Offensive tackle Cole Hensley started every game for the Rochelle Township High School varsity football team this past fall. In some ways, Hensley’s consistency and commitment to the sport are symbolic of a senior class that became smaller, but more talented over time.
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Offensive tackle Cole Hensley started every game for the Rochelle Township High School varsity football team this past fall. In some ways, Hensley’s consistency and commitment to the sport are symbolic of a senior class that became smaller, but more talented over time.
The Hubs recently graduated their smallest senior class in roughly 20 years, with only eight seniors suiting up and finishing the 2019 season. Hensley was one of those seniors, and after taking up the sport eight years ago, seeing his efforts come to light this past fall was the result of his determination and improvements with the RTHS football program.
“My technique improved the most, whether that was my footwork or getting to the right spots faster,” Hensley said. “My whole senior season was my favorite experience with the RTHS football program. There weren’t many seniors on the team and we all had to step up. It seemed like the whole team was really close and we were all on the same page when it came to playing together. We emphasized teamwork and each player was important to the team.”
An Interstate 8 All-Conference Honorable Mention this past fall, Hensley earned the starting right tackle position during the summer and became an anchor on the offensive line. Hensley, who plans to attend Northern Illinois University and study engineering, has played football every year since he signed up to play flag football for Rochelle Junior Tackle in fourth grade.
“I had a great time playing flag football, so I decided to play tackle football the next year and I’ve been playing football ever since,” Hensley said. “I decided to play football because I enjoyed the contact involved with the sport.”
Hensley said he plans to study industrial engineering at NIU in hopes of earning a leadership position in the field after college. Hensley, who also earned an Academic All-Conference Honorable Mention this past season, said that playing football for RTHS taught him leadership, and he’ll aim to apply those leadership skills when he begins his college studies.
“Being a member of the RTHS football program taught me about being a leader on and off the field,” Hensley said. “I have also learned the importance of giving back to the community through volunteering my time.”
