Dakota Ridge High School to build bleachers to honor football player killed in accident

LITTLETON, Colo. ( KDVR ) — The Dakota Ridge High School community is rallying together in a big way to honor the life of a member of the football team who died in a dirt bike crash over the weekend.

Walker Moench graduated from the high school last year, leaving a long-lasting legacy. Walker’s family told FOX31 that football was his passion.

He played all four years of high school and would even come back to mentor the younger players. He said when he made enough money he wanted to purchase and install bleachers at the football field.

Now it’s something the community wants to do in his honor.

Father shares memories of son, day of crash

On any given day, Eric Moench is prepared to tell you everything about his son Walker, but nothing could prepare him for today.

“My yard in the back is still half mowed from when I left the mower from when the phone call came in,” said Eric.

Saturday at about 3 p.m. in Sterling, Walker was hit and killed in a dirt bike accident with Amber Shaw, his girlfriend of four years, by his side.

“I’m pretty sure I went through my worst nightmare losing my best friend,” said Shaw. “My everything.”

She was there as he took his last breath.

“It was not the easiest, but it definitely brought peace knowing I was able to hold him and be with him,” said Shaw.

“Still don’t have the answers we’re looking for. Nothing is going to bring him back to my arms. He was a really special soul,” said Eric. “Apparently his time down here was up they needed him in other places as opposed to taking care of us down here anymore.”

The best thing about football for Walker is “FAMILY.”

“It stands for (F)orget (A)bout (M)e, (I) (L)ove (Y)ou,” said Jeremiah Behrendsen, head coach of the Dakota Ridge High School football team. “Being a servant leader and putting others before yourself.”

Behrendsen says that is what Walker was all about.

“He had just the biggest heart in the world,” said Behrendsen.

It was a family tradition to take pictures after every game. Eric has all the family pictures to prove it.

“We always made a point to take a family picture after every game. Even when we didn’t want to,” Eric said. “Through the losses. I always made sure to give him a hug and say I love him.”

No one could have predicted the situation.

“Remembering him for the good person he was,” said Eric. “I know he’s looking down on us.”

When he does, he’ll get to see the impact he has made.

“I wish we had more than 19 years with him and that’s the thing that hurts the most,” said Eric.

At Friday’s game at Jeffco Stadium beginning at 7 p.m., the Eagles will honor Walker by wearing pink and blue. Family and friends have set up a GoFundMe to help build and install the bleachers in his honor.

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