Whenever Petersburg needed a spark or a clutch basket this past season, they called upon Matt Mongold.

"He's been a true leader on the floor for us, said Vikings assistant basketball coach Todd Heare. "He's been a team captain all year long. He's stepped up in big moments when we needed a big shot. He's a known three-point shooter, an excellent foul shooter and plays defense like there's no tomorrow."

Mongold gave opposing defenses fits. His two-point field goal percentage ranked near the top of the conference, but his comfort zone was from beyond the arc.

"He could really shoot the three," said Heare. "He could miss two or three and step up and hit four or five in a row.

"Every time you play good and everyone knows it in the school, they come up to you and they're like 'good job' and you're like 'thanks,' said Mongold. They know that you did well. It just feels good."

Mongold is ranked seventh in his class and has a 4.0 GPA. He's also the school's National Honor Society treasurer.

"Matt is a well-rounded young man," said teacher Joe Mohr. "He has a lot of interests outside of school. Matt is just as likely to show up to try to get me to take him fishing as he is to try to get me to help him with his history projects, but he's also very conscientious."

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