Alex Moesch becomes three-sport athlete at Chittenango High

By Alex Rubinson contributing writer

Alex Moesch, a three-sport athlete at Chittenango High School, was doing defensive pick-and-roll drills with his basketball coach when he realized the drills were very similar to a drill he runs consistently on the lacrosse field.

“I felt like I had a better (understanding) of the defense…personnel-wise it’s the same for basketball and lacrosse,” Moesch said. “It was easy for me to read the defense.”

In each sport’s most recent season, Moesch averaged 19.6 points per game in basketball, tallied 25 goals in lacrosse and has shot as low as a 36 in golf. His primary sport is basketball, which he is set to play at Hobart College in the fall. But while he’s still in high school, Moesch has challenged himself to compete in as many sports as possible.

Moesch developed a love of all sports from his father, who introduced him to different sports and encouraged him to continue to participate and ignore setbacks. His father coached him for the majority of his athletic career.

“He’s always talked to me about body language,” Moesch said. “If you miss a shot, it’s not the end of the world.”

Moesch acknowledged the fact that, while other players could put their full focus on one sport, he has to divide his time among

Club Sports

three. But he said the positives still outweigh the negatives.

“It makes you a more diverse person,” said Tyrus Kelly, Moesch’s close friend and basketball teammate. “(He has) the mental endurance of being in a slump but being able to get out of it and know good things are to come.”

Chittenango basketball coach John Clancy noticed that Moesch had built up skills from other sports that translated over to the basketball court. Clancy explained that, in lacrosse, Moesch is constantly getting “beat up,” which has helped him to be a better defender in basketball. Playing golf also had an impact on Moesch’s game on the court, Clancy said.

“His concentration is pretty unwavering,”

Clancy said. “High school rivals know this and are already setting their game plan around how to limit Moesch’s impact.”

Even as Moesch continues to focus on basketball at the college level, he plans to continue playing golf. His success as a multi-sport athlete has helped him understand his responsibilities as a top player.

“He likes to lead by example,” Kelly said. “He’s always trying to look for what’s best for the team.”

Clancy stressed that Moesch appreciates see moesch page 12