State Champ: Wrestler Maia Matalon

While the wrestling team at Albany High has been extremely successful for many years, no Cougar wrestler has risen to the level of state champion.

Until now.

At the California Girls’ Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, January 27, team captain Maia Matalon became the first woman at Albany High, and the first Cougar wrestler ever, to win a state championship. Matalon is the first wrestler since Tyrone Rose, who won second place at the boys’ state tournament, to make it this far. Matalon was seeded second, so she wasn’t expected to win. But her fierce determination and skill, along with the help of her friends, family, and coaches, led her to victory.

When asked about the finals match, Matalon said that it was very scary. All eyes were on her, and the intense match lasted for six minutes, much longer than her first round pin, which lasted only a minute-and-a-half. Although the competition was fierce, she won the match 12-5, beating the girl who was seeded first in the state.

The next step for Matalon is the Girls’ National Tournament, which takes place in Michigan at the end of March.

Regarding Nationals, Matalon said, “I am excited and I hope I will get good matches and see some good wrestling.”

So if you see Matalon in the halls, take a second to congratulate Albany High’s very own state champion.

Come support the rest of the team at the final home meet of the season against Marin Catholic on Tuesday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m.

18 Responses

1. 8:07 PM on February 5th, 2007albany wrestler:

   wrestling is not a sport!

2. 10:30 AM on February 6th, 2007a fan:

   maia you own! what a savage

3. 11:11 AM on February 6th, 2007Wrestling Fan:

   YAAAAAY MAIA! Congrats!

4. 10:46 PM on February 6th, 2007someone:

   says maia is a BEAST

5. 7:49 AM on February 7th, 2007ay:

   “albany wrestler” ur a hella dumb how is it not a sport

6. 10:22 PM on February 7th, 2007albany wrestler:

   cause its a bunch of people throwing eachother to the ground. is that a sport? nope, football is a sport

7. 2:48 PM on February 8th, 2007Anonymous:

   maia does own.

8. 3:27 PM on February 8th, 2007persone:

   maia is cool

9. 9:56 AM on February 9th, 2007larz:

   savage. beast.

10. 11:37 AM on February 9th, 2007anonymous:

    i thought maia isn’t even on the varsity team

11. 9:01 PM on February 15th, 2007anonymous2:

    When it comes to AHS girls’ wrestling, Maia IS the varsity team.

12. 8:41 AM on February 16th, 2007soccer, track and swimming:

    aren’t sports either, they’re fitness activities

13. 2:28 PM on March 5th, 2007unknown:

    wow she is like the best girl wrestler at albany i think!

    ive been watching her ever since she was in 9th

14. 2:29 PM on March 5th, 2007unknown:

    how can she play if she has a broke leg?

    good luck Maia!!!

15. 2:56 PM on March 8th, 2007washed up hasbin:

    beast finally something good in albany sports

16. 10:03 PM on March 28th, 2007Hello world! « Maia the Wrestler:

    [...] Hello world! [...]

17. 8:20 PM on March 28th, 2008Thomas:

    I love John Cena could I see him at my house Becuse I could give you my address 3216 clark ave.

18. 9:00 PM on June 16th, 2008Anonymous:

    Wrestling is a sport and ur just mad at ur life cause ur a dork and maia is a BEAST!

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