On Tuesday, January 22, teammates, family members, coaches, teachers and administrators gathered in the Westerville North High School Gallery to watch and celebrate as friends Grace Heighway and Katie Koch committed to continue their education and athletic careers at the collegiate level. Heighway signed on to play lacrosse at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, where she plans to study Biology and Pre-Occupational Therapy. Koch announced her intentions to play soccer for the Gray Wolves at Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio, where she will pursue a nursing degree.
Heighway is a four-year lacrosse letter winner who has started in every game of her high school career. Last year she earned 2018 All OCC and 2nd team All Region honors. She was Rookie of the Year as a freshman and Team MVP in her junior season. She is a two-year Team Captain of her lacrosse team and was a Senior Team Captain in soccer. She also received the Soccer Coaches’ Award her sophomore season. For the past five years, Heighway played for the Resolute Club lacrosse team and was part of the 2015 Hershey Shootout Tournament Championship team.
Heighway is a 2018 US Lacrosse Academic All-American, one of only six girls in Central Ohio and one of 22 in the State of Ohio. She has been an academic scholar athlete all four years she has competed for Westerville North and is a member of the National Honor Society. She earned numerous Academic Excellence Awards and the OCC Student Leadership Conference Award. Heighway has been a member of many academic clubs at North including the Warrior Athletic Leadership Team (WALT), Key Club, Interact Club, and Junior Mentors. She also plays violin in the school orchestra.
Katie Koch’s love of soccer started when she was four years old, playing for her dad in the Westerville Area Soccer Association, WASA. She has played club soccer since 2008 for a variety of local select soccer clubs including the WASA Eagles, Columbus Crew Juniors, Classics FC, SP Soccer Academy and FC 614.
Koch has been a member of Westerville North’s girls’ soccer and track and field teams all four years of high school, earning varsity letters and serving as team captain in both sports. She was an academic scholar athlete every year she competed for North and is a member of the National Honor Society.
During her junior year, Koch was presented with the “Warrior Identity” award from the Warrior Athletic Leadership Team, for showing great coachablity, commitment, a consistent attitude and effort on the girls’ track and field team. Being part of both the soccer and track and field programs at Westerville North has taught her how to face everyday challenges and learn to persevere while inspiring her teammates to be the best they can be.
Both girls expressed appreciation to everyone who helped them succeed, and said they would continue to live the “Warrior Way.”