Transcript: Aaron Moss on Leadership, Multi-Sport Success, and His Commitment to Kenyon College

Welcome back to the Late Start Show with me, Charlie Martin, and me, Jack Nelson. We once again hope you're enjoying your nice break from waking up at the crack of dawn. Hopefully we can give you something good to listen to in your morning coming into school. This week's interview is with senior Aaron Ross, and he's probably one of our favorites so far.

Before we get into that interview, let's first spend some time going over what this week has to offer. Let's first get to our sports section. With software, the team dropped their game last week against Walsh Jesuit 6-0, and then traveled to North Ridgeville on Saturday to tie them 3-3, which leads them to an overall record of 7-4-2. They're currently ranked 35th in Ohio.

As this is recorded, the morning of Tuesday, we'll play Archbishop Hoban at 5 p.m. Hopefully the team picks up a must-need wave against them that catapults their season into a Saturday game against Western Reserve Attack. Let's now get into some of the biggest news around school. This past week, we had a great assembly from alumni Eric Myers, class of 94, who's co-founder, chairman, and CEO of the Elijah Rock Foundation, and also co-founder and CEO of MindSync, a company focused on clinical trial recruitment strategies through event-based engagement in underserved populations.

Mr. Myers talked to us about continually striving to connect with the sense of purpose in one's work. Additionally, this past Friday, U.S. reached a school record of over $3,300 in the memory of Rudy Kvich, U.S. class of 26, by his mentors in France. Friday's fundraisers support the FIBR, a patient-centric advocacy and educational organization dedicated to helping patients and caregivers affected by bufibrolamellar carcinoma, a form of liver cancer.

Next, looking at our week's senior speeches, we had excellent speeches from Tristan Jackson and Philip Colvin. We look forward next week to speeches from Andrew Beck and Andrew Voinovich. Well, guys, that's enough about us for this week. Coming up soon is an interview from soccer and baseball captain Senior Aaron Moss.

He sat down with us. We'll talk about his experience as a multi-sport athlete, his leadership roles, and his recent commitment to play baseball at Kenyon College. All right, let's jump into it. Aaron Moss, up next.

We are here with the beloved Aaron Moss, soccer and baseball captain, one of the most well-known students at U.S. How are you, Aaron? Good, thanks for having me. Yeah, of course.

Thanks for being on. That question felt super weird to ask. I don't think I've ever called you Aaron. I usually just call you Moss or Moppy.

So to start, where does that nickname Moppy come from? Yes. I was born, my sister, she was two, and she thought I looked like a puppy, but she wasn't old enough to actually pronounce that. She kept saying Moppy, and then I guess it just stuck with me since.

That's really cool. I don't really know you as well. What was your decision to come to U.S.? Like, when did you really come to U.S.?

Yeah, so I'm a lifer here. So we moved from San Francisco to Cleveland just a month before kindergarten started, and we didn't really know anything about it. And we came, and I toured U.S., and I don't really remember it, but Harris liked it enough to send me here, and I've loved it ever since. That's super cool.

I'm a lifer too, and yeah, it's been great. You play soccer and baseball now. I know I've heard you've played basketball in the past. Why do you think playing multiple sports is important, and what's been some of your best memories while playing these sports?

Yeah, I think you just learn a lot. Not only you learn a lot as an athlete, but also just how to become a better man, and I think that's something that U.S. does a really good job of in the athletics department is just molding you not only into a better athlete, but also into becoming a better man past high school. And not only do you play those sports, you are a captain for both soccer and baseball. Are those two teams different to lead, or do you use the same strategy for both?

I would say maybe it's a little bit of both. I think the culture is a little different, not for better or for worse, but the two, soccer and baseball, are a little different, but I think it's all pretty similar. We've been talking a bunch about the sports you've played and all that. Have you had a favorite season or like a standout?

Have you had a favorite season of sports for you? Not really. I would say my sophomore year of baseball season was pretty cool because we made the deepest run that I've been a part of in the playoffs, and that was pretty cool because I don't think any of us really expected to go that far, so that was pretty cool just to see what we were capable of. And you've recently announced your commitment to Kenyon College to play baseball.

When did you know you wanted to play baseball in college? I think it's something I've known for a while. I've been playing baseball ever since I can remember, and when I was younger, I thought everyone, that was just like what you're supposed to do. And then when I got older, I didn't really know what it meant, and then I figured I learned that it was something that I really wanted to pursue.

And what was the whole process behind you coming into Kenyon, and what was it about Kenyon that really made you think that this is the place where you want to be? Yeah, so when I was picking a school, I really wanted a school that, one, I think was just really strong academically and I have an extension off U.S. almost, and I think that's what Kenyon has. It's like a tight-knit community. It's a pretty small school like U.S.

It was somewhere where I, only two hours away, and I could thrive as an athlete, but more importantly, as a student. So a lot of kids believe if they're not the biggest, the strongest, the fastest kid, they have no shot at playing a sport in college. And you're not the biggest, fastest, or strongest many times, but you are an amazing leader, play the game the right way, and you play to your strengths. What advice would you give to an athlete who's discouraged because of their size?

Yeah, I think people say it a lot. Size doesn't matter. I think that really is true. Obviously, it can help depending on the sport, but I think as long as you work hard and you want something, you can go get it.

Now, what's the importance to you working hard and really trying to make sure you do the best at what you, everything you can? Yeah, not only, I think working hard not only pushes you and makes you a better athlete, student, whatever it is, but I think it pushes the others around you as well, and it just creates a better environment to be. Now, when you heard you were going to be captains for all these sports, what was some of your, like, what went to that realization moment that this is what you wanted to do? Yeah, it's always something I've wanted to do, and I think it's just I'm flattered that my peers and coaches have that trust in me, and I was just excited to lead and model some of the younger student-athletes here.

What are some of those values you try to, like, when you say, all right, I have this team, I'm the captain, what are some of the values you try to use to lead that team? Yeah, I think, I think I'm pretty vocal, so I think just being a vocal leader, and especially in the off-season, making sure it's known, like, what we need to do to accomplish what we want, whether that's, like, baseball, in the weight room, on the field, captain's practices, whatever it is, and we all come together and we can accomplish what we want. And who are some of those leaders that maybe you've looked up to, maybe as an underclassman, that have really shown you how to do that? Yeah, my freshman year is soccer, so my fall, my freshman year, so my first high school sport experience, the captains were Emmett Meyer and Sam Holthausen.

They did a really good job of just showing what it meant to be a leader on a really good team. I thought those two were just excellent, not only for the upperclassmen, but also the underclassmen who were, like, newer. And I can't believe you're a senior. I can't believe I'm a sophomore.

I still remember coming to watch you play in the playoff baseball game when you were a freshman, it seems like yesterday. But do you have any advice on how to enjoy the moment for younger students? Yeah. I mean, it's cliché.

People say it a lot, but, like, the time really does fly. It feels like yesterday. I was, like, starting in kindergarten here. I think just living in the moment and trying to be the best person you can at that time.

Coming into high school, me personally, I've seen a huge difference between probably the lower and the middle school and here, almost two different schools separate. Have you found that difference in that transition from middle school and lower school baseball to high school baseball a big impact? Yeah. No, it's definitely a big jump.

Middle school in eighth grade and you're playing against 14, 13, 14, 15-year-olds. And all of a sudden, I remember, I think it was my second varsity game, I was facing a Miami, Ohio left-handed pitcher who was 18 years old. He's, like, the grown man. So that's the biggest difference.

And I definitely wasn't the biggest kid, so it was definitely a little intimidating. What do you think that taught you playing against those older guys? Yeah. I think something I've learned over the four years, whether it's soccer or baseball, is, like, you're on the field at the same time, so, like, you're meant to be there.

And I think not being integrated is so important because they're on the varsity baseball field and so are you, so you're both right there. When you leave the field for the last time at the end of the season, what's one thing that you just want to leave out there and hope that U.S. baseball and U.S. soccer uses for the rest of time? Yeah. I hope they remember me for the type of person I was and, like, being a leader and role modeling some of the younger kids.

And you seem to be able to be a leader in a lot of different areas, get along with basically everyone, if not everyone. How do you think you connect to so many different people? Yeah. I think so many different people here at U.S. have so many different interests, and I think it was important early on just to realize.

I think it's cool, obviously, a lot of my friends play baseball, a lot of my friends play soccer, but connecting with people who are interested in those activities, it was just cool to see what their passions are and learn more about them. Transitioning a little here, I'm sure you've had many memorable teachers and memories at U.S. What's probably been one of your favorite teachers and probably one of your favorite classes at U.S.? I think Senora Godinez has done a really good job of not only, like, connecting in class with Spanish material, but outside of class, whether we're talking about soccer, baseball, whatever it is, she really does connect with the students.

And I've had her three straight years, so it's been awesome getting to know her. If you could change one thing, if you could change one thing about U.S. I know this has been a question that we've asked to Vishra, Mr. Summers, and a bunch of other people.

You had unlimited power and could change one thing at U.S., what would it be? She did a lot of homework. I think that's all just to prepare you, and I think U.S. kids are very prepared when they go off to college in the real world, but definitely in the moment, I don't like how much homework I get sometimes, but it's all for her. Yeah, I completely get that.

Have you hoped that there would be changes in the athletic department of U.S. Any changes in there? Because I know there's been some talk about maybe we could focus a little bit more on athletics as a school. Do you honestly believe that's the way U.S. should go, or do you think maybe U.S. could become more of an athletic school?

Yeah, I think U.S. as a school, its goal is obviously to be one of the best academic high schools in Ohio. And I think there are other schools in this area that maybe don't take as much pride in that, but maybe more in the athletics. So I think U.S. is very tailored to a certain type of kid, and it's a kid that wants to play sports at a high level, and a lot of the teams here compete on the state level every year. But it's also a kid who wants to thrive in the classroom.

And that's one thing that's really cool is even though we focus on academics, we're still able to compete with those bigger schools who focus more on athletics. Do you have one club or activity that you've been involved with, maybe not today, maybe not sports, but one extracurricular that you've enjoyed? Yeah, I think Maroon Key, like touring, whether it's like a kid shattering or like an adult, I think that's helped me a lot learn how to talk to adults. I remember doing it freshman year, and it's intimidating at first, but as you do it more and more, it becomes easier and easier to talk to adults who are strangers at the time.

Now, have you had a teacher or a specific adult that's really mentored you throughout your four years and you really think has had a huge influence on your life? Yeah, my sponsor, Mr. Bonds, has done a really good job, and especially when I came to high school in ninth grade, just showing what I need to do to be successful has guided me throughout, and that's helped me a lot. Now, I know you're part Petit.

Do you find a lot of pride in being Petit? It was better in the lower school. I remember I think it was fourth or fifth or sixth grade. We won the House Cup like three years in a row.

It's gone down, but we're definitely not, with Founders Day especially, we're an easy team to beat for sure. You're a part of One Love. What's your favorite part about being a part of that organization? I think being in an all-boys school.

I've been at one my whole life, and a lot of kids have been at public schools and co-ed schools, but just learning, I guess, how to interact more and be a better man because I think it just stems from the U.S. wanting you to be a better man when you leave this place. Have you ever wished that you went to a co-ed school? I don't think so. I mean, I've never wanted to leave U.S., so it hasn't really been one of my thoughts, but yeah.

I think it keeps a lot of the drama away. I agree. I think one of the things I've always thought was really interesting about you is I honestly know you more for baseball than soccer. Do you have a favorite sport between the two?

I would say it's one of those things where in soccer season, I'd say I like soccer more, and by the end of it, I want to get into baseball, and then same thing with baseball. During baseball season, I don't want to play soccer, but by the end of it, it gets a little tiring, but I think baseball. If I were to pick one, it'd definitely be baseball. Have you been on club teams?

Honestly, I don't play baseball, so I don't really know any of it. Have you been on club teams, and have you had coaches that really stood out to you for being a great role model? Yeah. Again, like when we moved here, we didn't really know much about travel baseball, especially Cleveland, and I've been with a few organizations, but I think Coach Rob was that coach here.

And now I play for Ohio Elite, and he runs the high school ages there. He's just done a really good job at making sure we compete at a high level every summer and helping us get to where we are. And baseball is a game of failure. So how have you learned from your failure in baseball and kept the love for the team?

Yeah, I think it's something as you mature, you just realize you're not going to get a hit every about, you're not going to strike everyone out. And learning that it's a game of failure has helped out on the baseball field, but it's really a life lesson, like learning how to fail. Have you ever had a moment, like when you have moments where you're down, when you have a bunch of homework like you were talking about in baseball, it's getting hard, what is the thing that just keeps you going? What is, I think we talk about this, Jack talked about this a lot, what is your why?

Yeah, I think a big thing for me was like buying into the U.S. There's, I don't know who I've talked to, who's alone in the school that says anything bad about it. And I think just learning that like what they do really does prepare you and they're doing what they do for a reason. In your senior year, how do you want to be remembered?

After graduation, you leave, go off to college, how do you want people here to remember you? Yeah, I just want to be remembered as a guy, like you said, who I like to get along with everyone and a leader, and I just want to show the underclassmen like how to be successful here at U.S. One special thing about U.S., I think, is that the underclassmen and the upperclassmen can have relationships, and be friends, unlike maybe some other schools where the seniors, the upperclassmen, think that the underclassmen are not as good as them, or they push them away. You've been one of the people that's put me under your wing and helped me with that.

What do you think the importance of the upperclassmen leading the underclassmen is? Yeah, I think that just goes to show how strong the U.S. community is. The upperclassmen want to help the underclassmen succeed, whether that's in the first couple weeks learning how to manage their time, or it's on the sports field. I think everyone here is willing to help you get to where you want.

All right, I think that's it. It's been great having you on the show. Glad I could get to know you better also, and thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to tell us more about yourself. To our listeners, thank you so much for tuning in, and we hope you join us next Wednesday for another episode of The Wade Starr Show.

Thank you, Aaron.