Bates Scholarship: No quit in Chippewa's Annie Henegar

It’s rare to see Annie Henegar ever walk off the soccer pitch, basketball court or softball diamond without being exhausted.

The Chippewa senior has always made sure to leave everything she has left in the tank on whatever surface she’s playing on.

That relentless effort and selfless attitude is one reason why the Chipps have been among the region’s best in both soccer and girls basketball. It’s also a reason why Henegar has been tabbed as one of eight recipients of the Roy S. Bates Scholarship, given annually by the Bates Foundation.

Second half stunner: Chippewa rallies from three-goal deficit to shock Norwayne

“My mindset has always been to never settle and to make sure everyone knew I was giving 100%, no matter what practice, game, course, field or court I competed in,” said Henegar, who also competed in cross country for three seasons. “I've never done anything for myself; it has always been for the team, coaches, and the community.

“It is so easy to give up and focus on one sport, but I wanted the challenge of doing more. I always look forward to the next opportunity.”

Henegar has done just that as she not only has been a captain this past year in all three sports, but she has also done her best to give all of her time, effort, and support to each of them.

The result over her four-year career has been multiple all-Wayne County Athletic League honors in each, along with guiding the soccer and basketball teams to some of the best seasons in school history.

If anyone needed an example of that effort and energy that Henegar brings to the table, all they need to do is look at a weekday night soccer match to close the regular season this past fall.

While it wasn’t just any match, this one against neighboring Norwayne for the outright county championship, the Chipps found themselves down 3-0 with a little over 35 minutes left in regulation.

That’s when Henegar put the team on her back and led one of the best comebacks in program history, scoring three goals, including the game winner less than seven minutes remaining, in Chippewa’s 4-3 win.

“Annie is an explosive offensive player that is able to break through the opposing team’s defense to score or to be a part of the scoring attack,” Chipps girls soccer coach Ruth Coney said of Henegar, who broke the school’s single-season record for goals scored in 2023 with 33. “She is such a strong player that the opposing defense players find it extremely hard to contain her. She is extremely fast with and without the ball. What sets Annie apart from other offensive players in the Northeast Ohio area is her leadership on the field, determination to win, technical finishing ability and her speed of play.”

That steely resolve was also evident on the hardwood being a part of Chippewa’s run to the Division III state championship game, helping lead a team that was loaded with underclassman back to regionals and adding another WCAL crown to her resume.

“Annie has one of the greatest competitive hearts and is very kind,” Chipps girls basketball coach Katie Miller said. “She always played for the team and wanted the team to do well.  Her competitiveness and desire to do whatever the team needed were everyday guarantees.  She brought the best out in herself and her teammates.”

That attitude has always been the backbone of Henegar’s athletic career from an early age as the youngest of five siblings.

But it’s more about being support, something she exhibited in being her grandfather’s caregiver, a babysitter and one that she hopes to continue in her future career in the medical field.

No matter what the situation, or score, Henegar was never one to give up or wave the white flag. She wasn’t going to quit until the final buzzer or whistle.

“My drive for success has always started at home,” she said. “My parents, especially my dad, have always explained to us that if you knew you gave 100%, no matter what the scoreboard said, you are a winner. This mentality started at a very early age, from watching my four older siblings play, to eventually having the honor to play with them.

“As I am approaching graduation, I look back on the time I spent as a Lady Chipp, and one thing that I will never forget is that family that I have made here at Chippewa,” Henegar added. “I will miss my teammates that were there for me on and off the field and court. I will miss my coaches who didn't just teach me about the sports I played but also taught me lessons that I will carry throughout my lifetime.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Bates Scholarship: Chippewa's Henegar one of the WCAL's best