SHORELINE — Growing up, Andrew Montzingo had to summon all his strength to heave a basketball high enough to reach a regulation hoop.

Shooting baskets is no longer such a challenging exercise for the peppy 18-year-old, though by the looks of Montzingo’s mechanics it remains a full body effort.

“It was hard for me at a young age to get the ball up there,” Montzingo said. “Now I have no problem.”

Years of practice have turned the spiky-haired Shorewood High School senior into quite the marksman. His off-the-dribble jumper has plenty of oomph and inside the key, Montzingo’s money.

As manager of the Shorewood boys basketball team, Montzingo seizes every opportunity to show off his range. While the players stretch and go through their warm-up routine, it’s his turn to fire away.

Montzingo is an active participant in certain drills and works the scoreboard during intrasquad scrimmages. In between, he assists the coaching staff or patrols the sideline in his baggy shorts and hightops with a ball firmly attached to his hip.

“He’s always out here shooting with the guys and going one-on-one,” Thunderbirds coach Jeff Denny said. “You can just tell he’s a sports nut. We love having him around.”

The feeling is mutual.

Montzingo realized being a little person hindered his chances to compete for Shorewood. But he was determined to find a way to get involved in the school’s athletic programs.

“I’m probably not physically able to play, so I figured managing would be my best bet,” Montzingo said. “I love it. Being around the guys, they treat me like a player on the team.”

Montzingo was born with achondroplasia, a genetic bone growth condition that results in abnormally short stature. Little People of America, Inc., reports that of the estimated 200 types of dwarfism, achondroplasia is by far the most common, and affects between one in 26,000 and one in 40,000 births.

On average, adults with achondroplasia are 4 feet tall. Montzingo, whose parents are both little people, is 3-foot-8 and “still growing.”

Zingo!

Managing has turned into a full-time gig during the school year for Montzingo.

He latched on with the baseball team as a freshman, helping oversee groundskeeping, gear and gameday operations. Last spring, Montzingo added scorekeeping to his growing list of responsibilities.

“Baseball is my favorite. I know more about it than any other sport,” said Montzingo, who played infield for his Little League team and was an assistant coach for his younger brother’s squad.

Shorewood baseball coach Wyatt Tonkin was so appreciative of Montzingo’s work ethic and attitude around the clubhouse he encouraged him to branch out.

Montzingo heeded the advice and joined the boys basketball staff his sophomore year. The past two seasons he also served as manager of the football team, a position that required keen organizational skills as well as fleet feet.

In addition to juggling a list of duties before and after games, every time the Thunderbirds were on offense Montzingo motored across the turf between plays to deliver the ball to the referee.

“I got more yardage than most of the players,” he said.

As an integral piece of three varsity programs, Montzingo has made countless friendships and is easily one of the most recognizable faces on campus. Walking to class, he’s greeted by a familiar chorus.

“Down the hall, all you hear is, ‘Zingo!’” boys basketball captain Sean Tracey said.

An upbeat, outgoing personality cemented Montzingo’s popularity. Coaches admire his dependability and positive outlook; players prize his sense of humor.

“He’s been a great fit,” Tonkin said. “The kids love him and he’s been a great help. We expect a lot of him. He’s a barrel of energy.”

In the basketball clique, Montzingo has developed a reputation as a quick-witted court jester.

“He’s pretty hilarious. He’s always messing around with us, cracking jokes,” Tracey said. “He’s friends with everybody. It’s nice to have him around.”

Montzingo lightens the mood without even trying.

“He kind of lifts everybody’s spirits at practice,” Denny said. “He’s a comedian. He jokes around with everybody and we give it right back to him.”

Competitive cravings

As much as Montzingo enjoys his manager role, it doesn’t compare to the thrill he gets from competing.

Every summer, Little People of America hosts a weeklong national conference that features athletic contests, dances, talent shows and other performances.

Montzingo traveled to San Francisco for last year’s convention and he hopes to attend the 2005 event in Orlando about a month after graduation.

“There’s a different sport each day,” Montzingo said. “I’m like a four-sport athlete. I’ll compete in anything.”

It’s no surprise Montzingo’s fascination with athletics started at an early age. Coaching and competing are common to his bloodline.

His father, Darrel, teaches physical education and coaches golf at Roosevelt High School. One of six members of the U.S. team that took part in the 1998 Disabled Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, Darrel Montzingo won silver medals in the javelin and discus and a bronze in the shot put.

Three of Montzingo’s uncles also coach, including Dean Montzingo, who guided the Kentwood boys basketball team to a Class 4A state championship last season.

Montzingo intends to follow a similar career path and share his passion for sports by teaching phys-ed either at the elementary or middle school level.

“Athletics are a huge interest of his,” Darrel Montzingo said of his son. “He’s been associated with sports his whole life. He enjoys competition any way he can.”

Volunteering as a team manager became another way for Montzingo to feed his competitive cravings, while polishing his sports knowledge at the same time.

Watching from the bleachers with the other Shorewood boosters, it’s clear to Darrel Montzingo that Andrew’s adventures with the football, basketball and baseball teams the past four years have influenced his high-school experience for the better.

“I’m a proud father,” he said. “It’s fun to see him involved and interacting with the coaches and players. They work him hard and he gives 110 percent.”

The trade-off for the long hours and thankless chores, like filling water bottles, washing jerseys, setting up video equipment and compiling statistics, is a front row seat for the behind-the-scenes activities most students aren’t privy to.

Montzingo uses his VIP access to keep a mental tally of each player’s progress.

“It’s cool to see how they improve each week,” he said.

So much of Montzingo’s time is spent around locker rooms, gymnasiums, football fields and baseball diamonds that he’s starting to exhibit the characteristics of a classic coaching candidate.

“He asks a lot of questions,” Tonkin said. “He’ll make a good coach someday. He’s learning all the time.”