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Virginia Tech student Kiersten Henning was thrust into the national spotlight in March 2021 when she sued her college football coach, Charles “Chugger” Adair, for retaliation against her for refusing to kneel with teammates in support of Black Lives Matter. Almost two years later, she emerged victorious. Henning and Adair agreed to a settlement, and the 22-year-old was awarded $100,000 for violating her First Amendment rights. Henning told her story to Post reporter Ricky Schlotti — and revealed what happened next.
In the year By the end of 2020 I was living my dream of being a First Division footballer – but when I stood up for what I believed in and didn’t kneel down to support Black Lives Matter with my teammates, it all fell apart.
I have been playing soccer since I was 3 years old. It’s all I’ve ever known, and I’ve always wanted to play for Virginia Tech. My parents moved there and I grew up going to the school’s soccer games, so when I started playing on the soccer team in 2018, my dream came true.
Your first two seasons were great. Playing soccer gave me structure and discipline, and I loved my teammates. We had a special bond and became sisters.
But everything changed in the 2020 season.
With the killing of George Floyd and the protests around the country, some of my players started wearing Black Lives Matter and wearing armbands during the heats. There was even talk of replacing the team. Name our uniforms after victims of police violence.
Suddenly, the locker room became this really uncomfortable, toxic environment where some players wanted to force their moves on the entire team.
I certainly believe that Black Lives Matter, and I think our country has a lot of work to do – but I don’t support it. Organization Black Lives Matter. I’ve done my research, and I’ve taken exception to aspects of their mission such as dismantling the nuclear family and defunding the police.
Everything came to a fever pitch in a September game against the University of Virginia. That’s when the team Delegates decided to kneel as the Black Lives Matter statement of unity was read before the game. But the rest of us didn’t see the announcement beforehand.
I went into the game knowing I wouldn’t be knee-jerk in support of something I hadn’t even read. Standing up – literally – is just who I believe in. I grew up in a family that taught me to stand by my principles no matter the cost.
When the time came, I didn’t bother standing. I got off the stage and was ready on my way. It felt like only a few seconds, and when it was over, it seemed like the whole situation was behind me.
But soon things began to unravel. During our halftime hug, our head coach fell asleep. He punched me, stuck a finger in my face and screamed like I had never seen him before. He even accused me of “upsetting him” by “doing my own thing”.
And that was just the beginning of the target. In the meeting after the game, he started blaming me for the goals scored by the other team, clearly knowing that it was not my fault. I left the starting line-up. I went from playing more minutes than anyone on the team to spending most of my time on the bench.
[Adair, who is still head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies women soccer team, did not return The Post’s request for comment.]
I was socially excluded. While a few teammates sided with me, many opposed me. Even after being my friend and teammate for three years, people would judge me and call me names.
When my teammates and coaches opposed me, I decided enough was enough and left the team. I missed three seasons of playing the sport I love – all by simply standing on the field.
As Division One athletes, we’ve been given a wonderful platform to speak up for what we believe in. But it’s wrong to force players to follow a narrative they’re not comfortable with.
Taking my coach to court was a no-brainer because I was so clearly retaliated against. I knew my First Amendment rights had been violated, and I had facts and evidence on my side. Now, it’s very reassuring to have a federal judge on my side and a settlement.
I’m saving my apartment, putting football behind me, and turning my attention to nursing school. I graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 with a degree in public health. My ultimate goal is to work with children in a pediatric emergency room. I’m moving on with my life.
But this is bigger than me and my story. Athletes from other schools and people around the world tell me the same thing has happened to them – they’ve had to sacrifice a position, a job or a friendship because of politics.
I know this is the case for many people, especially young people. But my advice is never to sacrifice your morals and principles for fear of judgment. And if you lose your friends by being true to yourself, those people weren’t your true friends.
Going against the grain can be emotionally, physically, and mentally hard, but I’d do it again.
I hope my story inspires others to stand up for what they believe in. When you stand up for your principles and don’t conform to the mob mentality, you learn how many people agree with you. Courage is contagious.
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