Linda Moeller: Fitness junkie
Tony Altobelli
She’s cycled through Europe, played collegiate tennis, raced in
Olympic-distance triathlons, competes in master’s level crew, is a
high-level equestrian competitor in dressage and stadium jumping, teaches
aerobics, strength lab, cardiovascular lab and sailing, and helped
develop women’s crew at Orange Coast College.
She’s a dog owner and lover, too.
Just who is this OCC “Wonder Woman?”
It’s Linda Moeller, who, in eight short years has developed OCC’s
women’s crew program into a collegiate powerhouse.
“When we first started eight years ago, we only had nine racers,”
Moeller said. “We’re now up to over 50 competitors. Our quick growth is
largely due to the men’s program and the success they’ve had in the
past.”
Yes, it’s nice to have a big brother helping you out when you’re
growing up, and for the OCC’s women’s crew, they were able to share
equipment and facilities with the already-established men’s crew and not
have to completely start from scratch.
OCC has the only community college women’s crew in the nation, but
Moeller has been excited with the rapid growth of this sport.
“Women’s crew is developing all over the country, especially in the
Pac 10 and Big 10 universities,” Moeller said. “The numbers continue to
grow at a rapid rate year after year.”
For Moeller, being physically fit has been a way of life.
“I grew up with two older brothers,” Moeller said. “So if I wanted to
fit in, I had to dive in and adapt right away to what they were doing. It
was painful, but educational.”
Also, Moeller was introduced to the water as a youngster. “I remember
working on my father’s fishing boat for years,” Moeller said. “I was born
in Arcadia, but we always had a beach house, so I was always near the
water.”
After graduating from Newport Harbor, Moeller attended Oregon State
before graduating from San Diego State.
“I’ve always been fascinated with the human body and fitness and
that’s why I got my masters in exercise physiology from Long Beach
State.”
This knowledge of physical fitness has come in handy when it comes to
teaching women’s crew.
Not quite having the same upper-body strength as men, women have to
totally use every muscle in their body to effectively get the best time
possible.
“Guys might be able to get away with not using certain muscles because
they can make it up with their upper body,” Moeller said. “We have to
utilize our entire body weight and we have to be real savvy on
technique.”
In OCC’s eight-year history competing with some of the toughest
four-year colleges around, the Pirates have been top-three finishers in
the state a number of times, along with capturing the state title in
1996.
“This year should be very exciting, as well,” Moeller said. “We have
12-15 solid returners back for their sophomore year, as well as a very
athletic novice squad.”
Like OCC men’s coach Jim Jorgensen, Moeller’s crew has had tremendous
support from the local community, as well as Pirate alumni.
“We’ve been here long enough now to where our former athletes are
finishing up with four-year schools and are coming back to lend a hand
any way they can,” Moeller said. “Something changes inside you for the
better after competing in crew. All the hard work and hours in the gym
and boats build strong friendships and commitment toward not only your
sport, but your educational and personal growth.”
Also, like Jorgensen, Moeller is always looking for additional rowers
to join OCC’s crew.
“I try to stay relaxed and give everyone a chance when it comes to how
I coach,” Moeller said. “I can be stern, when I need to be.
“I really got interested in coaching when I was an instructor/advisor
of the Associated Students Leadership Program at OCC,” Moeller continued.
“I was teaching students how to be leaders, which is basically what
coaching is.”
Perhaps Moeller’s biggest thrill in all of this is giving women the
opportunity to do something that was not too readily available to her
when she was growing up; to be a part of a team.
“I played tennis in college because basically, that was all I could
play,” Moeller said. “What I truly enjoy most is giving these women a
chance to be a part of being on a team and learning how to be as
physically fit as possible.”
Why the horseback riding?
“We all need a release; this is mine,” Moeller said with a laugh. “It
teaches me how to properly focus and it helps me relate to my athletes.
When I get nervous before a jumping event, I can relate that to my rowers
and what they’re feeling before a regatta.
For more information on the OCC women’s crew, or if you’re a student
looking to participate on the team, call Moeller at the OCC Boathouse at
(949) 645-3505.
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