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Heather McInnis: Driven to succeed in sports and life
Heather McInnis has a saying that might just sum up her entire approach to life: “Go big or go home.”
In a society where people often juggle many pursuits and master none, McInnis embodies athleticism and brains.
One glance at her impressive list of accomplishments suggests that McInnis possesses a hearty understanding of just what it means to “go big.”
Serving as a captain for both varsity volleyball and lacrosse her senior year, McInnis was the only LHS senior from her graduating class to letter in lacrosse all four years.
She served as historian for Liberty’s National Honor Society, and will attend Virginia Tech in the fall, with hopes of becoming a doctor.
Adding to her streaming inventory of accolades is selection as the Fauquier Times-Democrat 2009 Girls Athlete of the Year from Liberty High
“I feel really honored. It means a lot to know that all my hard work is noticed,” said McInnis.
Post-graduation life finds McInnis keeping a much calmer schedule than she’s accustomed to. You can find her working at Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream in Gainesville, preparing for college, and soaking up sun by the pool.
“I almost get bored now at home. I’ve started having friends over to play volleyball in the pool just to have something to keep me active,” said McInnis, sporting a coppery tan.
According to her coaches, sun rays aren’t the only things McInnis is capable of adsorbing.
“Heather is like a sponge,” said Highland volleyball coach Gary Hicklin (a previous coach at FHS), who has worked with McInnis both in basketball, as her coach in the sixth grade at Warrenton Middle School, and volleyball, through summer volleyball camps and a travel team,
“She’s very, very coachable and is top notch in whatever she does. Whether she’s on a winning team or a losing team, Heather is always there to rely on. That’s a coach’s dream.”
McInnis got her start with volleyball in the 8th grade, after transitioning to the then-freshly created Auburn Middle School.
“In the sixth grade, Stormie Malik persuaded me to try out for WMS volleyball team. I made it through the first rounds but not the second,” said McInnis, “I got pretty discouraged, but in the eighth grade when I went to Auburn, I tried out again. I had a new coach and a new environment, and that time I made it.”
The rest is history. After spending two years on freshman and JV volleyball at LHS, McInnis began playing on an all-year travel volleyball team and was bumped up to varsity as a junior.
Her impressive arm speed and strength, fused with her intimidating stance on court, earned her all-Cedar Run District honorable-mention honors.
Her transition onto the varsity level proved to be a challenge. Not surprisingly, McInnis is the sort of athlete who welcomed it.
“Travel had pretty much prepared me for varsity, because it kept me playing non-stop and built up my endurance,” said McInnis. “Varsity was completely different than what I was used to, though. My opponents were so much taller. Even though I’m 5-foot-10, those girls felt like giants to me. I’d go up to hit, and these huge hands would come up over the net. It really taught me how to get around the block.”
As a senior, McInnis was voted a team captain. Despite a disheartening 4-17 record for the Eagles, the spiking-star was nevertheless satisfied with her senior year performance.
“I gave it my all, tried my hardest, and had fun,” said McInnis. “Obviously the record was disappointing, but overall I was pleased.”
In terms of records, McInnis fared better with lacrosse her senior year.
Led by her solid attack skills, the Eagles went 7-5, ending the season with a loss against Osbourn Park in the Cedar Run District Tournament game.
Until her freshman year, McInnis had never even touched a lacrosse stick, and certainly had no idea what it was used for.
At the time McInnis was playing volleyball and basketball (which she gave up in her junior year to focus on travel volleyball), and needed to be involved in a spring sport in order to receive an LHS tri-athlete award.
After a friend prodded her to try lacrosse, McInnis went out, bought a stick, and started practicing.
“That’s the kind of athlete Heather is,” said McInnis’ father and lacrosse coach, Ken McInnis. “She spent at least two hours a day just building her skills up. She even took out a window at home, but kept going. But that just goes to show how Heather is. When she commits, she commits all the way.”
Then came the shocker: McInnis made varsity.
“It was an amazing feeling. I was so surprised,” said McInnis, “I was also really nervous because I had to go to practice with a bunch of upperclassmen who weren’t my friends. As it turns out, all the girls were really nice. After that first practice, it was smooth sailing...”See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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