Athlete Spotlight: Steven Hendrickson
Whether on the courts or the fields, senior Steven Hendrickson can be seen flying towards the ball. As a member of the varsity basketball and varsity football teams, Hendrickson understands how to lead by example and be a dependable team player. As teammate Rylan Blondo, a junior, put it, “The bond that we have on and off the court is why we can play well together. Steve motivates me and others to go harder in practice, and off the court, he’s like a brother. So, when it gets to game time, it comes easy to us. His passion for the sport connects him with the team even more.”
In the fall, Hendrickson went out on the gridiron weekly and dominated at the safety position. In addition, Hendrickson played various positions for the Owls, as he was also listed as a running back (RB) on offense. In his junior season, Hendrickson neatly filled out the stat sheet, recording 58 tackles, one touchdown, one interception, and a nifty total of 221 rushing yards gained on offense. This growth from prior years was attributed to his new concentration on executing his job on the field and trusting his teammates to follow suit.
After frequently playing in the strong safety position his junior year, Hendrickson transferred to free safety for his senior season. On why he made the switch to free safety, Hendrickson explains, “As a junior, Nick Paris [LHS ‘17] was already occupying the free safety position, and I was more fit to play inside the box at a hybrid linebacker role. However, as a senior, I worked hard to become stronger, faster, and more athletic, and I was able to transfer over to free safety because I was more fit to play there. This [enhanced] my ability to get into the pass game more and disrupt the timing of opposing offenses.”
At 5”11’ and 175 pounds, Hendrickson used his speed to fly all over the field, knocking down passes and making tackles as well as juking opposing defenders from the halfback spot. This past season, Hendrickson was named a senior captain and had an excellent campaign, finishing with around 90 tackles, three forced fumbles (and five fumble recoveries), three interceptions, one touchdown. and 160 rushing yards offensively. At the conclusion of the season, Hendrickson was nominated by coaches from Lynbrook and the opposing teams into the Senior Bowl, which is essentially an all-star game of teams composed of the top seniors from Nassau County. In this tournament, Conference 1 faces off against Conference 4, and Conference 2 against Conference 3. Hendrickson participated in this year’s festivities for Conference 3 on November 23.
In the winter of his junior year, Hendrickson made a big jump as a player on the boys’ varsity basketball team. Hendrickson averaged 6.1 points per game and a total of 20 field goals, eight from the three-point range, and 21 free-throw shots on the season. His highlights of that year include big games against Floral Park, where he put up 14 points and six rebounds in their first match and nine points in their second meeting, and Lawrence, where he scored eight points, including two from beyond the arc. However, Hendrickson’s talent transcends just the statsheet, as his presence is felt in many different ways on and off the court, and he was one of the players who led the late-charge towards the playoffs.
The team advanced into the postseason last year, and Hendrickson says he’s gained valuable experience from their February 23 loss to Valley Stream North in the Nassau A Quarterfinal (66-34 Valley Stream North). “I learned that you shouldn’t take anything for granted at the end of last season because nothing is given. The way our last season ended in a blowout loss really helped me open my eyes to see that every game I have, I must come in thinking it could be the last time I will ever step out onto the court. I also learned that I have to not only play for myself, but for the whole team and community. In order for us to succeed this year, I will have to lead this team both vocally and through my actions.” Blondo agrees, saying, “After that loss in the playoffs against Valley Stream North, we are both hungry for the county ‘chip.”
In both sports, one thing remains clear. Hendrickson has a team-first attitude; he readily takes accountability for his actions and absorbs any blame. Yet, during their successes, he is quick to give credit elsewhere. When all the dust settles, however, Hendrickson is ready to be called on and definitely will not shy away from the spotlight. “If it all comes down to the end, I always have the confidence in my ability to get the job done. I always want to have the chance to either win or lose for my team because I don’t want anyone else to decide my fate. I want to be able to control the outcome and deliver for my teammates when it matters the most.”