Most of Slayton Graham’s athletic endeavors thus far in his life have involved running. The 15-year-old freshman at Hardaway High School played baseball until the age of 12. He has long been engaged in the sport of soccer, and his last year in middle school, he participated in track and field events. This fall, he launched himself into the world of high school sports by joining the school’s cross country team.
It is perhaps a little surprising that the 5’, 93-pound teen decided to undertake a more stationary sport. This winter Graham is one of the newest members of the Hawks wrestling team, competing in the 106-pound weight class. Although he has never been part of a wrestling program, Graham decided to pursue the sport at the encouragement of his father.
“I am very competitive. I hate to lose. Honestly, I get frustrated because I am so competitive and my dad said he thought I would be good at wrestling. I thought about it and said I think I can do that,” says Graham.
Soccer drives Graham’s passion for athletics. He has played in organized soccer programs for many years and really had not thought about participating in a winter sport his first year in high school. Graham says he was going start off as a XC runner and then check out the possibility of playing soccer in the spring. Putting wrestling in the middle of those two sports keeps Graham busy and plugged in to campus life in positive ways since he is a newcomer in a big school.
Freshmen sometimes experience anxiety about attending high school. Graham is no different in that he wanted to fit in while also being able to participate in one or two sports he enjoys. He notes that the XC season thrust him right into “Hawk life.”
“Honestly, I didn’t know very many people here but when I started with cross country, I met other people and have made some friends. It helped me to be a part of a sport right at the beginning of school,” says Graham.
Wrestling gives Graham a chance to be a part of another set of Hardaway athletes and also learn a new sport. The school has a tradition of producing successful wrestling teams with stellar individual athletes. The sport is gaining notoriety in some arenas and several area middle schools have added wrestling clubs or programs which often act as feeder programs for high schools. Graham didn’t participate in wrestling in middle school but his high school coach still has high hopes for the rookie.
“He will be the starting 106 pounder. He doesn’t have a lot of experience, but that is what this year is for. I have told him I did not care if he went 0 for 30 this year, just to learn and get better,” says Kevin Noviello, Hardaway head wrestling coach.
The Hawks coach has been at the helm of Hardaway’s wrestling program for two years. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for three years. Last year his team record was 16-4, placed second in the region and advanced to team state with three wrestlers making it the individual state competition.
The 2013-2014 season has the HHS team filled with new and young talent. Seven first-time wrestlers have made the team and an additional seven freshman are part of the program. While breaking in the new recruits takes time and energy, Noviello views the task as an opportunity. Graham’s inexperience as a wrestler, in Noviello’s opinion, is offset by the freshman’s eagerness to learn.
“When looking for kids that we think can compete at any level in sports, we determine their athletic ability, coachability and their enthusiasm toward their sport. Slayton grades high on all three of these. Slayton’s greatest strengths are his willingness and coachability. I would rather have an athlete I can coach/teach than a superstar. One of the two can’t be taught,” says Noviello.
One way Noviello addresses the disconnect between new and returning athletes in his program is to have his three upperclassmen captains mentor the younger wrestlers. This includes sharing training techniques and helping the newcomers learn to mentally prepare for a match.
In anticipation of his first wrestling season, Graham started preparing for his new sport by conducting his own research.
“I studied up and began watching the moves. I didn’t know anything about wrestling until I started watching it, and now, I think it is going to be hard work but fun,” says Graham.
Balancing his grades as a multisport athlete hasn’t been difficult at this point. Graham is a solid A-B student and he is well aware that three sports is a lot to undertake for a freshman, but he doesn’t appear to be worried.
“I think I am going to be okay. Honestly, I am very determined. If I decide I am going to do something, I pretty much do it,” he says.
Getting to know Slayton
Family: Parents, Miriam and Seth Graham; one brother, one sister
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite place to eat: Zaxby’s
Pets: One dog; two cats
What he most likes to wear: Adidas shoes
Sports team he follows: Alabama Crimson Tide
Music he listens to: Hip Hop
Athlete he admires: AJ McCarron
Favorite television program: NCIS
Place he would most like to visit: Spain or Japan
Person he most admires: His late grandfather. Also, looks up to his parents.
Favorite pastime: Fishing
Best thing about attending Hardaway High School: The opportunity to play sports
Freshman Focus/Columbus Valley/December 2013
Slayton Graham
Hardaway High School
Columbus, Georgia
By Beth Welch
Photos by Jerry Christenson
Young wrestler willing to go to the mat for his team
