On Monday, April 29, 2019, Upper Moreland seniors Jack Dombrowski and Ryan Gibbs were recognized for committing to continue their baseball careers at Misericordia University. To view photos of the event, please visit the photo gallery at the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p874083054
Jack Dombrowski – Misericordia University (Baseball)
Major: Secondary Education/History
Final list of colleges: Misericordia, Bloomsburg, Millersville, Kutztown
Reasons for choosing Misericordia: “The campus was nice, clean and a decent size, and I liked that. I knew some people that were going there - it was very comforting. They gave you a one-on-one type of feel.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “It was only recently. My friend, Ryan Gibbs, said there was a tryout. I went but I didn’t expect too much. They called me back and said I’d be on the roster. That made me pursue it.”
Coach Dan Heiland says: “Jack is an all-around great kid. He’s a leader on and off the baseball field. He’s one of those kids that – at his age – has a work ethic like no other. As our center fielder for the last two seasons, there wasn’t a ball hit in the gap that we ever thought he wouldn’t get to. He was a tremendous fielder and our leadoff guy. A leadoff guy, especially in high school, is a guy that not only needs to be able to hit the ball but also needs to be able to get on base as much as possible and be able to steal bags and be a smart base runner. Jack checks off all of those. I feel lucky to have coached him the last four years.”
About Jack:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie: Saving Private Ryan
Favorite music: Rock
Ryan Gibbs – Misericordia University (Baseball)
Major: Psychology
Final list of colleges: Misericordia, Arcadia, East Stroudsburg, Millersville
Reasons for choosing Misericordia: “As soon as I made my first visit to Misericordia, it felt like home right away. It instantly clicked for me, so I wanted to spend four years there playing baseball.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I have been playing baseball ever since I was six, and growing up through little league, middle school and high school, I just loved it. It’s like my happy place on the field, so I want to play as long as I can.”
Coach Dan Heiland says: “Ryan had a little different way of working into the varsity lineup. He was behind a three-year starter in Ryan Lowry. He got a lot of time down on jayvee, but we knew when he was a sophomore this would be his year to take over the reins behind the plate. Just like Jack - one thing that sets these two young men apart from a lot of kids, not only their age but what will set them apart down the road from people getting jobs similar to them is their work ethic. Both of their off-seasons were tremendous. Last summer, fall and winter leading up to the season, Ryan was in the weight room. We do a lot of team bonding things – just silly things like going out to restaurants, and Ryan was at the head of that, getting young guys involved, eighth graders that were going to be freshmen. He’s just a tremendous kid, a great leader. On the field, he’s one of the better players I’ve been able to coach over the years. Just his knowledge of the game and he’s a competitor. He never wanted anything less than winning, and he would do whatever it took to get to that point.”
About Ryan:
Favorite food: Chicken Fingers
Favorite movie: Tarzan
Favorite music: Queen
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