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Lennard Junior Ready For Some Football

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Junior Ashley Leonard hauls in a pass during practice for the Lennard Longhorns flag football team. The Longhorns will kick off their season March 16 at home against King High School.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: March 11, 2009

RUSKIN - A minor leg injury wasn't about to prevent Ashley Leonard from helping the Lennard Longhorns flag football team get ready for the season.

Less than two weeks before the team's season opener at home against King High School on Monday, the junior gave some of her less experienced teammates pointers during practice hobbling around on a leg she injured while running.

"I played center for the team last year, so we've been working on snapping the ball to the quarterback and a few other things," Leonard said.

Her initiative and willingness to help the team is not lost on her coach.

"She's usually out front of everything before anyone else," said flag football Coach Gerard Kinler. "She's more than willing to work with the younger players on the team, and she's just an excellent team leader."

Once Leonard recovers from her leg injury, she expects to play linebacker on defense for the Longhorns. Her role during offensive play has not been determined.

"I'm not sure where I'm going to play on offense, but I'm definitely looking to play both ways this season," she said.

This is her second season as a member of the Longhorns squad. She also is a setter on Lennard's varsity volleyball team.

Leonard said she has been a football fan all her life and is drawn to the sport's extreme competitiveness.

"Obviously, we can't play with the boys, but I feel like this is as close as we can get," Leonard said. "And when we're out there, these girls get intense."

She has also been busy off the field.

Leonard is the president of the school's FFA chapter and has a weighted 5.0 grade-point average.

She is undecided about what she wants to study when she goes to college, but she's thinking about attending the University of South Florida or the University of Central Florida and possibly a career in the medical field.

Before that, she wants to have a successful season on the football field.

"We lost a couple of key members last season, but we want to come back even stronger this year," Leonard said.

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Ashley Leonard

AGE: 17

SCHOOL: Lennard High School

GRADE: 11th

SPORTS: Flag football and volleyball

FUTURE PLANS: May pursue a major in the medical field at the University of South Florida or the University of Central Florida

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555.

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