Westfall manager swishes 3-pointer on senior night
Williamsport Westfall senior Caleb Graul got his chance to take the court with the boys basketball team Friday night — and he made the most of it.
Graul, a team manager, was introduced along with the starting lineup for the Mustangs' home game against Piketon as part of senior night.
He went to center court to take the opening jump and won the tip. Then he caught a pass and swished a 3-pointer from the left wing on what was an untimed play that didn't count toward the score. He took the shot about 5 feet behind the arc.
Graul was mobbed by teammates and fist-bumped by Piketon players following his basket. Fans in the packed gym gave him a standing ovation.
“This was a setup, premeditated thing,” said coach Christian Meister, who also is an assistant principal at Westfall, which is about 30 miles south of Columbus. “Before the season, his mom (Brittany) and I chatted, and we wanted to give him the opportunity. He shows up at practice every day just like all the other kids. He does a lot of things I ask him to do. He's a wonderful kid. He hasn't missed a practice in four years. He's there on time every day. I really like the kid.”
On the Mustangs, Graul is referred to as “Coach G,” said Meister, a 2013 Grove City graduate who is in his fourth season at Westfall.
“He's been talking about senior night all season,” Meister said. “He's built up for that moment. He listens, he's a smart kid and he's just as engaged as all of our other guys. I couldn't have been happier for him . ... It's kids like this that make all this stuff worth it.”
Graul reentered the game in the final minute to cap his special night. Westfall won the Scioto Valley Conference contest 69-48, improving to 13-9 and earning a split in league play with Piketon.
On Feb. 21, the teams will meet again in the first round of the Division III Southeast District tournament. fdirenna@dispatch.com @Dispatchfrank