Zach Moore said nothing beats playing home soccer matches on the new turf field and basketball games in the spacious Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium at Seymour High School.

“I loved the home soccer matches.” He said. “There is nothing like playing on a beautiful field and well-constructed stadium. The ball is definitely faster on turf. It’s definitely a different game.”

Moore played two years of basketball, then sat out last winter. However, he missed the game and is looking forward to this winter. He dressed varsity for every game his sophomore season.

“There’s nothing like (home basketball games),” Moore said. “JV, there’s not a lot of people there like the varsity games, but at the end of a JV game everybody is there ready for a varsity game. You’re heart’s pumping, the adrenaline is still going. It’s the best feeling in the world.”

Moore specialized on defense in soccer, handling the center back position.

“My responsibility was pretty much to defend the net,” Moore said. “You orchestrate the team. If somebody is out of place you tell them where the open holes are, where to pass the ball and stuff like that. I loved the physicality of soccer.

“I hit heads with a few kids on corners and stuff. I never really got kicked high or anything. Getting kicked in the shins is part of the game.”

Defending corners is different, according to Moore.

“On corners you’ve got kids running at you at full speed, so the collisions are there, and the routes where they’re going to cut, so it’s different thought process,” Moore said. “You’re marking up for the most part. When we had everybody marked you’re just in a space.”

On the field, the Owls never stopped talking.

“Communication is huge,” Moroe said. “The team that communicates the best usually wins the game. Knowing what everybody is doing, knowing that your teammates have your back (is important). It’s two different games if you communicate and don’t communicate. It’s either a win or a loss.

“Our mindset was to have a good practice and play a good game, and we changed that toward the end of the season, and that is why were so successful toward the end of the season.”

One of Moore’s finest memories from his soccer career was winning the O Cup in 2016.

“A highlight win would be getting over that hump with Columbus East last year,” Moore said. “That was a big game. We came our and our mindset was 80 minutes of our best game.”

This winter, Moore has big goals for the Owls.

“In basketball I’m looking forward to being a leader,” Moore said. “I know that I’m probably not going to go anywhere for basketball, so my goal is to help the kids that are coming up — to boost their confidence and skill level to have Seymour basketball to be a great program in the years coming.”

Moore looks to provide a spark for the team.

“I count myself as being athletic,” Moore said. “I like getting the ball and going. Alan (Perry) and I are both quick. We’ve got some rebounders, so coach (Tyler) Phillips is going to let us run this year.”

Moore said he looks forward to playing as a forward.

“I kind of like playing where I’ve got both sides open,” he said. “That allows me to go both ways and break down my defender. My mindset is drive first. I like getting into the paint and dishing it out.”

This season, Moore is aiming high.

“I’m expecting great things,” Moore said. “We expect to win ballgames and compete with some of the really good teams. We’re setting the bar high. We expect to contend with them and that’s a different mindset.”

Moore has enjoyed being a student at Seymour High School.

“I like Seymour High School,” Moore said. “It’s a very good environment to be a student athlete. I loved the bus rides. I’m just going to try to keep making memories as the days are closing in.

“It’s all becoming a reality that I’m not going to return next year. I’m just trying to be a leader. Lead by example for everybody in school, not only in sports but academics and stuff like that.”

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Name: Zach Moore

School: Seymour High School

Parents: Brad Moore, Wendy Moore

Siblings: Savanna and Mallory

Sports: Soccer, four years; basketball, three years

Athletics highlights: Soccer — 2016 HHC champions

Plans after high school: Undecided

Favorite food: Cereal

Favorite TV show: “Blue Mountain State”

Favorite musician: Luke Bryan

Favorite movie: “Shooters”

Favorite team: Alabama football

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