August Miller, UVU Marketing

Matt Findlay was born in Las Vegas, but often moved as a kid. He came to Utah when he was 8 years old and found a home in Draper. Around that time, Findlay heard about wrestling. He thought it would involve learning how to break two-by-fours over people’s heads and hit people with steel chairs like on World Wrestling Entertainment, so he decided to take up the sport.

“Wrestling turned out to be different than I thought it was going to be, obviously, but it was a great experience,” Findlay said. “I love how wrestling is individual in nature.” While the sport involves teamwork, as the athletes train with a group of about 30 others and build close relationships, wrestlers compete one-on-one.

“There’s nowhere to hide — it’s just you and your skills,” Findlay said. “I’ve loved learning how to be comfortable in vulnerable moments and how to develop the individual competence required to succeed.”

Findlay was a successful wrestler in high school, and he was recruited to wrestle for several different colleges. But ultimately, a competitive scholarship offer persuaded him to attend UVU.

He also was drawn to UVU’s supportive environment. Since UVU is the only university in Utah with an official wrestling team, there is a strong fanbase made up of faculty, students and the community. UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez is one of the team’s top supporters, and she stays involved by cheering on the team at almost every meet.

August Miller, UVU Marketing

“I was grateful that there was a support network in athletics as well as academics,” Findlay said. “People wanted me to succeed, and I felt that from day one.”

Findlay pursued the pre-med track at UVU. While pre-med programs across the nation are notorious for cutthroat, backbiting environments, Findlay experienced a sense of teamwork — not unlike the support he received while wrestling — in his classes at UVU.

“The faculty would support you and get you where you wanted to go if you were willing to do your part,” he said. “They had relationships with outside private companies and other institutions that could give me research or other leadership opportunities. I had access to everything I needed.”

Now, Findlay is married with two kids and studying at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He has four more years of medical school, and then he will train in neurosurgery. He has always felt compelled to pursue surgery since surgeons helped him overcome numerous injuries throughout his athletic journey. He plans to complete a seven-year residency and a one-year fellowship in the future.

Findlay’s favorite motto in the wrestling world is: “Embrace the grind.”

“I feel like that’s something UVU instilled in me — to embrace the grind of life and to keep moving forward despite adversity.” Findlay has enjoyed applying these skills to his medical studies after UVU,” he said. “If I could go back, I would not change my experiences. UVU got me exactly what I needed, and it developed me as a person in a way that I wouldn’t trade for any other opportunity. I’m proud to have been a Wolverine.”

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