After 32 years, Westwood’s Montalvo calls it a career

27 May 2010 No Comments Mark Heller

After 32 years, six individual state championships, five knee surgeries and a handful of national expeditions, retirement prevailed by decision over Westwood wrestling coach Ed Montalvo.

Montalvo called it a teaching and coaching career after the final 26 of those years at Westwood. He also spent five years at Powell Junior High and a year in Colorado.

The chance to be with family, his knee troubles and a few financial tussles all combined forces to move Montalvo into a new direction.

He coached six kids to state championships in his career, including Daniel Mendoza in 2009 and ’10. The Warriors won a region championship in 1990.

“If we had our current format back in the late 1980s and ’90s, we would have had six or seven state championships,” he said.

Montalvo will continue to work part time with Sports Entertainment Specialists, performing guest services during events at US Airways Center and Chase Field.

He’ll also spend more time with his children and grandchildren. He recently had another major knee surgery, and complications left him inactive for a few weeks, but he said he’s back on track toward recovery.

“I’ve had a very enjoyable time for 32 years, and it’s been a pleasure working with kids, the competition,” he said. “That stuff I’ll definitely miss. Who’d think I’d take kids to wrestle in Alaska, Florida, California, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Virginia Beach? Those are the things I won’t forget.”

The family is planning on honoring Montalvo at a retirement open house on Friday from 6-9 p.m. at The Wright House (636 W. University Dr., Mesa). If current or former wrestlers cannot attend, they can send a memory/thank you note for Montalvo to: rhonda.montalvo@gmail.com.