Moran heading to Wesleyan

Steve Moran, a 2008 Item football all-star, is heading to Wesleyan University in Connecticut where he plans to play football.The Swampscott High defensive back and receiver was a three-year starter for the Big Blue, who won two Northeastern Conference championships and a Super Bowl during his tenure.Moran, who is also a centerfielder on the Swampscott baseball team, said he looked at a lot of NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) schools, with the final choice coming down to either Wesleyan or Trinity College, which is also in Connecticut.”I really liked the head coach (Frank Hauser). He was easy to connect with. He told me straight up what he wanted from me. I kind of like that,” Moran said.Moran said he likes the academics at NESCAC schools, and when he went to visit Wesleyan, he liked the school. Although Wesleyan is coming off a tough year, Moran said he’s hopeful he might be able to see some playing time early on.Swampscott football coach Steve Dembowski is pleased to see another one of his players at a NESCAC school. Tyler Tennant is currently at Bates, Brendan Garner is at Bowdoin, Peter Kinchley is at Middlebury and now Moran is heading to Wesleyan.”It’s a feather in the cap of the program that you can have kids go to that echelon of academic excellence,” Dembowski said. “One of the best things about Steve is that he’s been very consistent. He’s a three-year starter at defensive back. He set a couple of school records.”Dembowski said Moran stepped up when fellow senior Trevor Wheeler was injured. Dembowski said Moran played his best football the last few games of the season, particularly against Marblehead on Thanksgiving.”He’s just a class kid. I’m really proud of him,” Dembowski said.”I couldn’t have asked for a better football program to play for in high school, especially under Coach ‘Dembo,'” Moran said.Moran said he thought about quitting during his freshman year, but Dembowski convinced him to stick with it.”I didn’t know if I liked it (football),” Moran said, adding that Dembowski told him he had a legitimate shot at playing as a sophomore and he decided to stick it out. Although he was on two NEC championship teams and won a Super Bowl, Moran said the thing he’ll remember most is beating Marblehead the last two years, particularly last fall when the Swampscott program was celebrating its 100 anniversary.Moran said he may also give baseball a try at Wesleyan, but he has to meet with the coach to discuss that possibility.