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Star runner with girls plays hockey with boys

Sydney Leiher loves to run, but she also plays forward for the boys hockey squad, where she has a goal and an assist.

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By Dave Long, Contributing Writer Updated 7:44 PM Friday, December 24, 2010

BEAVERCREEK — Elite runners usually steer clear of contact sports for fear of leg injuries. Not Beavercreek’s Sydney Leiher.

She puts on the pads, laces up the skates and grabs a stick to take a regular shift at forward as a member of the Beavercreek high school hockey team.

Ohio doesn’t offer girls hockey, and Leiher, a sophomore, is the third girl to play at Creek since 1998. On Dec. 3, she became the first girl in school history to score a goal during 7-3 win over Columbus St. Charles. She also had an assist.

Leiher is a good hockey player, but she’s an accomplished runner. Her cross country season included a third-place finish in the Greater Western Ohio Conference meet and a 17th-place finish at state. Last spring she won the won GWOC Central Division 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs.

“I’ve thought about trying out for boys hockey since last summer,” Leiher said. “I love hockey. I’ve played since I was in the first grade. I know it can get physical on the ice. I’ve been hit before and I’ve hit people.”

The Leihers are an Air Force family. Sydney and her brother, Cody, a senior forward, were introduced to the sport when their family was stationed in Minot, N.D. They sharpened their skills in Washington, D.C., before moving to Beavercreek.

“This is really the first time we’ve played on a team together since we were real little,” said Cody who has two goals and seven assists. “It’s a lot of fun having her around.

“I especially like it at 5 a.m. when I’m not the only one rolling out of bed to be at practice at 6. She’s a good player, but just doing it to have fun. Running is where she really gets serious. She’s really good.”

The fact Leiher has a runner’s build at 6 feet, 130 pounds also makes her participation in hockey risky.

“Sydney has played hockey her whole life. She really does love the game,” said her mother, Loretta. “She was a manager for the boys team last year. She also played for two teams, locally the Miami Valley Panthers, and some weekends for a team in Indianapolis.

“She really thought she could make the boys team and contribute. She’s really a good skater and can handle herself on the ice.”

Creek coach Kevin McClure had no problem with her playing.

“Syd skated with us a lot in practices last year and she’s a skilled player,” he said. “I had no doubt she could help us. My only question was her size, but she holds her own.”

Even though she practices early in the morning (6 a.m. three days a week at Kettering Recreation Center) and plays games on the weekends, Leiher maintains her running schedule. That includes daily afternoon runs of five miles or more plus weight-lifting and quickness drills.

“One thing I found out last spring in track and this fall in cross country is that I need more leg strength,” Leiher said. “Playing hockey is really helping me build up my legs and gives me a great cardio workout.

“Doing both sports every day is kind of cool. I’m a competitive person and hockey lets me be aggressive. Running gives me time to think and kind of chill out.”

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