Aaron Champenoy knows well what kind of player Colorado School of Mines will get in Leland Heinicke.
“He’s good enough to play at any level, including Division I,” the Durango High School boys soccer coach said. “Mines is super lucky to get a kid who will be able to compete as a freshman and is just an all-around great kid.”
Heinicke, a senior at Durango High School, signed a National Letter of Intent on Thursday to play college soccer for the NCAA Division II Orediggers in Golden. The 6-foot-4 star midfielder will depart Durango one of the most decorated players in Demons history.
“I am really excited to play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference having grown up watching it at Fort Lewis College,” Heinicke said. “The games are really competitive, and it is one of the most competitive D-II leagues in the country. I’m excited to be part of it.”
Heinicke had considered the Montana State University, the University of Vermont and Western Washington before he chose Mines. Last season, the Orediggers went 15-4-4 overall and 10-1-3 in RMAC play before they won the conference tournament in a penalty-kick shootout against Regis.
Mines then won two games in the NCAA tournament, including a second-round defeat of Azusa Pacific, before a third-round loss to Cal State San Bernardino.
Heinicke said he felt a good connection with assistant coach Clint Moore and is excited to join the team led by head coach Greg Mullholland.
“It feels good to finally commit to a school after looking at so many schools for a long time,” said the son of Courtney and Jennifer Heinicke. “Mines is a great choice for me academically for the future and great for me athletically to join a great program with a bunch of nice guys and coaches who will help me improve as a player a whole lot.”
The DHS team captain in 2019, Heinicke scored 12 goals and had 15 assists as a senior. He was a four-year varsity player and was first-team All-Southwestern League three times and received all-state honors in 2018 and 2019. He played in 67 games and holds the DHS varsity record for most matches played and most starts. With 31 goals and 22 assists for a total of 84 points, he is second in DHS history for points.
“I am really confident in my passing ability. I think I have good vision, and that will help me in college,” Heinicke said. “The game is quicker, and I generally make good decisions on the ball and my passing is effective enough to create a lot of space for me and my teammates. I think that’s my strongest attribute.”
Champenoy said Heinicke has the perfect build for a college soccer player and is eager to see what he can accomplish at the next level.
“He will have to adjust to the constant physicality of the game, but he is built to endure that,” Champenoy said. “He can play center back, center midfield or striker. Anywhere in the middle of the field, he does really well. He’s the kind of kid I would have loved to have when I was coaching college and competing for national titles.”
Not only is Heinicke a standout athlete, but he holds a 4.22 grade-point average and has stayed heavily involved in student council all four years of high school. He aims to study either chemical or mechanical engineering at Mines.
Heinicke credited his coaches, former coach Dalon Parker and Champenoy, for his development and said he will be eager to return to Durango with the Orediggers when they play the host Skyhawks in coming seasons.
“I had worked with Dalon since I was in third grade, and he really helped me see the field from a different perspective,” Heinicke said. “He played me in a lot of positions to make me become a better overall player and not a guy designed for one position. Champ, he really helped me with my leadership and communication and how to talk to players in front of me and tell them what I see. I’m not a super talkative player, and having Champ help me learn how to communicate made me a better team and individual player.
“When I come back to Durango, it will be fun but a little bittersweet. But I am excited to play at the Fort and be in front of what used to be my home crowd. Both teams respect each other a lot, and I know a bunch of those guys, so it is going to be a lot of fun.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
