WESTWOOD – Henry Hasselbeck has been considered one of the state’s top college recruits for two sports – lacrosse and football.
Last month, the Xaverian standout found himself faced with a difficult decision.
The junior placed a call to Maryland lacrosse coach John Tillman to inform him that he was decommitting from the Terrapins’ lacrosse program. It was a painful conversation, but Hasselbeck felt he was making the correct choice as he chased his longtime goal of playing football at the highest of levels.
“I’m incredibly close with them,” Hasselbeck said. “I think the call was almost an hour with Coach Tillman. He’s incredible. He was supportive telling me to go do your dream, and we are going to be your biggest fans. I’m still texting with them today, they’re the very best, and I could not have asked for a better way to part ways.”
It came down to a selection of three schools for football for Hasselbeck. Michigan State, Alabama-Birmingham, and of course, his father’s alma mater Boston College, where his older sisters Annabelle and Mallory are playing on the school’s decorated women’s lacrosse program.
The Xaverian standout decided to blaze his own path.
“I would say that there was more external pressure (to go to BC) from people I’m not very tight with,” said Hasselbeck. “‘Oh, you’re going to go there because of your dad.’ That would be a cool legacy, wear the same jersey as your dad, or to go to school with your sisters. But for me and my family, there was no pressure to go there.”
Hasselbeck opted for Michigan State, making his announcement Twitter. After wavering between two sports, Hasselbeck is set to embark on the next chapter of his rising football career.
How exactly did he make such a meteoric rise in just a year?
Hasselbeck received plenty of attention for his lacrosse talents during his early high school days. However, he saw little playing time on the gridiron while attending Lipscomb Academy (Tenn.) his freshman season under then-head coach Trent Dilfer. He later found himself struggling to maintain a spot his sophomore campaign at Belmont Hill due to a series of injuries.
Suddenly at a crossroads, he decided to transfer to Xaverian, with his father Matt and grandfather Don joining him as assistant coaches.
Hasselbeck’s introduction to the MIAA’s football world came against a perennial powerhouse when the Hawks faced off with Everett in the season opener last September. After attempting two running plays, Hasselbeck dropped back and launched a strike to wide receiver Jonathan Monteiro for a 44-yard touchdown, much to the chagrin of his family members coaching along the sidelines.
“I probably should have thrown it to the over with the tight end, who was wide open,” chuckled Hasselbeck. “My dad was like ‘if you didn’t hit that, we would’ve had a problem.'”
No matter. Hasselbeck’s gamble paid off and the Hawks coasted to a 49-19 romp of the Red Tide, and a new era was underway at Xaverian.
“Your first pass, starting your first (MIAA) game of the season is a touchdown,” Hasselbeck said. “That doesn’t happen without God. It was a really big moment, and I think my mom told me she almost started crying.”
Hasselbeck threw for 1,643 yards in 2022, racking up 24 touchdowns while throwing just three picks. He also added 250 yards rushing on 33 carries, scampering for five additional scores. While Xaverian (7-3) bowed out to Springfield Central in the Div. 1 quarterfinals, a new culture had been established, with the Hawks back to being one of the state’s premier programs.
“It’s so true, that (things) kind of took off,” said Xaverian football coach Al Fornaro. “What happened is this, it’s the ol’ what came first? The chicken or the egg? Well, his performance on his highlight film is really, really good. When coaches came to see him, or he went out and visited schools with the ‘non-official offer’ type of thing, they were able to see him in-person. He could do a workout. It’s the off-the-field stuff too. He’s a leader. He’s a very smart football player.”
Hasselbeck said he is fully committed to playing football, and curious to see how the process will pan out in the upcoming months. If he is eligible to head out to East Lansing early, he intends to do so. If not, he plans on closing out his lacrosse career with Xaverian next spring.
“I’m as excited as I could be for this (upcoming) season,” Hasselbeck said. “I’m probably talking way too much about how much I love my (teammates). But I’m just totally excited about (the future). It will be completely raining on one of our training days out at Xaverian, and I will be smiling ear-to-ear.”