Alexa Henry keeps Anderson County athletes on their feet
Alexa Henry
Henry, in her second year as the school’s athletic trainer, is a constant sideline presence. While coaches and players hope her services aren’t needed, she’s always ready to jump into action.
Finding the right path wasn’t immediate for Henry, a Sullivan East High School graduate. After initially pursuing physical therapy, she considered becoming a paramedic before discovering athletic training during her senior year at the University of Tennessee.
“I did a project as part of my undergrad at UT and realized that athletic training would be the perfect career for me,” she said.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Tennessee, then went on to obtain a master’s in athletic training from James Madison University.
While there, she worked with the Dukes’ football team during its 11-2 season in 2023.
“I was with the football team during that almost undefeated season, and it was pretty fun,” Henry said.
After graduation, she joined Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic, which supplies athletic trainers to all Knox County high schools and Clinton High School. Henry was assigned to Anderson County.
“This is my first job out of college, and I love working at the high school level,” she said. “The doctors at KOC are mentors to me. When I send a player to them and say, ‘I’m not sure what this is,’ they help confirm or explain it. It’s been great.”
Although Henry didn’t play high school sports, she was an accomplished gymnast and also participated in marching band, color guard, and several youth sports, including swimming, track and field, and soccer.
“I had some injuries in gymnastics, and that may have been what sparked my interest in becoming a trainer,” she said.
Henry and her husband, Eli, whom she met at UT, are avid sports fans.
“I work in sports and then come home and watch sports,” she said with a laugh. “We follow teams from the schools we went to. It was awesome to see Tennessee win the College World Series last year.”
The couple also supports local teams such as the Tennessee Smokies and Knoxville Ice Bears. When they’re not at a game, they enjoy spending time outdoors.
