2008 All Star West
Matt Armstrong
Defensive Line
6’2″ 290 lbs
High School Coach: Dan Boggan
High School, Class: Lansing J.W. Sexton, A
College: Grand Valley State University
Matt was a three-year varsity starter. He played a different offensive position, right tackle, left tackle, right guard each of his three years and was all conference at each position. In his junior season, Matt was a two-way starter and played nose tackle on defense recording 45 tackles and 3 sacks. In his senior year he recorded 85 tackles and 13 sacks. Matt was a two year captain, voted best lineman two years in a row, led his team to the Regional Playoff Finals for the first time in 17 years and was voted team MVP in his senior year.
Matt earned four varsity letters in track and was a member of the Region 2 State Outdoor Championship Team in 2005. Matt twice earned all state honors for shot put and discus. In 2008, he won the MITS Indoor State Championship in shot put breaking T.J. Ducket’s state record throw set in 1999. Matt holds the school record in shot put and is ranked in the top five nationally.
“I would like to thank all of my coaches who pushed me to work harder and be the best I could be during my four years of high school. I want to give a special thank you to Coach Lyle McFadden who was the person that got me to get up out of bed in the mornings to work out, lift weights and believe in myself right from the beginning of my freshman year. Coach Lyle has been with me through the good times and the not so good times but he has never wavered in his support and belief in me. I also want to thank my family for their support, especially my mom who never missed a game and all of the teammates I’ve had over the last four years. It’s been a great experience I’ll never forget.”
Matt will attend Grand Valley State University on an athletic scholarship where he will play football and throw shot put for the Lakers.
Awards
All Capital Area Athletic Conference 1st Team, 05, 06 & 07
All Area Dream Team, Lansing State Journal, 06 & 07
All State Honorable Mention, AP, 2006
All State 1st Team, AP & Detroit Free Press, 2007
Michigan Great 8 Nominee Defensive Lineman, 2007