As a kid growing up in Athens, all Heidi Barnes wanted to do was to be outside playing and watching sports. Whether it was playing basketball with her older cousins or catching flyballs from her mother, the 2024 LCSHOF inductee said being outside involved with sports was her passion. “I had older cousins who were good athletes and it was fun playing basketball with them. My mother was a good softball player who played on an excellent local team. I really enjoyed watching her team play. She and I would often get in the backyard and she would teach me how to catch flyballs. In fact, my first blackeye was from the time she threw me a flyball and I lost it in the sun,” laughed Barnes.

Her sports training complete, Barnes would enroll at Athens High School in the fall of 1996 and begin a two-sport career that saw her become one of the most decorated athletes in Eaglette history. In basketball, Barnes led the Eaglettes to the state championship in 1999 while being named the state finals Most Valuable Player. AHS recorded an impressive 93-23 record during Barnes four-year career. Not many individual honors escaped the 5’10 forward. She was twice named First-Team All-State and was a 5A Alabama Player of the Year finalist after her junior and senior seasons. Barnes was an All-Area selection three times and was named Limestone County Player of the Year twice. She finished her basketball career tied for most points (1,494) scored in school history and second in career rebounds (814).

Her excellent play was not limited just to the hardwood. Barnes was a four-year starter at shortstop in softball and led AHS to a state championship in 1999. She set numerous school career records including most homeruns (77), runs batted in (476), runs (428), doubles (57) and triples (66). Her softball career was highlighted by being named Alabama’s Softball 5A Player of the Year following her senior season.

Barnes says the relationships she developed during her four years at Athens High School is her favorite memory of her high school career. “The championships and honors were nice but to me, the relationships with my teammates, coaches and the community is what stands out to me during my time at Athens High School,” said Barnes. “All the hard work we did as a team, the bus rides, the community support we got in basketball and softball, those are the times you don’t forget. We were like a large extended family. I can remember when we played for the state championship in softball my senior season. We played the final game in the morning in Montgomery and we had graduation that evening in Athens. We got a police escort back so the seniors would make it back in time for graduation. We had to shower and get ready at the school but we made it to graduation.”

Barnes basketball and softball coach at Athens High School was 2008 LCSHOF inductee Randy White who says that Barnes was a joy to coach. “A lot of times, your really good players don’t respond well to coaching but Heidi was very coachable. She was a hard worker who never took a day off at practice. She never practiced or played at half speed. Heidi was very unselfish. In fact, she was too unselfish at times and I had to get on to her about being more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor in basketball. She was the ultimate team player.” Barnes says she is humbled to be inducted into the Limestone County Sports Hall of Fame. “It is hard for me to wrap my head around this honor. To look at some of the females that have been inducted and others who deserve to be inducted, I am grateful to be included in this year’s class. I am so thankful for my family, teammates and coaches who helped me along the way,” said Barnes.