MidValleySports.Com

Mitch Mooney has had a memorable four years as a two-way athlete at San Marino as he has starred on the football field as well as the basketball court. His exploits in football have earned him the opportunity to play at the next level after he graduates this June. He will be going to the Ivy League and playing for Brown University.

In football he was a four-year varsity starter and started 44 consecutive games. Mooney was a four-time All Rio Hondo League selection and a three-year captain. He was a three-time Team MVP as well as a three-time Rio Hondo League Lineman of the Year. And for good measure, Mooney, who is the son of former Temple City player and head coach/ former San Marino head coach Mike Mooney, was also selected as two-time All CIF Defense and two-time All SGV 1st Team Offense/ Defense. Oh and of course, he is now a Brown University commit. There is no truth the rumor that he also sold hot dogs at the concession stand at halftime.

Last season Mooney racked up 85 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 26 hurries, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.

Oh, he can hoop too. On the freshman basketball team he was selected Co-MVP and is now finishing up his third year on the varsity team.

Classroom? Check. Mooney has a GPA of 3.9 which is maybe the most important stat of all.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Mitch for a Q&A recently.

MVS: When did you first start playing football and basketball?

MM: I first started playing football and basketball in third grade starting in San Marino rec leagues.

MVS: Which sport do you prefer and why?

MM: I prefer football more due to a few things – the preparation and time it takes for each game makes each game feel more important. The physical contact of football and the brotherhood football creates, no other sport compares to it.

MVS: When you first entered high school at San Marino did you think you would be a four-year varsity starter?

MM: No. I had no idea especially coming from Covid and not really playing football for a year I never thought I’d be on the freshman team, but then once I started my first game I just took it from there.

MVS: What was your best game or even moment while playing football at San Marino?

MM: My best game and moment that I had was in my junior year playing our rival Spartans at their field. We were up 10-7 and they were driving and closing in on a score and I ended up getting a tackle for loss and then a QB hit which then led to the 4th and 1 stand where we then won the game.

MVS: Will you play basketball going forward or will you focus solely on football?

MM: I will not be playing anymore basketball after high school even though I really enjoy the sport. But at Brown I will still play with friends and teammates for fun.

MVS: What coach or coaches had the biggest influence on you?

MM: The coach that had the biggest influence on me was my line coach from my freshman and sophomore year coach Torro. He taught me so much about football and specifically offensive line, but also he made coming to practice so enjoyable and he really made it feel like he cared about every lineman on the team.

MVS: How did your recruiting process go? Did you have several offers?

MM: My recruiting process went well. With Twitter you have a lot of control on how much you get yourself out there and it makes it easier on you. At first I had some D-3 offers as they were the first camps I went to like the Pomona colleges, and then towards the end of the summer I picked up my two D-1 offers from University of San Diego and Brown.

MVS: What ultimately was the main factor in your decision to go to Brown University?

MM: My main reason for Brown was the Ivy League education and the opportunities it will bring once football is over.

MVS: Your dad has a ton of experience in football as a former college player and high school football coach. How has he helped you in this whole process of playing high school football and then being recruited?

MM: He was a huge part of how I started to learn the game of football. My freshman year we would watch film together and he would help coach me up. He would always give me little things to always remember each game which made me a much smarter football player. He helped with recruiting with a lot of the video he did and he was always reminding me to send my film out to as many coaches as possible.

MVS: What is the current GPA that you are carrying? And how important is it to perform in the classroom as well as in the athletic arena?

MM: My current GPA is 3.8 and the classroom is just as important as athletics. Without good grades, no matter how good you really are it won’t matter. The better your grades are as well as your athletics the more opportunities you give yourself and as your grades drop so do those opportunities.

And now for Mitch Mooney one chapter will come to a close at San Marino but the rest of the story is yet to be written as he heads off to Brown and the Ivy League.