Gregory Moore

Hoover High School

Linebacker, Fullback

Gregory Moore is a 6-foot-1 linebacker and fullback at Hoover High School. He was named first-team All-Western League in 2000 and first-team All-Harbor League in 1999 as a linebacker. He was named to the San Diego Union-Tribune All-Academic Team in 1999 and 2000. He was his team's Most Valuable Player on defense his junior and senior years. His coach, Willie Matson, describes Moore as “the hardest hitting linebacker in the county.”
If Moore has administered a few hits, he has taken a few during his young life. He grew up in City Heights and saw a majority of his friends join gangs. He had to make an early decision between gang membership and school. He chose school. When he started high school, he was diagnosed with a learning disability and was told that college was and would always be out of his reach. Despite this opinion that would have shattered many young men, Moore applied himself, sought after-school tutoring and spent much of his extra time in the library. He raised his grade point average to 3.14 and has maintained that average. He has earned a scholarship to Montana State University where he will play football.
With academics in hand, and with his success on the gridiron, life seemed to be going well for Moore. Then, six weeks into the season of his senior year, his three-month old daughter, Sharya, died of sudden infant death syndrome. This devastating moment was almost too much for Moore to bear. Coach Matson asked him if he wanted to take time off from football. He replied, “The team always treated me like a member of the family, and I don't want to let my family down.”
He went on to have a tremendous season and once again earn all-league honors. “He is a hero to all of us,” Matson said. “To get where he is today, Greg had to overcome many obstacles, both seen and unseen,” Matson said. “ He is truly deserving of this honor.” Moore lists his hobbies as lifting weights, go-carts and bowling. He is the son of Tina Davis of San Diego.