Steve Moyer was an anomaly. A hard-working, self-made All-American coming from a high school with no cross country program and, at that time, no more than a cow path posing as a track facility.
He did have the advantage of a training partner, in future Olympian Brian Sell, and a great core group of coaches at Northern Bedford that helped him get to a point where he got the opportunity to compete at the Division II college level where he really blossomed.
“If I recall correctly,” offered former NBC Head Boys Track Coach Dave Mahaffey, “Steven became a distance runner by accident. He originally wanted to be a sprinter.”  
Distance running suited Steve just fine as he trained with Sell and won 3200 meter run District 5 titles 3 consecutive years. His senior year in 1996, he barely missed out on a PIAA medal finishing 7th in 9:42.29. His battles with training mate Sell were legendary with Moyer generally winning at the longer 3200 meter distance and Sell taking more of the 1600 meter races.
“Steve and Brian Sell were the hardest working two track athletes I’ve ever been around,” added Coach Mahaffey.
Moyer recalled his relationship with his future Olympian teammate, “Both of us wanted to be the top runner, which made for some awkward interactions during each season. Our competitive fire and desire to be the best brought out the best in both of us and eventually enabled us to compete competitively at the collegiate level.”
As a high school athlete, Moyer, with the help of Physical Education instructor and Girls’ Track Coach Mel Bowser, ran independently in cross country as a senior and won the District 5 title in that sport. He was also a key wrestler on Rod Hoover’s squad throughout senior high school and ascended to a District title at the 160-pound weight class in 1996.
A 3-sport individual district champion is rare. Steve Moyer is one of very few to have done it.
“I really enjoyed my time as an athlete at NBC. I participated in soccer, cross country, wrestling, and track & field. I had great coaches in all my sports where I felt valued and supported both in the classroom and during sports competition,” Moyer reflected.
Steve moved on to Lock Haven University in the fall of 1996 and began what would become a storied career there as a distance runner on the cross country and track and field squads.
Moyer made his presence felt at the PSAC level and ultimately the national level in short time after entering LHU.
“I felt that my breakout performance was my sophomore year in cross country when I PR-ed by 2 minutes in a race and surprised the coaches by finishing as the first LHU finisher and fourth overall. That gave me confidence that I could compete moving forward,” Moyer recalled.
In cross country in a 3-year span he was twice an All-PSAC performer, twice All-Regional, and finished as the 25th American and 41st overall at the 1999 Division II national meet. He was the team captain his senior year.
In track & field, the 3000 meter steeplechase became Steve’s specialty. He became the PSAC Steeplechase Champion in both 1999 and 2000 after finishing as the runner-up in 1998. He placed seventh nationally both years to claim All-American honors twice in Track & Field. He finished 12th at the prestigious Penn Relays as a senior. He was also a two- time All-PSAC performer in the 5000 meter event.
“Steve was an amazing competitor who would always fight to the end. He contributed tremendously to kick-starting the cross country and track and field success that both programs have experienced in the last 25 years,” according to LHU Head Coach Aaron Russell. “He was always feared in distance circles as a fierce competitor, and he was untouchable in the conference in the steeplechase for his last two years of college.”
Moyer’s 9:06.08 Steeplechase time that was a school record 25 years ago still ranks as fourth all-time performance in Lock Haven school history.
Steve currently resides in Lebanon, Pa with his wife Rachel and son Asher. He is employed as a Physical Education teacher at Manheim Central Middle School.
 
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