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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Remarkable athletic career


Graham
 (The Spokesman-Review)
Joe Everson Correspondent

Sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and in the case of Northwest Christian High School senior John Graham, it’s certainly much more interesting.

Graham recently concluded a splendid athletic career at Northwest Christian, one that included six state championships in three sports, and he graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average. Next fall, he plans to enroll at Biola University in Los Angeles.

He played basketball and golf at NWC all four years, baseball for three and soccer for one. And the latter is where things turn from interesting to remarkable. Let him begin the story, which sounds like something out of a movie.

“Last fall was the only time I ever played soccer, at any level,” he said. “I went to watch one of our games about midseason and our goalie was young and new and kind of struggling. Some of the guys talked with me about playing.”

Actually, there was a bit more to it than that. Not only did Graham join the team, but he became the No. 1 keeper, and the Crusaders went on to win the Washington Class 2B championship, with shutout victories in the semifinal and title contests.

“What John won’t tell you is that when he came out, it was the turning point for the team,” said NWC Athletic Director Jim Orr. “He brought leadership and maturity – without him back there, we wouldn’t have had much of a chance to do what we did.”

For the record, Graham’s championship résumé also includes three in golf and two in basketball. But even though he had no soccer experience, jumping in halfway through the season wasn’t that much of a stretch for him.

“It was something new,” he said, “but I love the guys here, especially the seniors, who have been my good friends all during high school. I hadn’t done a fall sport before here, just used that time to train for golf and baseball.”

The Crusaders’ most recent of their three state championships this year was a narrow victory over runnerup Orcas Island three weeks ago at the Lake Padden Golf Club in Bellingham. They had defeated previously undefeated Toutle Lake by a point in the 2B basketball title game and Shoreline Christian in soccer.

“It’s been a storybook experience for me,” Graham said, “not just this year but my whole time here. I feel so incredibly blessed with great coaches and teammates who have influenced me in a positive direction and helped make me a better person athletically, academically and spiritually.

“What defines my high school career? Probably that I’ve always been a team player. I never needed to be the leading scorer or the star. I just did what needed to be done for the team. It’s never been about what I wanted, but what the team needed.”

Orr has been at Northwest Christian for 25 years, the last nine as AD. So when he places Graham at the head of the list of elite athletes during his career there, it means something.

“John is unique,” he said. “He’s the whole package, not only a great athlete but a great student and a team guy who always helps motivate others. He cares about his teammates, and he’s not afraid to speak up if he sees something going on that shouldn’t be. In golf, which is more of an individual sport, he’s encouraging to the other guys whether they’re shooting 70 or 100.

“Not everyone with great talent is a learner, but when we got John he was already a diamond. He’s a humble, selfless guy who will say what he needs to, but it won’t be about him when he does.”

Graham, who will play golf at Biola, is anxious to test himself against college competition, but admits some anxiety about his readiness to be on his own that far from home. He’s counting on his spiritual strength to sustain him, as it does whether he’s studying or competing or just hanging out.

“It doesn’t really matter what I accomplish individually,” he concluded. “My identity isn’t in how I score, but in how I represent my faith, myself and my school. In whatever I do, I strive to be a spiritual example.”