by McKinley Powers
Sports have always been an important part of sophomore Brett Moser’s life. Playing sports, watching sports, learning and diving into a sport was and still is something that brings Moser happiness.
“Sports mean everything to me; sports are my life,” Moser said. “If I’m not playing, I’m watching. If I’m not watching, I’m on the ESPN app just looking stu up and trying to learn more.”
Playing both football and baseball at Moses Lake High School, Moser racked up quite a few awards and recognitions. His junior year of football, he was awarded first-team wide receiver and first-team in baseball as a shortstop. His senior year he was awarded first-team and all-state in football and baseball and was also a team captain in both.
“I’ve been playing baseball since I can remember,” Moser said. “With football I’ve been playing since…third grade.”
Moser was excited to come to Whitworth and get the opportunity to play both the sports he devoted a large part of his life to in high school. However, toward the end of his freshman year of college, on his dad’s birthday, Moser headed to the doctor after discovering a lump on his stomach. After getting it checked and tested, the doctor concluded that it was a tumor touching a renal artery. Moser was then sent to Seattle for further testing in search of a further diagnosis.
“I had really good doctors who were able to gure out what it was very quickly,” Moser said. “They found out it was testicular [cancer].”
With this diagnosis, Moser started a nine-week journey with chemotherapy. Throughout those nine weeks, chemo was distributed in three sessions—each a full week long lasting four hours— each day. For the remaining two weeks, the chemo would be every Monday for three hours. Moser went into surgery a couple of weeks after this routine. The purpose of the 10 hour surgery was to remove the cancer and a kidney.
Head football coach Rod Sandberg spoke highly of Moser and the things that Moser has personally taught him.
“Brett is so positive and strong-willed,” Sandberg said. “He also has an incredible amount of confidence. It is hard for us to imagine what he has gone through at such a young age, but his confidence is inspiring to all of us and to take his perspective is important to our entire team.”
Since the surgery, Moser has been on a low fat diet and regaining his strength now that he is cancer free.
“It’s gone and there is a 98 percent chance that it won’t come back,” Moser said. “Going from being able to do stuff everyday to barely being able to walk and getting fatigued so easily has probably been my biggest struggle in this.”
Moser spoke highly about his two teams which were his main support systems. During his freshman year at Whitworth, Moser played football and baseball, contributing to both teams in important ways.
“It’s so awesome to have so many people supporting me; it really helps,” Moser said. “It’s really cool because some of my closest friends are on the football team so I get a lot of support from them and even the coaches. During one of my chemo sessions, Sandberg and his family came down and hung out with me so that was really appreciated.”
The football team has made Moser an important part of their mindset this season by starting the hashtag #MoserStrong and printing it on the back of their team shirts. The baseball team has also been keeping Moser in their thoughts by wearing bracelets during their preseason.
“‘Moser Strong’ is a vivid reminder to take some perspective in our everyday lives,” Sandberg said. “It is a reminder that life is bigger than school and football, that there are many things more important than all those things. He is so strong and such an inspiration to us. He is inspiring us everyday and we keep ‘Moser Strong’ as a reminder to us of his inspiration.”
Moser plans to return to play both football and baseball next year. His teammates are excited to get him back, but also are thankful for the lessons Moser has taught them through this journey.
“He has had such a great spirit throughout all of this,” sophomore JT Phelan said. Phelan plays both football and baseball with Moser and describes him as “hilarious, caring, and a punk.”
Moser has not only been an inspiration to his friends and relatives, but has inspired an entire team and community to be “Moser Strong.”
Contact McKinley Powers at mpowers18@my.whitworth.edu