Student athlete becomes school’s top varsity golfer 2 months after accident left him without a leg
CALAMUS, Iowa (KWQC/Gray News) - A student golfer in Iowa continues to prove himself as an extraordinary athlete after a horrific accident left him without one of his legs.
Carter Henning is a freshman golfer at Calamus-Wheatland High School.
Two months ago, Henning was in a snowmobile accident that cost him his leg.
“We were checking one of their snowmobiles and we were running the track while my friend and I were holding the snowmobile up, and some part of the track snapped and went back into my leg,” he said.
Doctors attempted to save Henning’s leg by using several surgeries, but were unsuccessful.
“They weren’t able to get blood flow to the left leg, so they ended up doing an amputation. It was heartbreaking,” Henning said.
Despite the challenge, Henning remained positive, with the goal to get back to golfing as soon as possible.
“I knew that I was probably going to make the varsity team this year so I really wanted to work back to that goal,” he said.
Not only did Henning make varsity, he’s the Calamus-Wheatland Warriors’ number one golfer.
“Carter worked his way from the three all the way up to the one and he has yet to prove that he’s not that. He’s got the mental fortitude to actually play the one and he’s got I mean all the skills,” head coach Austin Tenley said.
With every round, Henning just keeps improving.
“When I first started, I was through 9, I was shooting about high to mid forties. Now I’m low forties almost every round,” he said. “It’s been challenging but being on one leg for so long your balance gets a lot better so it gets easier and now it’s just a normal thing for me.”
What’s normal to Henning is anything but to others.
“It’s very interesting at times when we go to these other meets you know a lot of kids are looking at him like is he really gonna go out there and play but then he goes out there and shoots the best on our team so you know pretty amazing to see that,” Calamus-Wheatland sophomore golfer Ryan Olson said.
Henning continues to be an inspiration to his teammates.
Henning is a three-sport athlete. In addition to golf, he also loves basketball and baseball. With baseball season right around the corner, the teen is swinging for the fences.
“I love baseball, my coach, he’s awesome, helps me through everything,” Henning said. “He wanted me to be the starting shortstop and I’m hoping to get back to that and getting back in the lineup and everything.”
Henning’s will to overcome his obstacles drives the ball far and will take him as far as he wants to go.
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