West Liberty University Athletics

    Leo Zilla was an outstanding three-sport athlete at West Liberty despite having his career split into two parts by World War II.
    The Ford City, Pa. native earned first-team All-West Virginia Conference honors in football during the 1941 and 1942 seasons as one of the top running backs in the state. His 78-yard run against D&E was the longest in the WVIAC during the Hilltoppers' 1941 championship season. In addition to his All-WVIAC honors, Zilla was selected as a 1942 All-West Virginia College All-Star - a team that included players from all college teams in the Mountain State.
    World War II shut down athletics on the hilltop from 1943-45 but Zilla returned from the service to play his senior year in 1946, helping lead Coach Joe Bartell's squad to another WVIAC championship and earning his third All-WVIAC honor.
    Zilla was also a three-year letterman in baseball and basketball during his time on the hilltop. Following graduation, he spent several years as a high school coach at his alma mater, Ford City, and also at West Deer (Pa.) High School.