From Hjoerring, Denmark to Pottstown, Pennsylvania, William Henriksen ’20 arrived on the Hill campus in 2018 as a valuable player for the Hill football team. However, while playing in the European Championship game this summer away from Hill, Henriksen suffered a severe injury that stopped him from being an active player in Hill’s football program.
“Compared to American football in the U.S., football in Denmark was actually more relaxing in a way since it’s not school-related,” Henriksen said. “But also, it’s just how sports work back home. If you ask anybody back home, they probably wouldn’t even know that there’s American football there.”
After joining a football club at the age of 12, Henriksen became completely devoted to the sport.
“From the moment he arrived on campus last year, I knew he was a hard worker,” said teammate Gernard Finney ’20. “He always went 110% in practice and would go really hard. The coaches noticed that, and I noticed that. He was able to adjust quickly to the speed of the game here in the U.S.. I think the big thing with him is that he’s a hard worker and that carried him a long way.”
Henriksen participated in the Gridiron Import, an exchange program for American football players around the world with opportunities to study or play football in universities. After much consideration, Henriksen decided to accept the offer from Hill.
‘‘When the coaches met over the summer, we redesigned our entire defense to feature Will,” said Jeff Hollway, Hill’s varsity football head coach. “That was his role on our team. He was going to be the man for Hill football. His role now is to heal both mentally and physically. He is and always will be a part of the Hill football family, but he has bigger things to get taken care of right now.”
This past summer, while playing in the European Championship game against Austria, Henriksen sustained an unfortunate injury to his shoulder that potentially stopped his football career. Although he will eventually return to full strength, football’s intense physical demand and contact could put Henriksen at very high risk for permanent nerve damage.
“While I was trying to make a tackle, I got hit while trying to do it,” Henriksen said. “I instantly fell on the grass, couldn’t move. It was like somebody lit my arm on fire, basically. After the injury, I was on the sideline for the team, I tried to cheer them on. However, it really just stinks how you see your team out there fighting, but you can’t go and fight with them.”
Even though Henriksen will no longer play football in college, he has decided to pursue his other passions – economics and business – in the future.
