Franchise ResourcesA battle-tested leader - Tony Henner
Tony Henner didn't take the normal path to becoming an IFL all-star quarterback. There was no high school football, no college football - no organized football of any kind until he tried out for the West Milwaukee Gladiators several years ago, who were at that time a franchise in the IFL.
“I went to a try-out, and the coach, Pat Mace, asked the players: ‘Can anyone here throw a football?’, “says Henner. “I thought I could, so I threw it around a little bit, and the rest is history.”
He spent that season as the starting quarterback for the Gladiators, and started to get comfortable playing the position. However, being an active member of the U.S. Army since shortly after high school, Henner was called upon by his country to serve in the Iraq War shortly before the 2005 season. He spent the next 15 months overseas, where he was involved in missions in and around Baghdad and served as a squad leader for infantry and reconnaissance operations.
After completing his tour, Henner decided to pursue a career as a policeman, and went to school to get a degree in criminal justice. But the football itch was still there, and he decided to attend a try-out for the Milwaukee Venom, even though it had been two, full seasons since he last saw the field. After again proving himself, Henner was the Venom’s starting quarterback for two seasons, being named an all-star in 2008, and the runner-up for the Tommy Roach Award, after only three full seasons of playing quarterback at any level.
“In the two seasons I played with the Venom, I learned so much about the quarterback position from (Venom offensive coach) Carter Robbins,” says Henner. “He really taught me the fundamentals, and helped turn me into the player I am right now.”
After big success in 2008, Henner made a difficult decision to part ways with the team, and join the Wauwatosa Spartans to compete for the starting quarterback position. While the off-field decision was tough, on the field, it was an easy transition because he had filled in as the team’s quarterback for the National Football Event’s Mid-States Tournament because of injuries. The Spartans went on the win the tournament championship, and Henner was named to the all-tournament team.
"Having Tony join us this off-season was huge,” says Adam Kujath, co-owner of the Wauwatosa Spartans Football Club. “We saw what he was capable of during the Mid-States Tournament, and everyone recognized that he had the leadership and skills needed to take our offense to the next level.”
The Spartans felt primed for success as the 2009 season drew closer. Then, during a practice in early May, Henner dislocated and broke bones in his non-throwing wrist. The injury required surgery to insert screws to stabilize the wrist and came with a long recovery period that threatened to take away a good portion of Henner’s IFL season. But he tackled the adversity in his typical fashion, by diving headfirst into the playbook and keeping in shape for when he received clearance to play.
“Tony kept coming to practice, and really epitomized what being a Spartan is all about,” adds Luke Kujath, co-owner of the Spartans. “He was determined to get healthy as soon as possible, because it was killing him not to be able to go to battle with the rest of the team.”
The team started 0-2, and watched most of the rest of the conference jump out on them for playoff positioning. However, the Spartans rallied to take the next two games behind solid play from veteran quarterback Mikey Bernal and a stingy defense, with Henner finally getting some playing time at the end of a crucial victory against the Milwaukee Marauders in week four.
Next up was a huge conference match-up versus the Burlington Blue Devils, and Henner got the nod to start. Things started slowly, but the team rallied for three consecutive touchdowns to win in overtime and began a five-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 141-25. Now, the Spartans are poised to enter the playoffs and make a run at Iron Bowl XIII.
“Although winning the Iron Bowl and being named league MVP would be great, my goal as a football player is to be a positive influence on my teammates, and to be regarded as a true leader on and off the field,” adds Henner.
It’s been a wild ride for Tony Henner since joining the IFL. But with all he’s overcome to get where he is today, there’s sure to be more chapters added to this story.
