ATHLETIC SUCCESSES:
Matthew began playing Team Handball in 1989, after graduating from college. He attended Long Island University on a basketball scholarship after being named the New York State Basketball Player of the Year in 1984. He was on the Team Handball National Team from 1989-1996, competing in three Pan American Championships four World Championships, two Goodwill Games and three sports festivals (winning two gold medals). He was the captain of the National Team from 1992-1996. He still plays for a club handball team and is a three-time U.S. Player of the Year and 2001 California State Champion.

CAREER PATH:
While living and training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Matthew worked at the Marriott as a "Jack of All Trades." He then took a job with Home Depot, where he worked as a salesman through the 1996 Olympic Games. After the Games, he worked with USA Team Handball as a Program Director before taking a job with a publishing company in advertising sales. For the past two years, he has worked with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta as a Senior Director of Program Services.

MATTHEW'S WORDS OF WISDOM:
"Prepare, prepare, prepare. If you haven't, you will fall into an abyss of depression and it will take some time to recuperate."

"The harder you work, the luckier you will get. Don't rest on sport, but on your full character to take you through life and all it has to offer."