Liberty’s Struck, Leonard excel in three sports
Monday, July 10, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Olentangy Liberty’s Jake Struck (left) and Andrew Leonard excel at three sports for the Patriots. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Jake Struck and Andrew Leonard are rarely just sitting around. The rising juniors, who found a way to make their mark as three-sport athletes at Olentangy Liberty last year, are as busy as ever this summer.
Struck and Leonard were both key players on the football and hockey teams last year. Struck was also an impact player on the boys lacrosse team, while Leonard contributed to the baseball team last spring.
“Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, we have football liftings from 8 a.m. to 10:15,” Struck said. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I’ll also have summer lacrosse practice from 6 to 8 at night. In between those, in the day when I’m free I’ll hang out with my friends and play some golf here and there.”
Struck has even found a new sport during his off time.
“I’ve been getting into pickleball (at Kinsale Country Club) recently too,” he said. “That’s one of my favorites right now.”
Weekends are reserved for travel. Leonard spent this past weekend in North Carolina with the Midwest Marlins while Struck, who plays club lacrosse with Resolute, was in Maryland as a member of the Midwest regional team at the Nike National All-Star games.
“Usually it’s either one, two or all three (sports) in the same day,” Leonard said. “(I do football lifting at) 8 a.m. and then if we had baseball, it’d be right after that. Hockey is usually at 6 p.m. I find it pretty fun. I don’t like sitting around too much. I like to just go.”
Part of the reason they’re so busy is because of recruiting.
“This is the recruiting summer for lacrosse,” boys lacrosse coach Jason Godwin said. “Next year is kind of that opportunity for football. To be honest, I think (his No. 1 sport) is whatever sport gets him to a great education is what it sounds like to me. I know he’s going to get opportunities in lacrosse. He’s got great grades. He hasn’t taken the ACT yet, but I know he’s got a 3.95 (GPA).”
Struck is trying to give himself options for after high school.
“It just depends,” Struck said. “I’d play college hockey, college football (or) college lacrosse – any of them. It’s not really a huge thing that I’m worrying about nonstop. If I keep working at all of them, I know it’ll come.”
Andrew Leonard (2) scored 15 goals and dished out 21 assists for the Olentangy Liberty hockey team as a sophomore last season. Leonard is a three-sport athlete, who also plays football and baseball for the Patriots. Photo: Michael Rich
‘Primetime performers’
Struck and Leonard became friends when they began playing youth hockey in the fourth grade. They started playing football together in the seventh grade.
Now, the softspoken Leonard has learned how to use his voice.
“I think the biggest thing with (Leonard) is that he’s a leader,” Struck said. “He knows when to yell at people (and when) to crack a joke. That’s what’s so cool about him. Me and him are always joking around, but when it’s time to get serious, he’s the serious guy. He’s the quarterback leading the team. (He’s) helping people that need help.”
Both were key members in helping a senior-laden hockey become the first central Ohio program to capture an OHSAA state championship. Struck had three assists and Leonard added one to help the Patriots defeat Hunting Valley University School 6-2 in the state final to finish 39-1-1.
“Everything (Struck) does, he’s good at it,” Leonard said. “We’ve been playing sports together since we were 10 years old. It’s really easy to have someone you trust so much right there the whole time.”
The Patriots went 16-0 in the Capital Hockey Conference Red Division, becoming the first team to go undefeated and untied since the league began in 2003-04.
Struck, who was second-team all-state and honorable mention all-league, led Liberty with 42 assists and finished second on the team with 64 points behind Charlie Hughes (65).
Leonard, who finished with 15 goals and 31 assists on the season, and Struck each scored a goal and an assist to help the Patriots defeat top-ranked Cleveland St. Ignatius 4-3 in the state semifinal.
“Some kids are good athletes and then there are some that are prime time performers,” hockey coach Kevin Alexander said. “Those two kids absolutely love to play. The bigger the stage, the more these guys want to be involved.”
Liberty defeated Olentangy Berlin 3-0 to win its second Blue Jackets Cup and first since 2011. The Patriots outscored opponents 43-4 in the district tournament, including a 10-1 win over Upper Arlington in the final. Both avenged losses from the previous year.
Jake Struck had 28 goals and 26 assists on the Olentangy Liberty boys lacrosse team. Struck also played key roles on the football and hockey teams as a sophomore last year. Photo: Michael Rich
Iron sharpens iron
Struck and Leonard didn’t waste time getting to work on the hockey season.
The duo were key pieces on a football team that finished 8-6 overall, winning eight of its final 11 games. The Patriots finished 3-2 in the OCC-Central behind champions Dublin Coffman and Upper Arlington (4-1).
“We’re a Division I big school, so it’s pretty unusual to see sophomores start really at any position – but especially at quarterback and running back,” football coach John Sansbury said. “They took advantage of the opportunities they were given. They continued to get better every single week last year. I know Jake got hurt, but both of those guys had an impact on the run we ended up making last year with the offense clicking the way it was (at the end of the regular season and) into the playoffs.”
Liberty fell to Springfield 35-7 in a Division I, Region 2 final on Nov. 18. On Nov. 19, they were on the ice helping the hockey team defeat Berlin 5-1 in its opener. Leonard scored one goal and Struck was plus-2 against the Bears.
Leonard, who was special mention all-district, exceled as the football team’s quarterback going 233-for-378 for 2,596 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 14 games.
Struck, who was second-team all-district and first-team all-league, ran for 773 yards and seven touchdowns on 177 carries in 11 games, missing the first three playoff games with a wrist injury.
“I definitely got better as the time went on,” Leonard said. “We saw the better teams early on and you see the fastest. I just got more comfortable in games and it definitely slowed down.”
Sansbury, a 2004 Liberty graduate, enters his first season as coach this fall after Steve Hale led the Patriots since the school opened in 2003. He’s been an assistant with the program for 14 seasons, including last season as defensive coordinator.
After graduating 29 players off last season’s roster, it would be easy to think that Struck and Leonard are penciled in their respective positions. But that’s not the case and it’s for good reason, Sansbury said.
“We are trying to create as much competition at each position as possible,” Sansbury said. “Even at the quarterback and running back spots – it’s going to be a battle. We’re all about iron sharpening iron. (The players) are going to push each other more than us coaches can possibly do it.”
Rising sophomore Parker Van Engelenhoven, who also plays basketball and baseball, will challenge Leonard at quarterback.
Rising junior Ryan Schapker got the bulk of the carries while Struck was out of action last year, rushing 57 times for 214 yards and a touchdown in the three playoff games. He finished with 79 carries for 285 yards and two scores on the ground.
“(Schapker) is phenomenal,” Struck said. “He stepped up when I got hurt. I know I’m going to have competition for that spot. There’s no guarantee – me or him could easily get that spot. So, every day we’re lifting together on the same rack and doing all the drills together. Both of us are (trying) to be the best we can be. (We’re) both giving all we’ve got to get that spot.”
Sansbury said rising sophomore Antonio Kish will also compete for carries.
Jake Struck (21) was a standout for the Olentangy Liberty hockey team, leading the Patriots with 42 assists. His 64 points were second on the team behind Charlie Hughes as Liberty became the first program from central Ohio to win an OHSAA state championship. Photo: Michael Rich
‘A tough, hard-nosed leader’
Time management isn’t the only challenge of a three-sport athlete.
“Holding priorities in order is the challenge for a three-sport kid,” baseball coach Ty Brenning said. “You better be really athletic, you better be super tough and you better love to compete. I think that’s what really sets those two guys apart – their competitive spirit and their toughness.
The spring was an adjustment for Leonard, who was role player off the bench for the baseball team, which finished 27-4 overall and won the OCC-Central at 12-3 to win its second consecutive league title and 10th overall.
Leonard played sparingly – just eight games as a utility player – going 2-for-16 with two walks, three runs, two RBIs and a stolen base.
But his contributions were just as valuable off the field.
“He not only cares and takes a lot of pride in doing well on the field, but he’s an amazing person and a super hard-working student,” Brenning said. “In today’s world, those guys are really, really hard to find. They’re super rare because of how demanding things have gotten in our specialized world.
“I think Andrew’s a tough, hard-nosed leader who earned his way on varsity early in his career because of his character traits in combination with his baseball skill.”
‘Mr. Reliable’
Struck has been a key player for the boys lacrosse team, which battled injuries throughout the year and finished 16-6 overall and 3-2 in league play to finish third behind champion Upper Arlington (5-0).
His 26 assists were the most in program history for a sophomore. But Struck proved to be valuable all over the field, adding 28 goals, 72 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers for Liberty, which was regional runner-up for a second consecutive season, falling to Dublin Jerome both times.
“He’s got that great attitude of being competitive,” Godwin said. “He’ll play offense; he’ll play defense. He’s incredibly trustworthy because he’s going to make an athletic play for you. He was Mr. Reliable.”
Struck said his favorite sport was the one he’s playing at the moment.
“I love all three sports I play,” Struck said. “So, it’s really hard for me to get burned out. There are days when it’s hard, but there’s always stuff to look forward to and get excited about.”