Seth Monty's wrestling career at Mesa Mountain View has been up and down  -- in a way. A way most wrestlers wouldn't mind.

How else would one categorize placing at state three straight years and having a great chance to do it for a fourth. But Monty's personality is such that anything other than a title is coming up short. Still, he knows his final year of high school wrestling offers motivation and opportunity.

"I have a chance to do a lot of big things," Monty said. "Be the school's first four-time state placer. The first two-time state champ. Those are things I want to accomplish."

Monty's state tournament resume -- fourth at state as a freshman at 140 pounds, state champ at 140 as a sophomore and runner-up at state at 145 last year as a junior. In winning state as a sophomore he defeated North Canyon's Mark Bayer -- the opponent who beat Monty the year before for third place. Monty's done nothing but accomplish since he set foot on campus near the middle of his freshman year at Stapley Junior High. 

Mountain View coach Bob Callison envisioned Monty as a contributor for the Toros' varsity as a freshman. Monty had just completed the football season for Stapley's 9th-grade team where he was the team's defensive MVP. He weighing in at about 170 pounds. Callison wanted him to wrestle at 140 for Mountain View.

"I didn't think I could do it," Monty said. "I thought it was crazy. But I gradually dropped the weight. Wrestled at 152, then 145 and then 140. That experience was hard, but it taught me what it takes as a wrestler and a person. It was good for me in the long run."

Monty, who recently signed a letter of intent to wrestle at ASU, qualified for state as a freshman at 140 with a .500 record. He advanced to the championship semifinals and ended up wrestling for third and finished fourth. Not bad for a freshman, but ...

"Coming in as an eighth-grade state champ I expected more of myself," Monty said. "But I found it was different going to a high school (wrestling) room. I didn't accept .500. By the time I got to state I think  I'd improved. I peaked at the right time. I was able to beat some guys that beat me earlier."

The freshman campaign Monty turned in confirmed to Callison that Monty was who he thought he was. A good wrestler with a great intangible.

"He hates to lose," Callison said. "He may not be the quickest, the strongest or the most technical wrestler, But his will to win is something."

Monty doesn't disagree with Callison's assessment.

"My personality, my will to win is what drives me," Monty said. "It's the difference that's helped me win a lot of matches."

The first invitational test for Monty and the Toros comes Friday and Saturday(Dec. 7-8)  at the annual Warrior Classic at Westwood High. Monty is wreslting at 152 this year to start and likely will stay at that weight. He's prepared to be flexible. 

"If we have a dual and and there is a tough opponent at 160, I'll move up," Monty said. "Last year I was defending a state title.  People were coming after me. This year I'm on the hunt. I'm the attack dog. It hurts to talk about last year (runner-up finish). That loss won't go away. But I want a state title back"

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