Scholar Athlete Succeeding in the Classroom, on the Track and Respected PIKE Brother
As a native Houstonian and dual-sport football and track standout at Houston’s iconic Lamar High School, Gage Hensey felt confident about his sprinting ability for mid-distance events like the 400-meter dash and pursued a college walk-on opportunity in a Division 1 track and field program. The son of a TCU Kappa Sigma and varsity football player, and a TCU Tri-Delta mom, Hensey headed to the plains of Norman, Oklahoma, where, with hard work and dedication, this scholar-athlete now holds an athletic scholarship after improving his 400-meter times.
In high school, Hensey was a member of the National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a Best Buddies organization officer, varsity football team captain, and a sprinter on the track and field team. Hensey says, “I started running track my junior year of high school after realizing I wasn’t the best on the football team, but I was the fastest.”
The Sooner track squad is now his central focus in college. “I have been blessed to travel all around the country, and even internationally, competing at different track meets including one in the Bahamas over spring break 2023. I’ve competed in several Big 12 Conference Championship meets, NCAA-West outdoor regional qualifiers, and the 2023 Indoor NCAA National Championship as a member of the 4×400-meter relay,” explains Hensey.
Now, the University of Oklahoma junior advertising and digital marketing major, who sports a 3.67 GPA, looks forward to even more track competition next year as a senior in the Southeastern Conference.
Hensey explains the choice of joining PIKE was an easy one. “With my parents’ positive Greek experience at TCU and an older brother Kappa Sigma at Texas, I decided to rush, looking for a house where I could make lifelong friendships and memories, and find brothers who would push me to my best both in the classroom and on the track. PIKE has given me all these things and more. I have learned great time-management skills, balancing a social life and forging deep, lifelong friendships while competing as a D-1 Power 5 athlete.”
Hensey’s attention these days is focused on school and training and competing in his track responsibilities, but he has found time to serve the Beta Omicron chapter as T-shirt chair for several semesters, powder-puff philanthropy coach and co-editor of the chapter’s magazine “Pike’s Illustrated.” He also has served as a Houston rush lead and on the recruitment team for the past two years.
Isaac Sires (Oklahoma, Beta Omicron ’19) served as president of the chapter and is now Director of Services, West, for the International Fraternity knows Hensey well. “I can vividly remember when my recruitment chairmen and I were trying to get Gage to rush PIKE. We knew that he could be a valuable addition to Beta Omicron. From the moment he rushed, Gage immediately stood out as someone who would advance and carry on our chapter’s storied history. Gage is competitive, hardworking, and incredibly well-liked, not only within the chapter, but at the University of Oklahoma. Simply put, Gage exemplifies the ideals of a True Pike. I am proud to call him my brother.”
Hensey truly enjoys being a Pike. “I’m surrounded by a great group of Beta Omicron brothers. I always strive to lead by example, using all the traits I learn along the way to represent myself as a gentleman and be a true friend and brother to my fellow Pikes.”
Hensey says he hopes to work in sales, marketing, or the creative side of advertising after college. There is no doubt he is well positioned for success ahead, and won’t hear any footsteps behind him!