Outlook

Griffin Heinen is a left-footed left back who was a late addition to the roster in 2024 ... Really good on the back line ... Possesses good vision and is strong in the air ... Could also see playing time in the midfield area.

Freshman Year 2024

Helped JCCC to a runner-up finish in the Division II Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference, a runner-up finish in the Region 6 Tournament, a No. 8 ranking in the final NJCAA Division II Poll with an overall record of 14-4-0 … Played in 15 matches, four as a starter … Was part of a defensive unit that posted the third-best goals against average in the conference at 1.44, with four shutouts, which tied for second-most ... Earned NJCAA All-Academic first-team with a GPA of 4.0.

High School

Was a two-year starter and three-year letter winner for coach Brian Hensyel at Washburn Rural High School, Topeka  Kan. … Graduated 2024 … Selected 6A All-State second-team by the Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association, All-Centennial League first-team and All-City first-team his senior year … Earned second-team All-Centennial League as a junior … Helped his team to three conference, sectional and region championships with a third-place finish at the 6A state tournament in 2023 … Provided the assist on the Junior Blues first goal just 1:26 into the contest the broke a 1-1 tie netting a goal with only 56 second remaining downing Dodge City in the third-place game, capping a 19-2-0 season … Amassed 20 goals and 20 assists for 60 points over his career, highlighted by an 11 goal, 11 assist, 33-point senior year … Tallied five goals and six assists for 16 points as a junior and four goals with three assists for 11 points his sophomore year … Played three seasons of club soccer with 2020 Kansas ODP, 2023 FC Majestic and 2024 Sporing Blue Valley 05/06 … Helped Sporting Blue Valley win a State Cup in 2023-24 … High honor roll student … Graduated in the Top 10 percent of his class.

Personal

Born Griffin Ray Heinen on July 25, 2006, in Topeka, Kan. … Nickname is Griff … Son of Mark and Michelle Heinen …  His cousin Brogan Heinen played baseball at Kansas State University … Majoring in engineering … Also recruited by Lipscomb University, Rockhurst University and Robert Morris University … Favorite foods are taco and burgers … Favorite fast food restaurant is Qdoba … Favorite restaurants are El Taquito Express and Bobo’s in Topeka … Favorite TV show is Avatar the Last Airbender and Ted Lasso … Favorite movie is The Book of Life … Favorite sports movie is Coach Carter … Favorite actor is Ryan Reynolds … Favorite music entertainer is Rex Orange County … Favorite cartoon character is Uncle Iroh from Avatar the Last Airbender … Favorite athletes are Jude Belington, Patrick Mahomes and Frenkie De Jong … Favorite sports teams are FC Barcelona and the Kansas City Chiefs … His greatest sports moment was scoring the last minute game winning goal against Dodge City to win third place at State …. Best players he has played against are Felix Agyemang of Cedar Stars Academy and Nico Pendleton formerly of Mill Valley High and current Marquette University midfielder … Notable alumni from his school are former MLB pitchers Ken Berry and Aaron Crow and former NFL defensive tackle Trey Lewis.