The letter "J" in Matt Njos' last name is silent. So, too, was the Anoka senior's celebration after winning the Class 3A state wrestling championship at 160 pounds.
"There was one hell of a smile on his face," Anoka coach Todd Springer said. "He's a humble, quiet kid."
A competitive fire burned inside, however. Rated fourth at his weight by The Guillotine wrestling magazine, Njos "considered himself No. 1," Springer said, and set out to prove as much.
Njos rolled through the first two rounds last week at Xcel Energy Center, scoring a technical fall and pin. The third-round match against Shakopee junior Owen Webster, a state champion at 152 pounds last year, called on all of Njos' "grinding, Anoka-brawler style," Springer said.
"He wrestled a real smart match," Springer said. "He kept good position and countered anything Webster tried."
A 3-2 victory sent Njos to the title match, where he "completely dominated," Springer said.
"He got a takedown right away and the three points against him were on escapes," Springer said.
Njos won 7-3, sharing the moment with his father, Matt Sr., an Anoka alum. Springer allowed the elder Njos to sit matside for his son's match.
