When Matthew was around, everyone was happy.

Matthew is the somebody that made everybody feel like a somebody. He gave the best hugs that would last for would seem like a lifetime. He had the biggest heart and always knew you were loved by him.

During wrestling, Matthew was probably the best coach, during the warm up before all my matches. Matthew's the one who critiqued me and taught me all the fine details, the ones that mattered and if the actual coaches weren't there, he was the one in the chair yelling louder than ANYONE at the tournament.

He was like an older brother to me. Always protective of who I dated or who I hung out with and he always called me "kid" or "kiddo".

He was the most loving, outgoing, inspirational, passionate, funny, fun, his attitude was always contagious, happy or sad. Matthew made everyone feel special and loved, it was his super power.

Matthew was one of my best friends and will always and forever be missed. 

There was no one at school who was happier to see me than Matthew.

Matthew would always call me Manny "the Ghost" Fernandez because I missed a couple of practices.

The best way to end practice was always by Matthew's side.

Our car rides home where the best, but no one had worse music than Matthew! 

I will always love Matthew, my brother. 

Matthew was an inspriation, a friend, family, an everything to exist in the most positive way. Although I only met him this year, I am still proud to know that he left a good man and that he will never be forgotten by me and by others. He was the most respectful, humble, responsible, hard working, loving man, and I will always respect him.

He shall be remembered! 

Matthew always told me he was gonna be team captain.

My favorite memory of Matthew was when Dutch Bros had just opened. He was telling me how the coffee was just a dollar. I asked him if he was willing to drive there if I could get Mrs. Perttu to allow us. I knew right away he would say yes because he was the most outgoing kid I knew. Him & I begged Mrs. Perttu to let us go & we came to the agreement that if we got her one then we could go. 

Matthew & I ran full sprint to his truck because we didn't want to be late to practice. But when we got there the line went all the way to Safeway. Matthew turned to me and said "are you ready for some sprints big boy?". When I asked "why?" he said first of all ,we are going to be so late; second, when coaches catch us drinking coffee we are screwed.

When we finally got in line Matthew made friends with everyone around us and two different people offered to pay for his drinks. We ended up getting our drinks for free, coming into practice late and no sprints! 

Matthew. Everyone was well aware when Matthew entered the room. Such a strong personality. If you were having a bad or boring day you weren't any more with Matthew around. He made me laugh every single day.

He was coachable, he wanted to better himself. He was constantly asking how he could improve, constantly asking questions to have a full understanding. He thanked me and shook my hand after a hard practice.

Matthew was my friend and I'm 33, he was 17. Always smiling and laughing, his love for life couldn't be contained, everyone knew it. We shared a joke and a laugh daily. He was tough! Could push himself when he was fatigued. He would pray for the team before dual meets. It became a ritual, everyone loved it, made them confident and secure.

Matthew was a very good influence on many. He took charge when needed, a natural leader. Once he ran a practice when the varsity was gone - he wasn't supposed to but I was still proud of him.

I felt like he liked being around me and I equally liked being around him. We had a great relationship . He was growing into a man, maturing, he would have been great. He enjoyed the challenge of wrestling me - he kept coming back for more. It was awesome

Matthew was a good, honest man. He did not care what you thought about him. His focus was what came next. He cared about all and loved everyone.

I never saw someone like Matthew walk into a room and have everyone turn and look and instantly know he was going to make some joke that made everybody laugh. I don't remember a time when he wasn't smiling and would stop talking abou Lizzy. His heart was pure and his soul a bright and shining star. Matthew is someone everyone should look up to and strive to be.

I have known Matthew since the 6th grade and have played football or wrestled with him. He always hated sprints but he did them for the team and to make him better. We never fully got along with each other but we respected each other and had a bond nobody else can have with another person. 

I loved him like he was my brother, and in the end he was and will forever be my brother. I play for him. I hit for him. And I run and race for Matthew Albrecht. Everything I do will be because it is what he would do.

I'm not a guy to talk about how I feel but I haven't slept since Friday night. I can't stop thinking about him and how different school is now that he is gone. We all miss him and wish we could hear him down the road and see him running after Austin Reed and Braden Sinn.

My favorite memory with Matthew is actually two memories.

The first is every tournament/meet for wrestling me, Zac, and Matthew would go to Taco Bell and split the bill.

Then there was the time when he messed up his shoulder and had me drive his truck "Frank". And the next day we tried to bring it home and it died by the Markum Inn. We sat there for an hour trying to get that thing started. Eventually we had to fact the fact...he just needed a new truck. But he wouldn't give up on it. And, sure enough, he got that thing going again!

' Merica ! 

Matthew was always kind and treated others with respect. He was always nice to me and was my friend when no one else was.

I remember last year I was at a Redbox with my mom. I was telling her about how I had no friends. Then while I was putting the movie back Matthew waslked out of the McDonald's and stood by me and talked to me. It doesn't seem like much but it was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.

Matthew was my role model - his mother should be really proud of him 

One day I came into scool crying andMatthew told me to come sit down by him and he asked what happened and I explained the long fight me and my parents got in before school and he told me that they still loved me and that everything was going to be okay and gave me a big hug and it made me feel so much better and he just let me sit with him until I had to go to class.

On instagram I posted a picture of my friends saying that they were the best people you will ever meet. And Matthew's response was "...except of course the Silverton Wrestling Team..." but I thought of Matthew as my family not as a friend
 

Since 4th grade. That's how long I knew you, Matt. You were my first best friend, and a good one at that. I thank you for so much. From the time that you were only allowed one piece of candy, so you got a lollipop larger than your face, to when you did the "Hobo Buffet" at your birthday party. I have seven years worth of stories, great memories, and sad times. I remember Lummi Island. I remember you having to stay at my house for a night or two, or just for the rest of the day when things were hard for your family and stuff was going on. I will never forget you, Matthew. Never.

I thought this site had a "blog" feature but whatever.

*WOW* I always wanted to know under what circumstances that was shared. Maybe we oughta make that "Matthew's Song" ? 
 

I remember when we were all sitting around the fire this summer, and Chrissi dropped her hotdog in the fire, and then everyone started singing the ring of fire. And that's how I found out what the ring of fire was. Matthew kept asking for me to take pictures of him because he wanted to try to look like Captain Morgan. And we all had such a great time that night