Henry Crowley, senior captain of the Poly Prep football team, has embodied academic excellence and athletic achievement throughout his high school career, leading him to become a Division III football player at Middlebury College and Vice President of the Upper School. Balancing varsity football, academics, and student government has made him a respected figure on campus, not only for his resounding talent but also for his high-tier leadership.
Although he played basketball and baseball in middle school, his love for football quickly outweighed both by his freshman year. His introduction to the sport came through Curtis Vanlandingham, his youth basketball coach and current positions coach at Poly. Crowley’s prior relationship with Vanlandingham brought him to the team, but a shoulder injury kept Crowley from making his debut. After sitting out his freshman year, he finally took the field as a sophomore. Crowley’s first taste of football, he described it as “an awakening … the moment I realized how much I loved the game”.
Rapidly, he rose to the standards the captains set, embodying their “intensity” and “fire,” as Crowley described them. His work ethic and competitive focus quickly set him apart, laying the rise that Head Coach Jerell Jones described as “remarkable”.
“Henry … went from someone who was learning the absolute basics just two years ago to now being one of the top players in our program and our captain,” Jones said. “The fact that he was able to do that is just a testament to the hard work and the dedication … he made.”
However, the recruitment journey was not easy for Crowley. After recovering from his shoulder injury at the end of sophomore year, he faced another setback: knee surgery in his junior year. Despite repetitive years of challenges, he earned All-league honors in both years that he played. That perseverance and commitment helped Crowley earn the trust of both his coaches and teammates.
Crowley was elected captain in his senior year by his teammates, “without a doubt,” as Jones described.
“I was hopeful he’d be elected,” Jones added, “but when it happened … I knew he was the right person to lea.d”
As captain, Crowley leads through consistent communication and care. Fellow teammate, Chris Pepperman, said one of Crowley’s best qualities is his “deep care of each of the players on this team”. Jones agreed, adding, “When Henry talks, people listen… he has full respect of his teammates… that’s rare,”
Crowley brought that same leadership to his role as Student Body Vice President, where his push for collaboration and accountability helps strengthen Poly’s community. He finds there is a clear connection between his roles on the field and in student government.
“Even though I’m surrounded by all my peers, I still have to make sure I have to get done what has to get done and do what’s best,” Crowley said.
Balancing football, school work, and student government has tested his focus, but he approaches everything with the same intensity. “Most people say the hardest part is time management,” Crowley explained, “For me, it’s about dedication and consistency, showing up everyday no matter what,”
Looking ahead, Crowley is eager to take his experience to Middlebury College next year. “The years playing Poly football shaped who I am,” He said. “It taught me how to be disciplined and what it means to lead,”
“He’ll bring a resounding amount of toughness and dedication,” Jones said, “He’s ready for anything,”
On and off the field, Henry Crowley will leave a long-lasting mark on Poly Prep, one built on leadership, dedication, and an undeniable love for the game. As he heads to Middlebury and beyond, Poly hopes he carries with him the same drive, integrity, and spirit that made him a standout, leader, student, and athlete.
