Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Kaili Henning of St. Edmond pitches in the state quarterfinal round last season at Rogers Park.

For some, the end of senior year is often met with excitement — a time to leave familiar territory and move on to a new chapter in life.

Part of Kaili Henning is certainly ready to go off to college, but there is a large piece of the St. Edmond graduate that will forever be a Gael.

And she’s not done yet.

“I will miss getting the opportunity to work hard and compete with all of my friends in front of the large and loud St. Edmond crowds,” she said. “I have been playing with some of these girls since I was 11, so leaving them will certainly be difficult for me.”

Until that final out is recorded, though, Henning plans to do everything in her power to lead the St. Edmond softball team back to the state tournament.

Last summer, the Gaels reached the Class 1A field. They claimed the outright North Central Conference championship, and Henning earned all-state honors.

From inside the circle in 2023, the future Loras College athlete was 14-4 with 150 strikeouts and a 1.58 earned run average in 110-plus innings. She also hit .337 with a home run, eight doubles and a team-leading 27 RBI.

“Being a Gael athlete these past four plus years has truly been both a privilege and a blessing,” Henning said. “I have learned to not only become a better athlete, but also, a better person. I have also learned countless life lessons through my athletic and academic experience.

“I have been able to make life long connections and friendships through the years.”

For her softball career, Henning is 37-7 with 446 strikeouts and 122 hits at the plate.

She is the lone senior on the roster for SEHS head coach Bill Shirbroun this summer, which brings some added responsibility to her game.

“I feel that I have taken on a large leadership role within the softball program, but it is not just limited to this year,” Henning said. “I feel that I have been able to take some leadership roles in the softball program since I began, it has just become larger as I am the only senior this year.

“I love being the leader of the softball program, and I like to be able to push my teammates while they also continue to push me. I enjoy taking the underclassmen under my wing to show them what it takes and looks like to compete at a high level.”

Along with softball, Henning has also been involved in basketball, cheerleading and track go to along with Respect for Life, Honor Society, Fort Dodge Junior Leadership, yearbook club and Play Like a Champion.

She plans to major in kinesiology and minor in both psychology and Catholic studies at Loras.

TIMEOUT WITH KAILI HENNING

Vacation destination: Portugal, Italy or Ireland

People I would like to have dinner with: Jesus and my great grandma

It would surprise people that I: love to crochet

My sports role model: my dad

My everyday role model: my mom

I can’t go a day without: my watch

Nickname: K or Red

Superstition: I wear the same jewelry every game. I also warm-up with the same softball before each game.

Most heated rivalry: Newell-Fonda

Favorite road trip: Minnesota

What are you listening to right now? Good News Sold

What is your go to song? Too Sweet

Favorites…

Team: Iowa and the Yankees

Athlete: Jordy Bahl

Class: Life Skills or Walking Class.

Movie: Your Place or Mine

Something you binge watch: Outer Banks

Book or Magazine: The Silent Patient

Phone app: Messages or Sudoku