WILLIAMSPORT, Ohio — Senior team manager Caleb Graul three pointer on February 10th was the swish heard around Williamsport.
Christian Meister, head coach for Westfall High School Boys Basketball, had the best seat in the house, watching his team manager Caleb Graul nail a three-pointer deep behind the arc on senior night.
“Piketon’s coach Kyle Miller, he’s a great guy, I reached out to him, sent him a text, hey this is our plan, this is what Caleb is, he’s got special needs, our team manager, we want to highlight him on senior night,” Meister said. “I got goosebumps thinking about it, tears in your eyes, tears flowing through your eyes. I think when you look at pictures of our kids, the student section crying, the cheerleaders, it puts high school sports in perspective.”
Graul had waited four years for a chance to step on the court, and he made it count in front of family and friends.
“Felt great to hit a three. Emotional, excitement,” says Graul.
Coach G, as everyone calls him, usually practices those kinds of shots and was confident when the ball left his hands.
The viral shot has millions of views on various social media platforms.
Graul said even after he graduates, he hopes to continue coaching for the Mustangs.
“Since I’ve come here, it’s been fun for four years helping him coach,” said Graul.
Meister said, as a team, the Mustangs always talk about enjoying others’ success.
“He’s just the nicest kid you can ever meet. If someone’s down, he’s always there to pick you up,” said senior Blaec Bugher. “He made it like, the gym just shook, it was insane. He’s got a special place in my heart moving on.”
He’s watched basketball make a big difference in Caleb’s life when it comes to building social and emotional skills.
Win or lose, Meister said he wants his team to just soak in these precious moments, and the relationships they build along the way.
“You’re never going to re-live their four years, right? And whether you play in college, or whether you go on to do another sport after this, there’s no environment like high school basketball,” Meister said. “I think if you watch that video, you can see that these stands were packed. Most of those signs said Caleb’s name on em, said Coach G’s name on em. When that shot goes in, that environment, it’s just hard to beat.”
