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RFHS’ Leonard, Jensen top All-2A WSC picks

Phil Sandoval
Post Independent Staff
Post Independent File Photo/Kelley CoxRoaring Fork High running back James Leonard, pictured in a game played this season, was named as the 2A Western Slope Conference's Co-Player of the Year by the conference's coaches.
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Roaring Fork’s dominance of the Class 2A Western Slope football conference continues into the post-season.

Ram running back James Leonard and coach Tory Jensen were named as the 2003 Co-Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively, by the coaches of the eight-team conference.

But, the honors didn’t stop there.



Six additional Roaring Fork starters, plus Leonard, from the unbeaten regular-season WSC champs were also chosen to the conference’s first team.

Ram football players honored include Dan Markoya, Ryan Donnelly, Tommy Joiner, Misael Fernandez, Garrett Jammeron, Max Green and Leonard. All seven players are seniors.



Roaring Fork also had the highest number of athletes ” seven ” voted to the all-conference first team.

Four Basalt High football players ” Clayton Peetz, Cody Burkholder, Adam Gawrys and Kaleb Nye ” were also voted to the conference’s first team.

Peetz and Burkholder are juniors. Gawrys and Nye are seniors.

Leonard’s award also earned him an automatic selection to the annual all-state football game in Greeley in June of 2004.

In 2003, Leonard racked up some impressive numbers.

The Ram senior, according to Rocky Preps statistics, was the fourth-best rusher in Class 2A with 1,601 yards and a 7.8 per-carry average.

Jensen, in his seventh season as Roaring Fork’s head coach, led the 2003 Rams to an 11-1 overall record, a perfect 7-0 mark in conference play and state playoff wins over La Junta and Estes Park.

The victories advanced the Rams to the 2A semifinals where their season concluded with a 28-0 loss to eventual state champion Denver Christian.

Some of the other Ram honorees stats are also noteworthy.

Green, also voted the All-Conference kicker, ended the season as the state’s No. 5 receiver in 2A with 497 yards in 23 catches, along with a gaudy 21.6 per-catch average.

Joiner, given a nod as one of the WSC’s five top linemen, was just as effective on offense, catching 20 passes for 253 yards, averaging 12.7 per catch.

Markoya, the Rams’ quarterback, was among the state’s passing leaders with a 46 percent completion mark (52-of-112 passes) for 862 yards and eight touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Basalt’s football future should brighten with Peetz’s return next year. Peetz’s 1,055 yards in 189 carries and 81 tackles on defense made the 2A leaderboard in both categories.

Ten additional area players, six from Roaring Fork and four from Basalt, earned honorable mention.

Roaring Fork’s list includes seniors Michael Quint, Taylor Arbaney, Ian Black, Dan Ives and Aaron Markham plus sophomore Jake Bowman.

Basalt’s roll of honorable mention players includes Justin Kovack and Ari Wolters, both juniors and sophomores Riley Eaton and Zack Southward.


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