Rampart alumnus keeps Sky Sox firing on all cylinders

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jul 25, 2004 | by DANNY SUMMERS THE GAZETTE

Without Jeremy Moeller, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox likely could not field a healthy baseball team.

Moeller is the team's trainer and top man when it comes to making sure the players are physically able to perform.

Moeller played football and basketball at Rampart, where he was a 1991 graduate. He attended Colorado State, earning a degree in exercise sports science in 1995.

After college, Moeller landed a job as a trainer with the Minnesota Vikings for the 1996 season. He returned to Colorado Springs in 1997 to work as a trainer for Coronado High School and HealthSouth Rehabilitation.

Moeller was hired by the Colorado Rockies in 1999 and assigned to the organization's Single-A short-season club in Portland. He was in Single-A Salem in 2000 and Double-A Carolina in 2001 and 2002, and Double-A Tulsa in 2003.

He was ecstatic when he learned that he'd be working with the Sky Sox this season.

"Up until this year I wouldn't see my family for six months at a time," Moeller said. "This job is wonderful. I love working with these guys. I basically get paid to watch baseball."

Moeller's brothers also played sports at Rampart. Gabe played for the school's 1994 basketball team. He now works construction in Colorado Springs. Nate was a member of the 1996 state championship basketball team and is a banker in Laramie, Wyo.

Leimbach wins

Pro Circuit tournament

Nicole Leimbach (Pine Creek, 2004) won her first U.S. Tennis Association Pro Circuit title earlier this month in Dallas.

Leimbach, 18, defeated Anda Perianu of Romania, 6-0, 6-4, in the finals at Southlake Tennis Center. Leimbach lost only one set in five matches.

Leimbach is ranked No. 2 in the girls 18s USTA national rankings.

Frank nominated for award

The University of Central Florida has nominated Jenny Frank (Coronado, 2000) for the NCAA woman of the year award. The award will be announced in October.

Frank played volleyball for four years at Central Florida and was named 2003's Atlantic Sun Conference player of the year. She also received All-American honorable mention.

Leake headed to Beijing

Matt Leake (Doherty, 2002) has been selected to represent the United States as a member of the junior college all-star team this summer in Beijing.

Leake played baseball the past two seasons for Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. An outfielder, he batted .382 for the Reivers with nine home runs, 36 RBIs, seven doubles, seven triples, 28 stolen bases and a .715 slugging percentage. He led the team in hits with 55.

Leake has signed to play next year for Warner Southern College in Florida.

Hayden excelling in classroom

Matt Hayden (Liberty, 2001) was recently named one of 16 scholar- athletes by the University of Cincinnati.

Hayden, a forward/midfielder for the Bearcats soccer team, also was awarded the Carl H. Lindner scholarship by the College of Business Alumni Association.

Hayden was recruited by Cincinnati as a nonscholarship player out of Liberty. He is a finance and real estate major.

Franko helping Whitecaps

Martina Franko (Colorado College, 1998) is playing professional soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the W-League.

The 28-year-old forward has scored nine goals and three assists to help the Whitecaps to a first-place record of 11-0-1 in the Western Conference.

Franko is second on Colorado College's all-time scoring list with 107 points.

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