Lemont State Champ Matt Leibforth joins DII power St. Cloud State

[admin]

Lemont High School senior Matt Leibforth, one of the most decorated wrestlers in school history, has signed a National Letter-of-Intent to wrestle at St. Cloud State University beginning next season.

Leibforth was a trailblazer for head coach John St. Clair’s wrestling program, achieving a number of program firsts in his storied career. A four-time IHSA Regional champion, Leibforth advanced to the IHSA Wrestling Individual State Finals three consecutive years, becoming the first Lemont wrestler to do so. He twice finished among the top three in his class at the IHSA State Finals, and capped his career by becoming the school’s first-ever undefeated state champion in 2010. Over his four years, Leibforth collected a 157-17 mark, won at least 32 matches each year, and improved upon his win total each season. A two-time champion in his weight class in the South Suburban Conference, as well as a two-time IHSA Sectional titlist, Leibforth won half the matches in his career by fall, totalling 78 pins in four seasons.

Leibforth was spectacular as a senior, finishing with a 45-0 record and as the 135-pound champion in the IHSA Class 2A State Finals. A conference, regional and sectional champion in his weight class, he also won all three of his matches in the IHSA Wrestling Dual Team State Finals, as the Indians placed third in the event, their best finish ever. Of Leibforth’s 45 victories, 24 came via a pin. He teamed with Angel Cabral (285 pounds) to become the first set of teammates in school history to win state titles in the same season in any sport. Lemont also won the SSC team crown in 2010.

He gave a preview of his terrific 2009-10 campaign as a junior, when he was 41-5 and finished third in the 135-pound class at the 2009 IHSA Class 2A State Finals. Leibforth won his third straight IHSA Regional title, and also captured his first IHSA Sectional crown. He helped Lemont to its first-ever berth to the IHSA Wrestling Class 2A Dual Team State Finals, and paired up with Cabral (285) and Andrew Mason (103) to become the first Lemont trio to all place in the same IHSA Wrestling Individual State Finals. Of his 41 wins, 21 were by fall.

At the 125-pound weight class in 2007-08, Leibforth went 39-4 with 21 pins. He earned his second IHSA Regional title, as well as his first SSC title. He advanced out of the IHSA Sectional round to his first IHSA Wrestling Individual State Finals, doing so in the final year of the IHSA’s two-class system. As a freshman in 2006-07, he helped Lemont to an SSC title by going 32-8 at the 112-pound weight class. He won his first of four consecutive IHSA Regional titles that season as well.

An honor roll performer, Leibforth will join head coach Steve Costanzo’s squad at St. Cloud State, which is located in St. Cloud, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Huskies have become one of the nation’s top NCAA Division II programs under Costanzo’s direction. St. Cloud State was seventh at the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championship, matching its best finish ever, with four Huskies earning All-America honors. The team advanced eight wrestlers in all to the 2010 NCAA Championship, was 14-7 overall, and ranked among the nation’s top five teams during the 2009-10 campaign. In Costanzo’s four seasons, the Huskies have totalled 10 NCAA Division II All-America performers, and have placed among the top eight teams at the NCAA Championship the last two years.

This article is courtesy of the Lemont High School Newspaper.

[Lemont Fan]

Leibs is a hard worker and has made Lemont proud on every level of wrestling. My kids Wrestle for the Lemont Bears and they look up to Leibs as a wrestler. Its great motivation for the kids to know they have an UNDEFEATED STATE CHAMPION who wrestles in the same room as they do. Coach St. Claire and his staff are great coaches that without a doubt will create more state champs in the future. Also I believe the article is wrong too, It wasnt Mason who placed with Liebs and Angel it was Latanski.

[Caveman]

Matt, congrats I am sure you will do well in Minn. It has been a pleasure knowing you and your dad for the many years we have. I will be following your exploits and I am sure your dad will keep me informed.

Remember to bring the fishing gear.

Bill Klaver