Moeller to make unofficial visit to University of Colorado

Finally, Ryan Moeller has received interest from the college he’s wanted to play football for since he was a kid.

The Rifle senior running back who rushed for 3,002 yards this fall said Tuesday he’s been contacted by new University of Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre and will make an unofficial visit to the school Jan. 18.

“I liked CU since I was a little guy,” Moeller said. “My mom (Debbieanne) went there. I’ve always liked CU; I like Boulder.”

Throughout the season in which Rifle eventually made it to the Class 3A state championship, Rifle head coach Damon Wells expressed disbelief that no one from Colorado’s football staff had contacted Moeller, who had been expressing interest in playing for the Buffaloes.

Moeller also has received interest from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Tulsa University, the University of Wyoming and Colorado State University. Rams coaches visited Moeller twice, including head coach Jim McElwain last month.

Colorado Mesa University is the only school that has offered Moeller a scholarship.

Moeller said he recently spoke to MacIntyre by phone, and the conversation was mostly about “getting to know each other.”

“He seems like a good guy,” Moeller said of MacIntyre. “He turned San Jose State around to be real successful, and I think he’d do the same here.”

Colorado hired MacIntyre on Dec. 10.

The Denver Post’s Ryan Casey reported that during MacIntyre’s introductory conference last week, MacIntyre said he would dedicate resources to in-state recruiting, and Colorado has commitments from six Colorado products for the class of 2013, the most in the program since 2008.

The Denver Post also released its top-20 recruits list Monday. Grand Junction defensive end/tight end Austin Berk, headed to Colorado State University, is No. 9, and teammate James Diamanti, an offensive and defensive lineman who is bound for Wyoming, was No. 17.

The list is headed by Ponderosa’s Chris Fox, an offensive lineman who intends to play at the University of Michigan.

Moeller, whose single-season rushing total was sixth all-time in the state, did not make the list.

“It’s a little frustrating,” Wells said. “But what are you going to do?”

Indoor track season at Florida State next for area standout

Hot. Muggy. Everybody faster than in high school. Nothing like tiny Cedaredge, Colo.

The practices were at first overwhelming.

Welcome to Tallahassee, Fla., Sierra Williams. The Cedaredge High School graduate who last spring set state-meet records and placed first in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and ran the anchor leg on the Bruins’ state-meet record 400 and 800 relays is now a freshman sprinting for Florida State University.

Forget winning the 60-meter dash. She is proving she can sprint with others in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Having prepared for the Seminoles’ first indoor meet at the Crimson Tide Indoor opener Jan. 12 in Birmingham, Ala., Williams is feeling even stronger and faster than when she won three state titles in one day last spring.

“It’s definitely a lot different than what I’m used to,” Williams said. “The caliber of athletes I run with every day is just incredible. And I mean, you really have to give it your all every day in practice just to keep up with them and prove you can be there.”

A year ago, Williams would drive more than an hour to train on a sometimes snowy Stocker Stadium track.

Now she trains in the South. Where the biggest threat to the track is a hurricane, or the elite college athletes sprinting alongside.

“It was overwhelming at first,” Williams said. “Definitely there were some days where you say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is a struggle.’ But you make it through it and the sun comes up in the morning and you’re much better than you were before.”

GJ’s Berk, Diamanti to be honored

Two Division I-bound football players from Grand Junction High School will be honored at the high school on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

And DE/TE Austin Berk and OL/DL James Diamanti will be recognized and celebrated at 11 a.m. in the high school’s main gym for more than just their athletic talents.

Berk, who is headed to Colorado State University to play football, and Diamanti, who will play for the University of Wyoming,  are graduating early.

Both will graduate in December to attend college and play spring football at their respective colleges.