Lane Graham exhibits what it means to be a senior leader
West Holmes senior Lane Graham, left, understands what it takes to make himself better as an athlete, but when teammate Brock Zimmerly, right, went down with a devastating knee injury during basketball season, Graham showed what it means to be a leader.
Over the years Holmes County has produced many athletes who have excelled and achieved on the fields, courts and tracks of Holmes County. From team championships to individual All-Ohio honors, area athletes have shown the proper attitude, work ethic and skill set to become champions.
However, no matter what the athletes achieve on the field, it also is important to grow into a leadership role, one that exemplifies dedication and selflessness, one that shows a willingness to help others grow right alongside them.
For West Holmes senior Lane Graham, finding ways to encourage others and offer mentorship is every bit as important as what he helps himself or his teammates do in the field of competition.
This past fall Graham took his middle linebacker position with the Knights’ defense on the football field, where he racked up record tackles while earning first-team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference honors on his way to becoming a first-team Div. III All-Ohioan.
Then came track season, where he fashioned his throwing skills in the shot and discus into WHHS record-setting performances that took him all the way to the state meet.
But even as his list of individual accomplishments grew, Graham continued to encourage others, with one teammate in particular gaining valuable insight and growth from his mentorship.
When junior Brock Zimmerly went down with a knee injury during the Knights’ basketball campaign, it not only washed away his remaining basketball season, but also put an end to his track and field season, one in which he and Graham were preparing to present an intimidating one-two punch in the shot and discus.
It was a devastating blow for Zimmerly, but Graham continued to mentor the younger thrower, working to keep his spirits up and teaching even as Graham was competing.
For Zimmerly, having that kind of support and mentorship meant knowing he was not going through the rehabilitation process alone.
“Initially, it was very challenging,” Zimmerly said. “But I have had such a great support team, especially Lane. He kind of brought me along as a thrower early on. He taught me the spin move in throwing shot, and he has pushed me and inspired me all the way through. He has been a perfect teammate, someone to chase after, to learn from and to aspire to be like. He pushed me in every aspect, and it was lovely to have that kind of commitment from someone.”
The two throwers, a year apart, were almost joined at the hip since middle school, and they were prepared to dominate together until the injury derailed Zimmerly’s season.
For Graham, a chance to continue to mentor his younger counterpart in the throwing pit was something he cherished as much as competing himself.
“Missing Brock has been a big hole in this season,” Graham said. “We were looking forward to this year for a long time. But he has had such a great attitude and continues to work so hard that I think he will throw farther than me in the end. He has that kind of potential.”
He said battling each other in practice and in events helped them both grow, and he said being able to help Zimmerly develop and learn the art of throwing was something he cherished.
While Graham isn’t your prototypical behemoth thrower, a hulking body who towers over others, his tenacity, strength, technique and speed have helped him develop his throwing skills and made him a fan favorite as he out-threw almost everyone in the shot this season.
“I think my speed is a big advantage,” said Graham, who actually ran sprint relays for the Knights this season. “I’ve dedicated myself to really learning how to throw. There’s always something I can learn and ways to improve, and I want to find those and make myself better.”
West Holmes head track and field coach Ty Harris said he isn’t surprised in the least at how Graham has made himself into one of the state’s top throwers.
Harris said Graham is the type of kid who is always first one in, last one out at practice, and even in practice, his focus is intentional, his desire to improve oozing out into other athletes who watch him train.
“Lane is one of those kids who is going to give everything he has, not just to himself, but to everyone,” Harris said. “He is always thinking about other people, and he is one of the kindest, most thoughtful kids a coach could hope to have on the team. He is one of those people who make other people around him better.”
These kinds of leadership skills may not show up in an athlete’s numbers, but they are exactly the kinds of traits that make an athlete a complete player, both on and off the field.