ANDREW MATTER,
Penn State ’72, a native of Upper Darby, PA,
evolved from a 6’, 127-lb high school sophomore to a two-time
NCAA champion at 167 for Penn State. Andy lost in the ’67 PA
finals (138) to future teammate Clyde Frantz. Matter was an
unbeaten senior at 154 and won States (career 66-3). With renowned
riding and a takedown learned from Yojiro Uetake, Motter
(pronounced “Motter”) remained unbeaten into his first
NCAAs. As #2 seed he led, 8-0, in Rd 2 when a rookie mistake cost
him a 3rd period fall.
Along with three EIWA titles,
Matter swept his last 10 NCAA bouts, defeating seven
All-Americans. The #4 seed in 1971 (due to a loss to
Lehigh’s Steve Shields in the Regional qualifier after
beating Shields in the EIWA finals) Andy won a referees’
decision against him in the NCAA finals, the only time rivals met
in three straight tournament weekends. Matter’s 59-2 record
(.967) was PSU’s best until 2014; he was their first two-time
finalist and now one of six two-time champions. The family
added two more EIWA champs (sons Brett and Clinton, 9 total
titles), then in 2000 Brett created the fourth father/son
combination to win NCAA titles.