By John Knebels • Posted April 1, 2022

The last practice of the season occurred on March 24. The state championship would come 24 hours later.

Annie Welde had a message for her coach, Chrissie Doogan.

“Tomorrow,” she said, “is the Feast of the Annunciation. We’re good.”

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Because Havertown’s Annunciation B.V.M. has been her lifetime parish, the Cardinal O’Hara senior was more aware of the Catholic holiday than most.

Add that to March 25 being the one-year anniversary of her grandmother’s passing, Welde felt ultra confident that the Lions would emerge victorious.

She wouldn’t be disappointed.

With senior Maggie Doogan (game-high 12 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and three assists), Welde (11 points, three rebounds, and two assists), and a suffocating defense providing the framework, the Lions upended Chartiers Valley, 42-19, at the Staple Center in Hershey, Pa. for their second consecutive PIAA Class 5A state crown.

“I knew we had everything on our side,” said Welde, a second-team All-Catholic. “Annunciation has been my parish my whole life, and my dad actually grew up in Annunciation Parish. I went to school there until I was in third grade, and then we had merged with our neighboring school, St. Denis. I graduated from Cardinal Foley (School), but played sports for my parish, which had always been Annunciation.”

Welde said she does “consider myself religious for someone my age.”

“I grew up in a house that set a great example,” said Welde, “and was taught that faith always is the most important thing.”

Chrissie Doogan will miss her senior trio of Welde, Sydni Scott and her daughter Maggie. All three will play Division I hoops next season at Villanova, Marshall and Richmond, respectively.

Scott finished as a four-time, first-team All-Catholic. Doogan, who also starred in last year’s state final, was named first team the past two years. Welde’s contributions – particularly her rebounding – have proven to be key to her teammates’ success.

“Annie Welde never had a bad day in her life,” said Doogan. “The kid comes into the gym and smiles. She’s made Maggie’s job a lot easier the past four years. She helps with the rebounding and she helps with the big girl defense. They’ve been a really good duo.”

A former star at O’Hara and La Salle University, Doogan became one of only four coaches to author a Catholic League championship and state title in the same season. She and Maggie became the first mother-daughter combo to capture a state title twice.

“Maggie put a lot of pressure on herself to lead this team to a PCL and another state championship,” said Doogan. “She wanted it. She went out and got it. I’m really proud of her. I don’t think it will sink in for a couple of weeks when we’re not going to they gym on Monday. And things like that.”

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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.