Class of 2023

Naperville (Neuqua Valley) Wrestler

Matthew Collum started his wrestling career at the age of five wrestling for the Lemont Bears, Lockport Grapplers, Fox Valley, and eventually the Martinez Fox Valley Elite Wrestling Club. While competing for Coach Jose Martinez, Matt was a three-time IKWF State place winner and won two IKWF State Championships.

Moving on to high school, Matt competed for Hall of Fame Coach Keith Healy at Providence Catholic during his freshman year, then moved on to Neuqua Valley High School, where he competed his remaining three years for another Hall of Fame Coach, Mick Ruettiger. Overall, his record in high school was 182 -16, and he was a threetime IHSA state place winner, finishing in 3rd place twice and winning the 119 lb State Title his senior year. Before Matt moved on to college, he also was a 2-time Fargo All American, including a finals appearance, and also captured a Senior National Championship.

Matt’s college wrestling career included stops at Iowa Central, Old Dominion, Oklahoma State, and Missouri Baptist. Matt was coached by some of the biggest names in the business including Luke Moffitt, Steve Martin, John Smith and Brian Jackson to name a few. All together in his college career, he won a NJCAA National Championship, and was a 3-time All-American. Post College, Matt also experienced success, as he placed 4th twice at the Senior Level Northern Plains WTT Qualifier, and he also competed in the U.S. Open, the NYAC Tournament, and the Dave Schultz International Tournament.

After his competitive career came to a close, Matt turned his attention to coaching. He was at Timberland HS in MO serving as an assistant and eventually head coach from 2012 until 2018, where his team’s finished 3rd in the State twice. He then served as an assistant coach at Neuqua Valley for a season, until he landed at Loyola Academy where he was named head coach in 2019. Matt has produced 52 state qualifiers, 24 place winners, 1 state champion, and was named Chicago Catholic League “Tony Lawless” Coach of the Year in 2022. Matt was also inducted into the Neuqua Valley Hall of Fame in 2021.