Indiana University Athletics
Cooper Brothers Lead the Way
12/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
One is a three-time NCAA qualifier and potential All-American, ranked No. 5 in the nation. The other is a potential future NCAA qualifier and All-American. Together, they represent the present and future of the Indiana wrestling team.
They are Coyte and Matt Cooper. Brothers with the same determination and will to win, separated only by their age - three years.
"They are the type of kids you want in your program because they give you great effort," said Indiana head coach Duane Goldman.
As Coyte began his sophomore season at IU, Matt joined him in Bloomington, moving from Anacortes, Wash., and wrestling for Bloomington South.
"I moved here my senior year in high school," said Matt. "Coyte was here, and I had some things going on at home with my high school team."
With the Cooper brothers watching each other every chance they got, they each turned in spectacular seasons. Coyte qualified for the NCAA Championship for the second time in as many years, finishing as Indiana's top winner at the Big Ten Championship, taking third at 141 pounds.
Meanwhile, Matt closed out his high school career placing fourth at the 2002 Indiana state meet. It was an early indication of how successful the two could be feeding off of each other.
Last season, their first ever as teammates, Coyte enjoyed his finest season, closing the year with a 38-5 overall record and a 24-1 mark in dual meets. He advanced to the NCAA Championship for the third straight year, falling just shy of All-America honors.
Coyte's success appeared to rub off on Matt, who wrestled the entire season, a rarity for true freshmen. He picked up 17 wins on the season, 10 in dual matches, and gained a vast amount of experience that most true freshmen can only hope for.
"He helps me a lot," said Matt. "He pushes me, and I push him. We give each other advice and try and make each other better. When I go out on the mat, having him there helps a lot. We kind of do the same for each other."
Thus far this season, Coyte is well on his way to another berth into the NCAA Tournament. The fifth-year senior is 16-0 with eight pins and three major decisions. Ranked fifth in the country at 141 pounds, he has captured individual titles at the season-opening Missouri Open and the Northern Iowa Open.
"Coyte has the potential to win the national tournament this year," said Goldman. "He has been one of the most solid and consistent performers we have ever had here. He's a great team leader. He really leads by example, is a hard-worker, a good student and a tremendous guy to have on our team."
Things have not gone as smoothly for Matt. Wrestling at 157 pounds, the sophomore opened the season at the Missouri Open splitting his first two matches before suffering an injury from which he has not yet returned.
"Matt is an equally hard-worker and very dedicated kid," said Goldman. "He stepped in last year as a true freshman and did a very good job for us. We look forward to him getting back so he can continue to progress. He's an extremely dedicated individual and a good student as well."
That hard work and dedication have him on track to return shortly after the New Year at the Buckeye Duals on Jan. 3.
Today, both Coopers have found their niche on the wrestling mat, but it didn't appear they were always headed in that direction.
"I didn't like wrestling when I was younger," said Matt. "In high school, I finally started liking it. Coyte was doing it since he was five. I came around later and have been doing it ever since."
While the success of an accomplished family member may steer some away from following in their footsteps, that is not the case with the Coopers. In addition to being each other's biggest supporters on the mat, the two are inseparable off it as well.
"He's one of my best friends," said Matt. "We live together and pretty much do everything together."
Coyte echoed the same sentiments.
"We spend a lot of time together playing video games and having fun," Coyte said. "He's like a best friend around all the time."
They hope their friendship on and off the mat will help push them to reach unlimited heights. When Matt returns to the mat, he will strengthen the Hoosier lineup just in time for the rugged Big Ten season. And Coyte will try and reach his fourth consecutive NCAA Championship and earn All-America honors for the first time.
"I think he should have been an All-American the last three years," said Matt. "This is his year. He definitely has the right attitude and is off to a great start."
And if he does reach All-America status, Matt will be right there by his side the entire way.
They are Coyte and Matt Cooper. Brothers with the same determination and will to win, separated only by their age - three years.
"They are the type of kids you want in your program because they give you great effort," said Indiana head coach Duane Goldman.
As Coyte began his sophomore season at IU, Matt joined him in Bloomington, moving from Anacortes, Wash., and wrestling for Bloomington South.
"I moved here my senior year in high school," said Matt. "Coyte was here, and I had some things going on at home with my high school team."
With the Cooper brothers watching each other every chance they got, they each turned in spectacular seasons. Coyte qualified for the NCAA Championship for the second time in as many years, finishing as Indiana's top winner at the Big Ten Championship, taking third at 141 pounds.
Meanwhile, Matt closed out his high school career placing fourth at the 2002 Indiana state meet. It was an early indication of how successful the two could be feeding off of each other.
Last season, their first ever as teammates, Coyte enjoyed his finest season, closing the year with a 38-5 overall record and a 24-1 mark in dual meets. He advanced to the NCAA Championship for the third straight year, falling just shy of All-America honors.
Coyte's success appeared to rub off on Matt, who wrestled the entire season, a rarity for true freshmen. He picked up 17 wins on the season, 10 in dual matches, and gained a vast amount of experience that most true freshmen can only hope for.
"He helps me a lot," said Matt. "He pushes me, and I push him. We give each other advice and try and make each other better. When I go out on the mat, having him there helps a lot. We kind of do the same for each other."
Thus far this season, Coyte is well on his way to another berth into the NCAA Tournament. The fifth-year senior is 16-0 with eight pins and three major decisions. Ranked fifth in the country at 141 pounds, he has captured individual titles at the season-opening Missouri Open and the Northern Iowa Open.
"Coyte has the potential to win the national tournament this year," said Goldman. "He has been one of the most solid and consistent performers we have ever had here. He's a great team leader. He really leads by example, is a hard-worker, a good student and a tremendous guy to have on our team."
Things have not gone as smoothly for Matt. Wrestling at 157 pounds, the sophomore opened the season at the Missouri Open splitting his first two matches before suffering an injury from which he has not yet returned.
"Matt is an equally hard-worker and very dedicated kid," said Goldman. "He stepped in last year as a true freshman and did a very good job for us. We look forward to him getting back so he can continue to progress. He's an extremely dedicated individual and a good student as well."
That hard work and dedication have him on track to return shortly after the New Year at the Buckeye Duals on Jan. 3.
Today, both Coopers have found their niche on the wrestling mat, but it didn't appear they were always headed in that direction.
"I didn't like wrestling when I was younger," said Matt. "In high school, I finally started liking it. Coyte was doing it since he was five. I came around later and have been doing it ever since."
While the success of an accomplished family member may steer some away from following in their footsteps, that is not the case with the Coopers. In addition to being each other's biggest supporters on the mat, the two are inseparable off it as well.
"He's one of my best friends," said Matt. "We live together and pretty much do everything together."
Coyte echoed the same sentiments.
"We spend a lot of time together playing video games and having fun," Coyte said. "He's like a best friend around all the time."
They hope their friendship on and off the mat will help push them to reach unlimited heights. When Matt returns to the mat, he will strengthen the Hoosier lineup just in time for the rugged Big Ten season. And Coyte will try and reach his fourth consecutive NCAA Championship and earn All-America honors for the first time.
"I think he should have been an All-American the last three years," said Matt. "This is his year. He definitely has the right attitude and is off to a great start."
And if he does reach All-America status, Matt will be right there by his side the entire way.
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