Maybe it was a bad time to ask. The long wrestling season still had a week to go, and Matt Goldstein was tired. You could see it in his eyes and in his smile.
Was he going to go out for gymnastics in a couple of weeks? the Conant senior was asked after finishing third at 119 pounds in the Class AA state wrestling meet?
“Don’t tell anyone, but I don’t think so,” he said, looking like someone who needed a good meal and a nap. “I just need a break. It’s been a tough year.”
Still, the urge was too strong to resist, even after the Cougars fell just short of the Class AA dual-team wrestling title the next week.
Now it’s April, and Goldstein is back with the Cougar gymnastics team and better than ever. Last weekend, he won the all-around title at the Mundelein Invitational with a career-best 51.85, a half-point higher than what he scored when taking eighth in last spring’s state meet. He probably deserves a break, but he’s back and loving it.
“I was kind of depressed at the end of the wrestling season,” said Goldstein, who will attend Wisconsin on a wrestling scholarship. “Things didn’t go my way and it hurt. I changed my mind about gymnastics and I came in with a good attitude and I’m doing good. I felt I owed it to my coach, Mr. (Ed) Raymond, and the team. I’ve got some confidence and feel comfortable.”
He has been successful in both sports. As a freshman gymnast, he finished second at state in floor exercise, was fourth in the same event as a sophomore and second again last year. On the mat, he was a state champion at 103 as a sophomore, second at 112 as a sophomore and third at 119 in February.
Gymnastics was his first sport, starting as a 3-year-old. He added judo and wrestling in grade school and won a pair of junior-high state wrestling titles. Wrestling won the battle for his affections, but he still competed in gymnastics and wrestling when he entered Conant.
After winning a state championship, Goldstein became a major-college wrestling recruit. When he signed with Wisconsin, his gymnastics days became numbered. He’s enjoying his last season.
“I can relax a lot more in gymnastics. It’s not as strenuous and I’m not as competitive with it. When I’m out there, I try to do the best that I can. It’s more for fun than competitiveness.”
Raymond was happy to welcome Goldstein back. The two have had a great relationship over the years with Raymond allowing Goldstein to wrestle freestyle during gymnastics season. With Goldstein on the team, the Cougars are among the favorites in the Mid-Suburban League. They also have a chance to finish in the top three at the state meet.
“With Matt in there, you automatically add 10 points to the team total,” said Raymond, who is nominating Goldstein for the national high school gymnastics championship.
Having Goldstein on the team is a plus for the program. His techniques are excellent and a great example for the younger gymnasts. Being a part-time gymnast does have its limitations, and Raymond has been flexible.
“He’s a tremendous help,” said Raymond. “A lot of times he’ll help the other kids. They sit and watch him. He’s a real positive. The detrimental part of it is I have to con him to do certain things. He’s making compromises and I’m making compromises. If he were an athlete that was going to go on to the next level, there would be a whole different attitude.”
Goldstein has limited his wrestling this spring. He won’t compete again until the gymnastics season is over. He’ll wrestle in the Espoir (19-and-under) Nationals at Purdue in May and the Junior Olympics in North Dakota in July. He’s all gymnastics until then.
His best events are floor exercise, vault and rings, and he is a definite contender in each. He is improving in his weaker events and should challenge in all-around.
“I’d like to see a state championship,” he said. “I’d like to end my high school career with first place in something. I don’t think that’s out of reach. I think our team can be up there too. We should be in the top three.”
He doesn’t seem so tired now.
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