Augustana’s quarterback continues to inspire the team with his leadership

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – Being the quarterback on a division two football team takes leadership, skill, and teamwork.

Gunnar Hensley is four games into his second season as the starting quarterback for the Augustana Vikings, and head coach Jerry Olszewski is confident in his starting quarterback.

Jerry Olszewski, 13th season head coach said, “He really processes the game, he is in the zone right now like he really understands what we’re trying to do.”

Players on both sides of the ball are inspired by his leadership.

Logan Leonard, senior at Augustana said, “He’s a really special talent his arm talent is great but as a leader he’s a really good leader too and you can see it affecting a lot of guys on the offense as well.”

Isaiah Huber, senior wide receiver said, “Gunnar is really embracing this role especially as a captain now he’s doing a fantastic job.”

Hensley loves stepping up as a leader.

Gunnar Hensley, junior quarterback for Augustana said, “From a young kid playing quarterback I always loved it just like what you said the nature of the position. My dad played quarterback in college so kind of growing up it was always there and I feel like I’ve been training to be a quarterback for most of my life so it’s just something that comes with, almost like a second nature to me.”

The players and coaches feel that they can rely on the junior quarterback.

“It’s definitely fun running your routes with a purpose every single route you know you have a purpose because that ball could be coming to me every single time,” said Huber, “That makes it really easy to play receiver when you have a quarterback who isn’t afraid to throw the ball deep, short, whatever it is he’s going to get it to you, and it makes it really easy to run routes.”

“I just think he’s a complete player, he’s really bright, and I also think he’s grown in his leadership, he’s a phenomenal leader and I trust him completely and the head coach having trust in his quarterback is a powerful thing,” said Olszewski.

Augustana has had many successful seasons in a row, the NSIC South division preseason player of the year said that playing for winning teams his whole life prepared him for this.

Hensley said, “I’m very competitive too. I don’t like losing and I think the passion of hating to lose definitely drives me more. You could ask my roommates when we’re in the house and we’re playing video games, they’re super competitive too so there are a lot of arguments that start in that house, so they’ll tell you how competitive we get.”

Although the Vikings lost a significant amount of talent to graduation, players like Hensley are stepping up to fill those leadership holes.

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