On a night where multiple four-time state champions were crowned at the state wrestling tournament, Cooper Mathews took the first leg of that possible journey by winning as a freshman.
Mathews had a phenomenal debut season in high school for Cherokee Trail, capped by an absolutely dominant performance that yielded the Class 5A state championship at 106 pounds with his 8-0 victory over Ponderosa’s Jeremiah Waldschmidt Saturday night at Ball Arena.
The win cemented Mathews’ spot in Cherokee Trail program history, as he joined Derek Glenn Jr. and Sam Hart — who both won in 2020 — as state champions.
“Of course it makes me think about the future — state next year and the years following — but I’ve got to keep going and I can’t get too big of a head,” Mathews said of starting down a path towards being a possible four-time state champion.
Cherokee Trail has never had a two-time state champion — Glenn Jr. lost in the state finals in 2021 and 2022 after he won the 106-pound title in 2020 and Hart, who lost in the finals as a sophomore before he won the 220-pound crown as a junior, left school early to join the Ohio State football program and didn’t wrestle as a senior — but Mathews got started on what could be a stellar career.
In four matches at the state tournament, Mathews (50-6) didn’t allow a single takedown as he won his first two matches by technical fall (20-3 over Legend’s Isack Doumbouya in the first round and 16-0 over Eaglecrest’s Blake Saddler in the quarterfinals), followed by a 10-1 major decision of Pomona’s Logan Dellow in the semifinals. All four of the points surrendered in those matches came when he cut his opponent loose after a takedown.
Mathews capped his tournament with an 8-0 domination of Waldschmidt, who prevented an all-Aurora final (as predicted by On The Mat) when he edged Grandview freshmen JR Ortega by two points in the semifinals. Mathews said he had trained with Waldschmidt a few years ago, but hadn’t faced him since.
“I kindof knew his style, but it had been awhile since we wrestled,” he said. “I got the first takedown late in the first period to set the tone. When I get the first takedown, it settles my nerves and helps me get in the zone.”
He took bottom to start the second period, immediately escaped and upped his lead to 5-0 with another takedown. Mathews never up until the final whistle for his 21st straight victory since his last loss, which came at the Rockwell Rumble in Utah in early January.
“I didn’t give up a takedown and I won every single match with bonus points, so that’s what you want in every single tournament,” Mathews said. “It doesn’t always work like that, but I’ve been working for that moment for a long time now.”
Added Cherokee Trail coach Jeff Buck: “The sky’s the limit for Cooper. …We are so lucky to have him in the program. For his maturity as a freshman, holy cow. He just works hard, he’s hungry and he loves to compete.”
Mathews gave a lot of credit to his older brother, Chance, for helping him get to the level he’s reached. Chance Mathews, a junior, very nearly earned a spot on championship night himself, but he lost in the 138-pound semifinals and went on to place fourth.
“I give him a lot of credit, he has helped me with a lot of positions and he was there matside coaching me,” Mathews said. “Hopefully we’ll both be in the finals next year.”
The Mathews were one of two sets of brothers to place for the Cougars, as senior Jay Everhart placed fourth at 126 pounds, while his sophomore brother, Ryan, finished sixth at 144 pounds.
Buck was thrilled with his team’s seventh-place finish — as Cherokee Trail ended up just three points behind Eaglecrest for sixth — with the Mathews brothers, Ryan Everhart and junior Matteo Garreffa (sixth at 190 pounds) expected back along with others.
“This sets the bar pretty high, but we’re excited for the future,” Buck said. “We’re very blessed.”
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter/X: @aurorasports. IG: Sentinel Prep Sports
