Chad Monteith returns to lead Darrington grapplers

Sometimes life gets in the way of life. That happened to Chad Monteith, Darringtons current wrestling coach who returns to the role after a three-year break.
As everybody knows Darrington and lumber town are synonymous. Monteith grew up in Darrington, went to Darrington High School and had become a Summit Timber employee for 13 years. You dont get much more Darrington than that.
But after his daughter was born, the schedule flexibility he was once granted under Summit, was no longer available with the new owners. So he left the company. That also meant putting his wrestling duties on hold.
But things eventually turned around. Three years ago he bought and now operates Family Video and Games. And this past June, Darrington High School Athletic Director Kim Wardwell called him and asked that he consider coaching the wrestling team again. Monteith liked the idea. He interviewed and was given the job.
Wardwell knew Monteith from previous years as head coach and also as assistant football coach a job he did for free, which Wardwell admired.
He also knows the community, Wardwell said. Hes not in it for himself. Hes really dedicated to the kids and is a very ethical person. Hes a class guy in my opinion.
This season, Monteith (who is also the assistant coach of the first-place Loggers football team) has brought some muscle with him. He has enlisted assistants Andy West, two-time state wrestling champion; and former teacher and coach Brandon Harting. The trio will govern a team Monteith said has state potential.
The first three years I coached, we were district and regional champs in two of those years, he said. Im really excited because we have a great group this year. Eleven Loggers competed in the state championships when Monteith began coaching in the 1999-2000 season. The second year saw 14 Loggers make it to state. And over the three-year period, eight placed.
Weight training is a large part of that success and the success he wants to bring to the team this year. As assistant coach for the football team, Monteith opened the weight room three nights a week and invited wrestlers to participate, too. He believes that weight training will help any program get better all around.
Monteith also wants to establish a hard work ethic, to create a unit that is willing to lift and practice beyond the three-month season.
You cant just come three months out of the year and expect to win a championship, he said. Its a year-round process. Athletes have to go to camps, go to the weight rooms and condition. Those things were a large part of the success of this years football team, he said.
But you can only push so hard. Monteith considers himself pretty easy going, never raising his voice but never submissive, either. He wants the kids to have a good experience and thats why youll never see me screaming at a kid.
He does get riled up about arch-rival Concrete High School, a team that was ranked fourth in the state last year. Darrington finished behind Concrete last season and Monteith is determined to not let that happen again.
I know Concrete will be a huge match this year, Monteith said. Im constantly talking about that, and the kids are responding.