Newsday Athlete of the Week is Oyster Bay's Joe Henry
Joe Henry is first Oyster Bay player to eclipse 3,000 rushing yards. Credit: Oyster Bay Athletics
Joe Henry's passion and love for the game of football run deep. But the one thing he loves more is playing it with the people he loves the most.
"I live, sleep, and breathe football," Henry said," But it's a team effort. I wouldn't be in this position without my teammates."
Henry's primary focus this season is being a mentor for the underclassmen on the Oyster Bay football team.
"When I was named quarterback my freshman year, I always looked up to my older teammates," Henry said. "Every day at practice, I want to make sure they have a guy they can lean on and push them so they can get better than they think they are."
Coach Andrew Caramico praised Henry's work ethic, describing him as a "workhorse".
"He genuinely loves football," Caramico said. "He is an extension of our coaching staff, and he raises the morale of everyone around him."
The Newsday Athlete of the Week rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns and completed four passes for 86 yards and a score in a 36-14 victory against Lawrence to get the Baymen their first win of the season last Saturday.
"It was a good team win. We had a bunch of tools on the offense going our way," the QB said. "We had a hard schedule for the past few seasons, so this win felt good, but we want to build on that momentum."
In a 36-16 loss to Carle Place, the senior became the first player in Oyster Bay history, since the program was founded in 1919, to eclipse 3,000 career rushing yards. He currently has 3,135.
"Oyster Bay has had a rich tradition going back decades, and this young man has taken the torch, and he's reclaimed a little bit of that glory back for the program with his achievements," Caramico said. "The entire community celebrated. It's right up there in the top moments since making the playoffs in '23."
Henry credited his identical twin brother, George, for making a pancake block to achieve the feat, making the moment even more memorable.
"It was a perfect moment because he has been supporting me and rooting for me the entire time," Henry said. "He doesn't get the credit he deserves. He is always doing the dirty work, and he's a key piece to this team."
In addition to his performance on the field, Henry maintains a 3.7 GPA and is a member of multiple honor society clubs.
"The main thing that I learned from football is discipline," Henry said. "I come from a family where academics is big, so prioritizing my academics is important."
During the offseason, Henry and his brother serve in the football leadership council, hosting fundraisers with the football team to engage with the community while also mentoring younger classmen.
"It's a great feeling knowing you get the best out of people," Henry said. "I want to lead by example and set a standard that was set for me."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
