Matt Atwood joined the Argo family in December of 2020 after serving as the head coach of Midland University for three seasons. In his tenure with the Warriors, they finished inside the top 10 nationally each year. In his time at UP Atwood has produced 13 All-Americans, a National Champion, and his teams have been ranked in the top 10 nationally two of his three seasons.
In his first season as the Argo head coach, Atwood navigated the team through the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually bringing nine student-athletes to the NAIA National Tournament. Atwood had two wrestlers achieve All-American status with Ivy Navarro finishing as the national runner-up and Ira Navarro placing fifth in the country.
In 2021-2022 Atwood’s team placed seventh nationally with five All-Americans. The seventh-place finish was the highest in school history and the five All-Americans were a new program record.
101 Ivy Navarro – National Runner-Up
101 Ira Navarro – 6th
116 Ashley Gooman – 4th
136 Paige Respicio – 4th
155 Sadie Antoque – 4th
In 2022-2023 the Argos set a new program record with six All-Americans. Ira Navarro won the first National Championship in program history taking home the gold at 101. UP would also finish fifth nationally for the highest team finish in school history. The Argos also placed fifth in the country at National Duals which is the best in program history.
101 Ira Navarro – National Champion
101 Erin Hikiji – National Runner-Up
116 Ashley Gooman – 3rd
130 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp 4th
136 Paige Respicio-7th
191 Lexi Tupuola-8th
In 2023-2024 the Argos added five All-Americans and finished seventh nationally. The Argos also placed fourth in the country at National Duals which is the best in program history.
101 Erin Hikiji – National Runner-Up
109 Paige Morales - 4th
136 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp - 3rd
130 Alyssa Randles - 6th
155 Sadie Antoque - 7th
In 2024-2025 the Argos added three All-Americans and the second National Champion in program history with junior Erin Hikiji winning the gold at 103. The Argos finished sixth nationally at the NAIA National Champinoships and placed third in the country at National Duals which is the best in program history.
103 Erin Hikiji – National Champion
110 Paige Morales - 3rd
138 Waipuilani Estrella-Beauchamp - National Runner-Up
Matt enjoys pretty much everything related to the outdoors including hunting, fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking and more. He also enjoys woodworking and spending time with his wife Breanna who is an oncology nurse here in Great Falls.
