Henney catches D-I chance with BGSU

BELLEVUE — Early in Kyra Henney's days as a catcher, she gave up the position. Her cousin and pitcher, Maci Smythe, had injured Henney's glove hand. So she gave other spots a try. But Henney eventually returned behind the plate, and good thing — she grew into a Division I catcher. "I played first base and outfield, but two years later, I decided to try catching again," Henney said. "I stuck with it ever since. I got to high school and she messed up my hand again, but I didn't have a choice at that point." Henney locked in her collegiate future on Wednesday afternoon, signing a National Letter of Intent to play for Bowling Green in the MAC. The Bellevue senior had committed to BGSU more than a year ago and finally got to experience the burden-lifting moment of putting her pen to that paper. "It's amazing," Henney said. "When you're going through the recruiting process, it's sending out hundreds of emails every week. As a catcher, I'd turn around and see a college coach and be like, 'I can't mess up.' Knowing that that pressure is off, I feel free." Henney eventually grew to love catcher, one of the most unique positions in sports and one that should make her extremely valuable to the Falcons. "It's almost surreal knowing I can actually go (to BGSU)," Henney said. "When I was younger, I was kind of bad. I worked my butt off every day. If I would've told 10-year-old me that I was doing this right now, she probably wouldn't believe me. But here I am." Henney's appreciation for the position went hand-in-hand with her growth behind the dish. She receives the ball well on the corners, blocks it effectively in the dirt and possesses a cannon of a right arm to deter would-be base stealers. "I love being able to communicate everything with my teammates," Henney said. "I love framing. I love making my pitchers look good. Knowing that I'm giving them a confidence boost and helping them get those calls, it means so much to me, because I want them to be the best person they can be." Henney can also swing it, too. She batted better than .600 as a junior for the Lady Red. She credited much of her hitting prowess to those around her who never hesitated from helping Henney put in extra work. "A lot of credit to my parents and my batting coach," Henney said. "... I'd go out every day and practice with (my dad). When I was 14, I started taking it serious and thought I had something special here." Henney, who was All-SBC Lake First Team as a junior, will take on an extra important role as a senior following the graduation of Smythe, Ella Messina, Emma Bauer, Makenna Ballin and Kennedy Gerhardstein. The group they were a part of the past three seasons won three SBC Lake Division championships with unbeaten league records, along with three sectional titles — two in walk-off fashion. With multiple new infielders and a new pitcher, Henney will be called upon to help a still-talented group uphold Bellevue's tradition. "I think we're kind of underdogs," Henney said. "We lost our pitcher, half our infield. I want to be a good leader to show these girls that we can be good. We have the talent. We know we can do it. I want to give everybody that confidence to be the best person they can be." Henney will first comprise a key bench role for Bellevue's girls basketball team, then will don the red and white for one final spring. Once her Bellevue career is over, she'll move on to a college softball opportunity that she'd spent many years hoping for. Henney will be part of a BGSU roster that already includes Perkins graduate Cameron Kaufman, meaning two of the SBC Lake's finest in recent years will be on the same side for the Falcons. "I love the coaches," Henney said. "I've known (head coach Candace) Fenton-Bockbader since I was 14... Their team culture is incredible. Everyone feels wanted. Everyone wants to be there." Henney doesn't plan to put down her catching equipment any time soon. These days, she's right at home behind the plate.