SARANAC, Mich. — Under the Friday night lights at Saranac High School, it was Garrett Hendrick's senior homecoming game.
His shining moment was no ordinary play, however, as it was an effort from both teams to make sure he was on the field.
On Saturday afternoon, just before going to his senior homecoming, Garrett was still in awe of the prior night and shared the journey he had to take to get this far.
"To be able to be a part of the team, be able to be somebody that nobody else really can be," said Garrett. "That's really about what I can say about being a part of this football team."
Having Cerebral palsy, Garrett joined the football team his sophomore year and said he was welcomed with open arms.
"I do have a disability, which gives me a slight disadvantage, but at this point, I actually really think it's helped me in a lot of different ways," said Garrett. "As I grew up, it's really just been a big deal using this disability as an advantage."
Garrett was cleared by his doctor his senior season to finally play in his first game, but his coach and parents said the Michigan High School Athletic Association was unable to clear him due to concerns.
Kirk Jackson, the head football coach for Saranac High School, said the team, the school's administration and the athletic director put their heads together to figure out how to get Garrett his play.
"I reached out to Potterville's coach, and he was in open arms, 'Let's do this.' So we figured out the best way to get him involved," said Jackson. "We did the opening kickoff. Kick it off to him, he runs the sideline, we get to pick him up, have like a true Rudy moment."
"When I first started off, I looked at the size of how big I was compared to a bunch of other guys, and I realized, you know, maybe I could get there at some point," Garrett recalled. "I just started putting in work. I went to the weight room most of the days, I even tried training more than some of the other guys that were on the team. I tried to put in as much work as I could, and that's just what it takes."
Hearing his name chanted by the student section, and the roar of the crowd during his play, his parents said they couldn't help but reflect on how far Garrett has come.
"There was a point when he was younger, we didn't know if he would walk, let alone be out on a football field, even for a play, right?" said Garrett's father Patrick. "To have this happen, to have the coaches and the staff put this together, and the whole community, coaches from both teams too, I mean, this was big"
Garrett's parents said he would continue practicing even after he would come home from practice, doing pushups at home and challenging himself to keep doing more.
Garrett's dedication, she said, has inspired their family.
"Just being able to watch him destroy every hurdle that he has in front of him, from learning how to walk to, you know, having to use a walker at school, to now he's playing football and he goes running," said Erin Hendrick. "It's amazing to have watched his progression."
Looking back over his high school career, Garrett said he must thank his team for supporting him the entire way.
"As soon as I came in they took me in, as like they did anybody else. They helped me put in the work," said Garrett.
He said the support around him is what has made it all feel so special.
"My parents were a big factor, but yeah, all those people have made me excited about football, about school, and the community. That's really about all I can think about."
