To my way of thinking, there isn't much wrong with Montorie Bridges.

Wyoming's 133-pound wrestling All-American is a two-time NCAA qualifier and will finish his career—which has a season-and-a-half remaining--among Cowboy leaders in wins.  He excels in the classroom, and is a member of the UW's student-athlete leadership team. What's not to like?

Well, there is one thing.

He's a Boson Red Sox fan.

At least he loves the game of baseball, so he's alright in my book despite his misguided affiliation. In fact this past summer he had an opportunity to see his beloved team play the Indians in Fenway Park.  He sat  next to the Pesky Pole in right field.  "What an experience," he says, "it was unbelievable.  I've got to get back there."

Bridges is off to another sensational start for Mark Branch's Cowboy wrestling program.  He leads the team in wins with 15, and he's already won the Reno Tournament of Champions, and finished second at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

"Montorie is an important part of our program," says Branch. "He is more than willing to use his success as a positive platform.  We count on him to represent us, the university and the athletics department all the time, and he is always willing to help.  He's quite a guy."

During the fall, Bridges was asked to represent the UW student-athletes at the Black 14 Dedication on the east side of War Memorial Stadium.  Quite an honor, but that's how highly regarded he is around here.

"It really meant a lot to me to be asked," he says.  "It was a big deal, and it was a great event for the university and for the State of Wyoming.  I was proud to share my perspective.  And, I learned some things about it that I didn't know."

Montorie is from Altus, Okla., a small town of just under 20,000. It is home to Altus Air Force Base, the United State Air For training base for C-17, KC-46 and KC-135 aircrews.  It's some 130 miles south of Oklahoma City.

Bridges is clearly proud of his hometown.

"I have great support there.  If I go to the grocery store for something quick, it ends up being 30 minutes because I run into people I know. They want to talk wrestling with me. I always want to do my best representing them.

"You know, when I came here, I was young and it was all about me trying to make my way.  As I've gotten older, I realize that being a student-athlete is bigger than me, bigger than wrestling. I believe student-athletes can influence people in so many ways, especially those who don't think they can do it.

"I had a mother from Altus contact me the other day and ask if I would speak to her sons when I come home for the Holidays.  That's a big deal to me, I love doing that!"

Growing up, Montorie loved two sports, baseball and wrestling.  Those were his two best sports because his stature didn't matter.  "Those were the two best sports for me, and I love them both.  I chose wrestling because I was better at it.

"My dad (Ulysees III) was a little league coach for both wrestling and baseball, and I think he knew my best sport would be wrestling."

It was Bridges' junior year at Altus High School when he really started to realize that wrestling was going to be the best sport for his future.  "I started winning tournaments and I was having a lot of fun," he says I realized then that wrestling was the direction I should go."

Montorie's was a two-time High School All-American and his coach (Nick Williams) was an Oklahoma State wrestling teammate of Branch.  "I had heard of him (Branch) and came to a camp here in the summer of my junior year.  After the camp my dad called coach and asked if he thought I was a Division I wrestler.  He said I was, and things moved on from there."

Cowboy assistant Teyon Ware, a well-known name in Oklahoma wrestling circles, actually recruited Montorie.  Everyone agreed that Wyoming was his best fit.

An outstanding student, Bridges studied criminal justice and has another year pursuing a master's in Public Administration. He is thinking of Law School, and would eventually like to work in federal law enforcement, a U.S. Marshall or an FBI agent.  His uncle, Tyson Robinson is a U.S. Marshall in Michigan.

"I would think about collegiate coaching too," he says.  "But to make the biggest impact on young people, I would think about coaching at the high-school level.  I want to have as big an impact on kids as possible."

Since he was a young boy, wrestling on Saturday of the NCAA Championships was his dream.

He accomplished that as a freshman, and he wants to do it again. "It's an unbelievable feeling, but when you get to Saturday you realize what elite is all about.  These guys on the final day are the best of the best.  It is amazing how talented they are.  When you get to that level, you realize that all the mental and physical grind of the season is worth it.

"Sometimes I'm not sure people understand how grueling this sport is.  The intensity of practice, the mental grind, having to lose weight while continuing to be at the top of your game is extremely difficult.  What I love about the sport is that it's all on you.  You can't blame anyone but yourself. I like that too."

Would you send your son or daughter to Wyoming?  "If they wanted to go I would absolutely encourage them to come here, to get out of their comfort zone.  The college experience is all about doing things on your own.  It's good to figure things out without your parents nearby to help.

"But my mom and dad always been there for me, which I appreciate.  I want to make them proud of me."

I'm sure that hasn't been a problem.