Athens, Ga. (March 3, 2025) – Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine is proud to announce Henry Stokes, a senior at Athens Academy, as the Athlete of the Month. This award recognizes a student athlete who has shown exceptional perseverance and determination in overcoming a significant injury and returning to the field of play.
Stokes underwent a right knee medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, a surgery that requires extensive rehabilitation and physical therapy. Despite the daunting recovery process, Stokes’ unwavering commitment to his physical therapy along with his relentless drive to get back on the field led him to stand out to the clinical team working with him.
"Day in and day out, Henry comes in with motivation to better himself and is always looking for something new,” explained Zach Thomas, a physical therapist at Piedmont Orthopedics and Sports Medicine who has worked closely with Stokes. “He’s shown tremendous commitment to his rehab, working with his athletic trainer after school as well as taking every opportunity to regain strength and get better.”
Stokes is now four months post-surgery and has been progressing ahead of schedule. He continues to work on exercises focused on acceleration and deceleration exercises and will soon move into change of direction exercises that will continue to strengthen his knee. Later he will begin working on sport-specific training and drills that will prepare him to return to the field at a level greater than his prior performance.
The Piedmont Athens Regional Orthopedic Sports Medicine team established the Athlete of the Month program to recognize the dedication of student athletes in the area.
"The athletes we support are truly remarkable, overcoming significant challenges to return to their sports after injuries or illnesses," said Katie Terrell, athletic trainer and outreach coordinator for the hospital’s sports medicine program. "This award was created to honor their dedication and hard work in our sports medicine rehab program. We are thrilled to work with student athletes from middle school through college and into adulthood. Our athletic trainers and therapists, with their advanced training in sports medicine, are committed to helping student athletes stay active in their sports."
As Athlete of the Month, Stokes was awarded a certificate and is now featured at the Orthopedic Sports Medicine facility on Piedmont’s Oconee Health Campus in Watkinsville, GA.