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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Player News - Leo's Multiple WCU Kicking Records

If West Chester football fans were asked who the best kicker in school history is, the response is likely to reveal something about their age. Younger fans are likely to say Alex Walsh. Fans approaching middle age might name John Marotta or Eric Wentling while those that are senior citizens might say that Barry Stevenson was the best. And all of those fans would have had reason to claim "their guy" was the right answer. Until now.


Golden Ram kicker Shawn Leo just completed his career at West Chester and has broken records that had been held by every one of those guys previously named. Some of the marks stood for just five years while others have been around for over 40 years!!! The senior from Harleysville was named All-PSAC East second team this season. Here's a look at the West Chester kicking records that he now claims:

  • Field Goals Made in a Game: 4 - Leo kicked four field goals in the first game of the 2011 season at New Haven. He was perfect on the day, converting from 33, 32, 28 and 30 yards with the last one coming in overtime. Then in the final game of the 2012 season at Clarion, he matched the performance by making field goals from 40, 32, 45 and 36. He equaled the feat yet again at Bloomsburg in the 2013 playoffs when he converted from 28, 21, 32 and 43. Several players, including Leo, were tied for the previous record of three.

  • Field Goals Made in a Season: 16 - In 2011, Leo converted on 15 attempts, eclipsing the previous team record of 12 held by Eric Wentling in 1984. Then in 2013, Leo topped his own mark when he notched his 16th of the season at Bloomsburg in the second round of the playoffs.

  • Field Goals Made in a Career: 53 - The previous mark was held by John Marotta who converted 30 field goals from 1987-1990. Leo eclipsed this mark in his junior year and went on to make 53 in his four years at West Chester. This mark is second in the PSAC behind only Bloomsburg's Dan Fisher (2010-2013) who finished his career with 57.

  • Field Goal Percentage in a Season: 90% - As a freshman, Leo converted on nine of ten attempts for a 90% success rate. His only miss was his first collegiate attempt, a 49-yarder in the closing seconds of the first half at Slippery Rock. The previous mark of 72.7% was set by John Zelenak in 1979.

  • Field Goal Percentage in a Career: 76.8% - Alex Walsh held the record of 70.1% from 2005-2008. Leo converted on 53 of 69 attempts for a 76.8% success rate in his four year career.

  • Points After Touchdown in a Season: 70 - PAT's can only be attempted when the team scores a touchdown, so part of this achievement goes to the offense. The previous mark of 52 was held by Barry Stevenson in 1971. Second in the PSAC behind East Stroudsburg's Mark Brubaker (74, 2005).

  • Points After Touchdown in a Career: 189 - Alex Walsh held the record of 179 from 2005-2008. The Golden Rams participated in the playoffs in each of those four seasons, giving Walsh an additional six games played. Leo got to participate in the playoffs for the first time in his senior season when the Golden Rams reached the national semi-finals. This mark is second in the PSAC behind Bloomsburg's Dan Fisher (190).

  • Point After Touchdown Percentage in a Season: 98.6% - Leo also made the most of his opportunities by making 70 of 71 attempts in 2013. In his freshman season, Leo equaled the previous record of 94.7% which was held by Eric Wentling in 1982. His conversion percentage improved each year, hitting 97.2% in his sophomore year and 98.0% in his junior year prior to having his best mark in his final season.

  • Point After Touchdown Percentage in a Career: 97.4% - Another Eric Wentling mark fell over the past four years. Wentling converted 92.5% of his PAT attempts from 1981-1984. Leo converted on 189 of 194 attempts to set a new career West Chester PAT success rate.

  • Kicking Points in a Season: 118 - John Marotta had 79 points in 1988. In 2011, Leo broke that record by kicking for 80 points. Then in 2012, he broke his own record by making 48 PAT's and 13 field goals for a season high 87 points. Finally in 2013, he notched 118 kicking points on 16 field goals and 70 PAT's. This mark is tied for the best season in the PSAC with Mike Geary of IUP in 1993.

  • Kicking Points in a Career: 348 - In his four years at West Chester, Alex Walsh converted 179 PAT's and 24 field goals for 251 career kicking points. In the past four seasons, Leo converted 189 PATs and 53 field goals for 348 career points. Leo is second in PSAC in this category behind Bloomsburg's Dan Fisher (361).


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