Lyons Township High School senior Anna Bigenwald doesn’t back down from sports challenges.
“I’ve always been very fearless, always kind of going after things,” Bigenwald.
With that attitude, the Loyola University women’s soccer goalie recruit has become a bona fide three-sport high-school athlete and more versatile than maybe even she realized.
On Monday, Bigenwald and the second-year Lions’ girls flag football team officially started practice. She was named the program’s first all-stater in 2024.
“Before I kind of just told people that soccer was my primary sport but now I definitely include flag football,” Bigenwald said. “(All-state) was a huge honor and really cool.”
Particularly as a senior, Bigenwald hopes to continue having a ball, whichever one it may be. In soccer this past spring, she was the starting varsity goalie as the Lions won their 12th straight regional title.
She also was a varsity reserve on last year’s outstanding girls basketball team, which won a program-record 31 games and the West Suburban Conference Silver Division with a perfect 12-0 mark. Meghan Hutchens is her head coach for flag football and basketball.
“Soccer is definitely my favorite sport but I’d really say I’m a seasonal person. I really enjoy the sport I’m in,” Bigenwald said. “I definitely enjoy soccer a lot, but I would say when I’m in flag football (season), I love it. The same with basketball and soccer.”
She has played soccer since she was 5. She moved to goalie in seventh grade basically out of necessity and quickly became hooked.
“We needed a goalie. I was most fearless on the team and I was there. They realized I was pretty good so they kept me back there and I’ve been goalie ever since,” Bigenwald said. “I was a forward as well for the longest time so that maybe helped. I was not afraid to get kicked, get hit in the face, anything like that so I think that definitely helped.”
She grew up tossing the football around with her father and younger brother RJ. Otherwise, Bigenwald began flag football from scratch like most 2024 teammates after a summer camp to generate interest.
Especially considering other schools had established club teams the past couple of years, the Lions impressively started out 13-3 and won regionals. They lost in the Whitney Young Sectional semifinals to the host Dolphins, who finished third in the state.
The Lions graduated just five seniors and return several other starters, including seniors Kennedy Campbell, Maren Cavanaugh, Char Ebeid, Carly Granger, Teya Magajne, Jax Tamburello of Brookfield and Anya Torres, juniors Grace Downey, Helena Enriquez and Christina Lid and sophomore Taylor Hoffenberg.
“I’m just happy because we didn’t lose a ton of players. I feel like that will help us. We all kind of know how to play with each other,” Bigenwald said. “I definitely feel more confident (this season) because I know what’s going to happen. I know the dynamics of the sport.”
The all-state honor, sponsored by the Chicago Bears, was perhaps the greatest surprise of 2024. That included a visit to their indoor training facility.
“It was an awesome experience,” she said. “It really opened my eyes to how much support flag football is getting now, not only from high schools but big organizations like the Bears and the NFL. It’s really cool and I hope it continues to get more support.”
Bigenwald displayed versatility simply within the sport. She was a key defensive player at safety. She tried out to earn an offensive spot at wide receiver. With plenty of experience from being a soccer goalie, she also won the job as punter. As a freshman and sophomore, the fall previously consisted only of club soccer. That primary sport only has helped her progress in flag football.
“I always felt like I should be doing another sport. When flag football came around, I was grateful I could have a fall sport and meet new people,” she said. “It’s definitely helped me communicate to other defenders. It’s also helped with being able to decide what balls to try and intercept or stay back (at safety). Being a goalie’s definitely helped. (Flag football) keeps my hands good but I would definitely say soccer helps flag football more than flag football helps soccer.”
Bigenwald couldn’t help but commit to Loyola last Sept. 24. The Ramblers, who currently have sophomore and redshirt sophomore goalies, finished 9-5-5 in 2024 (4-2-4 in Atlantic 10 Conference).
“I really liked the coaches and players. And the campus was beautiful. I knew it was the right fit as soon as I got there,” she said. “I was one of those people who wanted to commit later but then I went to Loyola and loved it.”