College soccer: SHS grad Henninger to play for powerhouse WWU squad

By Sequim Gazette Staff • May 2, 2018 1:30 am
SequimHigh senior goalkeeper Claire Henninger was selected to the Olympic League first-team for her outstanding play in front of the goal in 2017. Henninger will guard the goal for the Western Washington University Vikings in the fall. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash
SequimHigh senior goalkeeper Claire Henninger was selected to the Olympic League first-team for her outstanding play in front of the goal in 2017. Henninger will guard the goal for the Western Washington University Vikings in the fall. Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash

Sequim High School graduate Claire Henninger is one of Western Washington University’s newest women’s soccer recruits, set to play for one of the top Division II programs in the nation.

Travis Connell, WWU’s head women’s soccer coach, announced in mid-April the addition of Henninger and Dayana Diaz of Granite Falls, Wa., for the upcoming 2018 season.

Both players will be freshmen for the Vikings when they take the field for the 2018 season starting in August. Henninger will don No. 28 for the Vikings.

Henninger is a 5-foot 9-inch goalkeeper who earned a varsity letter all four years during her prep career and was a team captain her junior and senior seasons at Sequim High. She also played club for Peninsula Soccer Academy in the North Puget Sound League.

Henninger recorded 28 shutouts during her prep career, including eight in 12 games during her senior season (2017). She was named to the All-Olympic League First Team three times and twice earned 2A Honorable Mention All-State honors. Henninger also received the WIAA Outstanding Scholastic Award three times

She is interested in pursuing a degree in kinesiology.

“Claire is a fantastic athlete with a huge upside,” Connell said. “She has the right mentality to be a tremendous college goalkeeper.”

Western won the 2016 NCAA II national championship and are coming off another strong season in 2017, going 18-2 and playing in the NCAA II West Regional Championship game for the fifth time in the last six seasons.

Over the last six seasons, the WWU program has risen to the elite ranks of collegiate soccer, compiling a 118-11-7 (.893) record, advancing to the NCAA II Championships each season during this stretch dating back to 2012.

WWU opens the 2018 season against Point Loma on Aug. 30 and West Region rival UC San Diego on Sept. 1, both in San Diego.

Shea picks Vikings

Sequim High senior Sarah Shea recently signed her National Letters of Intent to play at Western Washungton University.

Shea earned First Team All-Olympic League four times during her high school career has two top-25 finishes in the WIAA 2A State tournaments.

Outside of competition for her high school, Shea won first place in her age division in the Pacific Junior Tour Tournament at Bremerton’s Gold Mountain Golf Course (Olympic Course) and was the first flight runner-up at the 2017 Pacific Northwest Golf Association Junior Girls Championships at Sandpines Golf Course in Florence, Ore.

Shea is the younger sister of current WWU men’s golfer Jack Shea.

“I think Sarah has a tremendous upside. She’s only recently decided to just focus on golf and competing and playing with other collegiate players is going to be huge for her development,” WWU head women’s golf coach Bo Stephan said.

“I also think that having her brother here competing on the men’s team will really help that transition into college golf and college life.”