By Tara Sowle
UWRF Sports Information

Leah Baron grew up figure skating in Hermantown, Minn., where she turned hockey player during her sophomore year at Proctor-Hermantown High School. When making the transition from figure skating to hockey she relied heavily on her Dad for help.

"My Dad was my biggest influence. He played for UM-Duluth and coached my brother all through high school. Two weeks before tryouts we would practice everyday before school."

She ended up being a stand out for the hockey team and during her senior year she finished with 44 points and was named to the second All-Area team. She also made the Duluth News-Tribune as a Prep Newsmaker. She set a school record for assists and also played with the Minnesota Selects in 2001.

Baron said what she likes best about hockey is, "being the play maker; I like to set up the plays and give assists."

Coming into the 2004-05 season Baron played in 57 games and scored 14 goals and 61 points. She has scored two power-play goals and two game winners.

After eight games in 2004-05 she has scored twice and has six total points.

She started playing for the Falcons during her freshman year and has been a major factor ever since. Her previous work as a figure skater has helped her pull away from her opponents and to get to the open ice. Last year she played in every game, helping her team by scoring nine goals and 16 points.

Falcon Coach Joe Cranston believes, "she is the most consistent player on the team. She is our best skater and I can always count on her."

Baron also competes with the Falcon tennis team where she plays No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles. She finished the 2004 season with a 10-5 record in singles play and she teamed with Megan Knobloch to finish 7-7 in doubles.

When she finds some free time she gives figure skating lessons for anyone from 5 years old to adults.
Baron likes her busy schedule and said, "it gets stressful sometimes when practices overlap and you have two coaches demanding a lot from you, but I couldn’t imagine not playing."

Besides working hard on the ice and on the court she also is a strong worker in the classroom. In 2004 she was named to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. The junior is majoring in health & human performance.

Baron’s outlook for the season is hopeful. "It’s going good so far and we get better with every game. We had some road blocks (Superior and Gustavus Adolphus) but it showed us the level we need to be at." She would love to see her team go to nationals and believes they can when, "the team comes together."

Baron, as an upperclassman feels like a leader on the rink and pushes her teammates to work hard. She has learned what it takes to be successful at the collegiate level. She believes the number one thing athletes need to be able to do once they get to the college level is to, "really be coachable and listen to everything the coach has to tell you."

Leah Baron