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.