A visit with former WPIAL swimming champion Ashley Henderson


Background Info: Greensburg Central Catholic alumnus Ashley Henderson may be known as one of the best girls basketball players in the WPIAL from the last 15 years, yet amazingly enough the Greensburg Central Catholic graduate actually won her first title as a junior on the Centurions soccer team. She also played in two state soccer finals, in 2005 and 2006 when the WPIAL-champion squad lost to Villa Joseph Marie and South Williamsport, respectively. Ironically, she never played in a state basketball final as the team was eliminated in the PIAA Class 2A semifinals by a District 6 team three consecutive times, from 2004-06 and in the quarterfinals by Westmont Hilltop in 2007. Even so, Henderson won WPIAL Class 2A titles in both her junior and senior years, in 2006 and 2007, and remains the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,725 points.

Ashley Henderson what she took out of playing in WPIAL.
"I think the WPIAL is a special kind of bond that everybody who has played in the league kind of connects with. Now that I live in Texas, I think the WPIAL is even more special to me because it’s more like a sisterhood or a brotherhood for the guys because it’s not something that everybody gets to go to. It’s earned. Once you’re invited and you earn that, I think you’re part of an elite club and it’s a very special and unique experience being able to play at the Palumbo center and the Fitzgerald Field House and all that. It was definitely some of the highlights of my career throughout the years."

Ashley Henderson on her greatest high school accomplishment.
"Wow. That’s a tough one. I think my greatest personal accomplishment would be holding the girls scoring record – I think I still hold it – to this day. But outside of that, I had such a great high school experience with the people and the players and the coaches that I got to play with. That was the thing that I’ll probably take away the most that was most special to me because they really made the experience what it was. Winning and playing with great players is probably the greatest accomplishment that I had, far more than any individual accolades."

Ashley Henderson on which of her four WPIAL championships stands out the most.
"They’re all pretty great. I think for me, there wasn’t an individual one that stands out more than others, but now that I’m 30 years old and looking back on having a handful between soccer and basketball of gold and second-place medals, it’s very special and that’s what I take with me. It’s not that one was more special than the others, but the memories and experiences that I’ve had to take away and having those gold medals I’ll be able to have for the rest of my life is really special."

Ashley Henderson on the difference between winning soccer and basketball championships.
"For me, I wasn’t the best player on the soccer team by any means. I got to be, in my opinion, a role player and a workhorse and really just do my very best and be the very best teammate that I could be. I was very fortunate to work hard and have athleticism that allowed me to be on the field with some very talented Division I and Division II players that moved on to college. It was fun for me not to be in that lead role and not have to carry the weight of a team and have that responsibility. My favorite thing about playing soccer and being on those teams was being able to watch them. I may have been on the field with them and playing and playing with them, but I got the best seat in the house to some of the greatest players to come out of Western Pennsylvania for soccer. It was a joy to me to be able to play with them and be on the field with them and watch them shine."