The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG-Monte Pettichord attends Waitsburg High School, Home of the Cardinals, and played his high school sports career with the DW Combine Wolfpack. The senior has signed a letter of intent to play college football at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande, Oregon. The EOU Mountaineers play in the NAIA division. The Mountaineers finished their 2022 season with a win and a 2-9 record.

Pettichord began playing football in the fifth grade and was given a chance to play quarterback as an eighth grader. Mid-season, in his freshman year of high school, Pettichord earned the position of starting quarterback. He continued in that position throughout high school, earning a second-team award one season and an honorable mention in another. He also received first team All-League awards as a safety for two years.

Pettichord was offered athletic and academic scholarships and will seek a business degree at EOU. After college, Monte would love to go pro. He knows he has work to do before that can happen and will see what the future holds for him.

The senior was recruited to play quarterback on offense and safety on defense for EOU and was asked by the head football coach Tim Camp to come to a team workout. As one of the 2023 signees, Pettichord is highlighted on the EOU athletic website at tinyurl.com/Pettichord.

"Monte comes from a great HS program and played multiple positions for Waitsburg, including quarterback. He will add athleticism to the EOU football team accompanied with a rare football IQ," posted by the EOU coaching staff.Monte said his goal for playing college football is to get stronger, faster, and have fun playing. He knows it will be a new level of competition and is excited about the opportunity.

He follows notable Waitsburg High school graduate Zach Bartlow who played quarterback for EOU from 2012 to 2015. Bartlow was named Offensive Player of the Year for 2015 in his last season as a Mountaineer.

A multi-sport athlete, Pettichord contributed to the success of the DW combine's basketball and baseball programs. He started in T-ball and played little league baseball through fifth grade. During his sophomore year in high school, he received a second team All-League award in baseball.

Playing basketball since the fifth grade, his skills as point guard helped his high school team to a State 2B appearance. In his senior year, he received a second team All-League award and an honorable mention in his junior year.

Pettichord thanked Coaches Larsen and Ramirez for always pushing him and helping him to become a better athlete and person.

Coach Larsen said his favorite trait about Monte is he was never satisfied. He always wanted to improve individually in his position while improving the team.

Larsen is excited to make the two-hour drive to LaGrande, Oregon, on Saturdays to watch and support Monte play at EOU, but more excited to see what this great young man will do in the classroom and on the field for the Mounties. He will make Waitsburg proud!