Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer, Satellite High Grad Britt McHenry Diagnosed with Brain Tumor

2018 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

ABOVE VIDEO: Satellite alum and Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame member Britt McHenry achieved early career success with jobs at ESPN and Fox News. She announced she has been diagnosed with a brain tumor after undergoing a recent MRI.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Space Coast Sports Hall of Famer, Fox Nation host and Satellite High School Alum Britt McHenry has announced she has been diagnosed with a brain tumor after undergoing a recent MRI.

McHenry made the public announcement over Twitter after rumors began to swirl last week about the state of her health.

“I was trying to keep this relatively private. But as usual, things are being said without my consent. I have a brain tumor,” said McHenry.

“I’m with an amazing medical team and surgery is imminent. Thank you for continued support and understanding at this time.”

She is expected to undergo surgery on Thursday.

The outlook looks good though, according to McHenry. She emphasized the importance of regular check-ups with a doctor as it may have saved her life.

I had good & bad news today. Overwhelmed by the support by friends & strangers alike. With the best surgeons and doctors. Just another thing to take on 💪🏼.

Please I can’t stress enough, make your check-ups. Get an MRI early. It could have saved me.

— Britt McHenry (@BrittMcHenry) February 26, 2020

Satellite High School graduate Brittany McHenry shined as a sports anchor in the Washington D.C. media market.

Working for WJLA ABC-7 News, McHenry interviewed sports superstars from Bryce Harper to Donovan McNabb.

She also hosted and produced her own Friday night high school sports show for the D.C. area.

After mulling over a job offer to cover the San Diego Padres for FOX Sports in 2012, McHenry decided to resign with WJLA and stay in Washington.

“I wanted to develop here in D.C. more,” McHenry said in 2012. “This is now feeling like a home to me.”

LOCAL ROOTS

Before beginning her broadcast career, McHenry was already making her presence well known in Brevard County.

McHenry, who was the editor-in-chief of Satellite High School’s student newspaper and president of the National Honor Society, was a four-year letterman for legendary soccer coach Fidgi Haig with the Scorpions.

A two-time state champion in soccer, McHenry balanced soccer and academics with a deft touch.

“Satellite was such a great environment,” McHenry said. “It really helped prepare me for the next level. I had people like (journalism teacher) Mark Schledorn and (Athletic Director) Linda Anderson there who were a huge influence on me. I learned a high work ethic and it helped prepare me for my career.”

After graduating in 2004, McHenry enrolled at Stetson University where she was a scholarship soccer player. After playing one season of collegiate soccer, McHenry decided to focus on academics.

She went onto graduate magna cum laude from Stetson in three-and-a-half years and then was accepted into the prestigious Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism in January 2008.

“When I was in undergrad, I thought I was going to go to law school,” McHenry said. “I sat down with my parents and talked about my opportunities. They knew that I loved writing and research and they thought that I should go the broadcasting route. My affection for writing and broadcasting was always there.”

CHALLENGES

For a 21-year old in graduate school, the challenges were coming hard and fast for McHenry.

“Northwestern’s program was an incredible experience,” McHenry said. “I was able to get an internship with Fox News where I worked with the political unit. It was an intense, seven days a week work. I wanted to keep busy and get as much experience as possible.

“The last quarter of graduate school was spent in D.C. and when I got there, I started applying,” she said. I was ready to start working in the field”.

Fresh after graduation, McHenry began her career with Washington’s News Channel 8 in January 2009.

“I was a local news reporter,” McHenry said. “A lot of the work was shooting and editing all by yourself. I was kind of green out of school, but I was hungry.”

Her time at News Channel 8 helped springboard her to a reporting job with WJLA ABC-7 in the spring of 2010.

She then transitioned to sports and she hasn’t looked back since.

WEEKEND ANCHOR

As well as anchoring sports on the weekends, McHenry reported live on assignment for Washington Nationals, Washington Redskins and Washington Capitals games. And she reported about Super Bowl XLII and the NCAA mens’ basketball tournament in 2008.

As a growing media celebrity, McHenry has emceed countless events as well as appeared in Mia Hamm’s charity celebrity soccer match where she was teammates with Kobe Bryant.

She also appeared on the front cover of Washington Life Magazine as she was named one of the most influential movers and shakers of Washington D.C. under the age of 40.

According to Satellite High School Athletic Director Linda Anderson, McHenry’s success doesn’t surprise her.

“What I recall most about Brittany was she had a pleasant demeanor,” Anderson said. “I was impressed how she turned into such a competitor on the soccer field because she was so sweet off it. I knew she would be successful wherever she ended up. I have watched a few of her broadcasts and was very impressed.”

With an eye toward working for a major network in the future, McHenry keeps plying her trade in D.C.

With role models such as Andrea Kramer and Jeremy Schaap, McHenry said she hopes to follow the footsteps of her mentors and do deeper investigative stories down the road.

With a hectic schedule, however, McHenry makes sure she comes back home beachside as often as she can.

“I’m always grateful that I can call Brevard County home,” McHenry said. “Growing up here has taught me very good values and made me appreciative for what I have. I have a strong family and friends that gave me a solid foundation that never wavers.”

ESPN

ABOVE VIDEO: Cam Newton Sportscenter Conversation with Britt McHenry

In March of 2014, her big break came when she was offered to work for ESPN where she served as a correspondent for various shows including SportsCenter, Outside the Lines, NFL Live and Baseball Tonight.

McHenry thrived for three years interviewing some of sports’ biggest names in the biggest games.

However, those three years didn’t go without some controversy when ESPN suspended her in 2015 for one week after a video was released showing her verbally attacking a tow truck company cashier.

“In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things,” McHenry wrote on Twitter in 2015.

“As frustrated as I was, I should always choose to be respectful and take the high road. I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake.”

Despite the incident, she continued to work for ESPN for two years serving as a reporter for various NFL and Major League Baseball games across the country.

ABOVE VIDEO: Britt McHenry reporting for ESPN

FOX NEWS & FOX NATION

Britt McHenry joined Fox News in 2018 and currently serves as Fox News Contributor, while co-hosting “UN-PC” on FOX Nation that discusses the latest events in politics.

She also serves as a Political Host at WTTG/FOX 5 DC..

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