever know, but Maupin has no regrets.
“Four months ago, I had no idea that I would be wrestling, “Maupin said, “but it has been a whale of an experience.”
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