By Jim Hague
When it came time to make a decision about a college to attend, Toni Moppert didn’t hesitate one iota in selecting Rutgers-Newark.
“I knew Rutgers-Newark was a very good academic school and that was the first priority,” said the freshman Moppert.
But there was another reason why Rutgers-Newark stood out in the eyes of the former standout athlete at Pascack Valley High School in Bergen County.
Rutgers-Newark was going to give Moppert the opportunity to fulfill her dream of playing for two intercollegiate athletic teams.
“I knew I wanted to try to play two sports,” said Moppert, who is already a mainstay on the Scarlet Raiders’ volleyball squad and will be a member of the R-N softball team in the spring. “I never would have applied to Rutgers-Newark if I couldn’t play both.”
Both Karl France, the school’s director of volleyball operations, and Patty Clarke, the head softball coach, realized that Moppert was a diamond in the rough and the two worked together to secure the services of the talented Moppert for both programs.
“We tried to tell her that the demands on your time are greater on the college level and the academic workload is tougher,” France said. “But her mental makeup is one of her strongest assets. She just won’t quit. She just won’t say, ‘No.’ I was pretty sure that she could handle playing both.”
“When we were recruiting her, Coach France brought me into the process,” Clarke said. “Right now, it’s been a shared effort between us. Who knows if this can ever happen again? Usually, at this level, an athlete is forced to choose. It’s a rare breed to find someone who can dedicate the time to both sports. And she’s very dedicated to volleyball during that season and when softball starts, that will be her sport to focus on.”
“I really don’t have a favorite,” Moppert said. “Whatever sport I’m playing at that time, that’s my favorite.”
This week, Moppert gets the rare chance to experience both sports at the same time.
Of course, volleyball season is in full swing and Moppert has already made a major impact, leading the Scarlet Raiders in practically every statistical category. She’s made so much of an impression just one month into her collegiate career that her teammates have named her the captain of the squad. Yes, as a freshman.
And this weekend, Moppert will play with the Scarlet Raiders’ softball team as they participate in their lone fall exhibition contest. Moppert will get her feet wet as a college softball player when the Scarlet Raiders face Kean on Saturday.
Juggling two sports at the same time, while going to class and living a college lifestyle? That’s enough to drive anyone insane.
“It’s been very crazy,” Moppert said of her recent schedule. “I wake up and go to class and then I try to get my homework done. I have to eat dinner early, then go to volleyball practice for like three hours. I don’t get back to my room until 10 and then I have to do homework again. In between, I have to find time to get to the batting cages to hit. It should be interesting to see if I can do it. I’m excited and surprised. I didn’t know if I could do it.”
Moppert said that she was grateful to have France and Clarke as coaches who have agreed to let her try to play both sports.
“I’m very lucky to have them as coaches,” Moppert said. “I don’t know if any other coaches would have let me.”
Clarke said that she had no qualms at all about letting Moppert give the two sports a try.
“I have no problem with having two-sport athletes,” Clarke said. “I think it’s good if the athlete can handle it and Toni’s going to be able to handle it. I welcome those who are willing to try it. She’s already been asked to take the volleyball team and put it on her back and she’s doing that. I can’t wait until she can show her stuff in softball.”
Moppert is already strutting her stuff on the volleyball court, leading the Scarlet Raiders in kills (60), digs (86) and service aces (13).
“She’s handled the transition from high school to college seamlessly,” France said. “She’s made the adjustment and handled as well as any freshman we’ve ever had. She’s not going to be perfect every time and she understands that. But as a freshman, she’s leading us in all those categories and that’s pretty amazing. She’s everything we thought she would be, maybe even better.”
Moppert said that she was even busier in high school, because her first two years at Pascack Valley, she played three sports, adding basketball to the mix.
“But that became way too much for me, so I decided to give myself a break during the winter months,” Moppert said. “Sometimes, it can get a little overwhelming, but I’m just happy to keep busy and keep playing.”
Moppert said that she must have obtained her athletic prowess from her father, David, who is the Chief of Police in Harrington Park in Bergen County. David Moppert played football and baseball at Ridgefield Park in his heyday.
Ironically, Toni is the only one among her six brothers and sisters who is an athlete.
“When I was younger, I would always play ball with my Dad,” Moppert said. “He’s a big supporter of mine and comes everywhere to see me play.”
Moppert said that she is a little surprised by her immediate success.
“I didn’t expect to be leading the team in anything,” Moppert said. “I wasn’t expecting much. I just wanted to be a player. I thought it was going to be a little intimidating at first, but I fit in pretty well. And then they made me captain and that floored me. I was so happy that they embraced me. It’s a good feeling to know that they’re looking up to me, even though I’m only a freshman. It’s a huge responsibility, but I can handle it.”
Just like being a two-sport athlete. Toni Moppert is ready for the challenge, one she gets to fully understand this weekend.
“I’m just happy to give it a try,” Moppert said. “We’ll see what happens.”
