ROCKINGHAM – Jessi Graham, a junior forward on the Richmond Senior High School soccer team, has been named the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by McNair Auto Sales.
Graham, who is a seasoned veteran on head coach Bennie Howard’s team, is a “quick player” who has helped the Lady Raiders kick off their 2018 season with three straight wins over the last week, making it the first time in the last eight years that the team is 3-0 to start the year. She also scored a goal in each of the team’s first two matches, earning her this week’s nomination.
Athletic Profile
Name: Jessi Graham
Age: 16
Year: Junior
Spring Sport: Soccer
Position: Forward
Years on Varsity: 2 Years
Height & Weight: 5’-0”, 118 pounds
Experience: Six Years
RSHS Academics: Boasting a 4.3 GPA and a consistent “A” student, Graham completed her Health Science cluster courses at Richmond Senior High School during the first semester of her junior year. As a freshman, she took Health Team Relations and Microsoft and PowerPoint, while completing Health Science I and II as a sophomore and junior.
Over her year and a half at Richmond, Graham has also taken several Advanced Placement classes, as well as a handful of courses at Richmond Community College. Currently, Graham splits her spring semester first block at RichmondCC taking Math 143 online three days a week, while also taking Spanish II two days a week. During her fourth block, she also takes History 132 at RichmondCC.
At RSHS, Graham is enrolled in Honors Sports Marketing II with Mr. Ramsey, whom Graham noted as being an “awesome teacher,” and Honors English with Ms. Ravenscroft.
“I like taking RCC classes because it allows me to already take some college-level classes while still in high school,” Graham said. “And it has given me the ‘feel’ of what college is going to be like.”
RSHS Sports: During the fall and winter sports seasons at Richmond, Graham is a member of the cheerleading team. She’s cheered ever since seventh grade, and has served as a flyer for head coach Meredith Hood the past couple of years. While Hood doesn’t actually assign “team captains,” Graham is one of three Lady Raiders cheerleaders who help lead cheers on the sidelines.
RSHS Extracurriculars: Earlier this semester, Graham was one of a small group RSHS students to be inducted into the National Honors Society. She explained that it was a “big honor” to be accepted into such an elite group of students, and that she’s glad to see her “hard work pay off.” In the coming months, as well as her senior year, she will get more involved with service projects and the group’s activities.
Graham is also a general member of Richmond’s senior Beta Club, an organization that she’s been a part of since junior Beta Club in sixth grade. To complete the required Beta Club volunteer hours, Graham has offered her services at several community organizations, most notably the Humane Society and Richmond County Crime Stoppers.
Hobbies: When she’s not participating in cheerleading or soccer activities, Graham can still be found being active in the community. She plays on the Richmond Revolution travel soccer team, coached by Abel Alvarado. As a sixth through ninth grader, she played travel ball for the Richmond Rampage, coached by teammate Emily Buie’s parents.
Something else Graham enjoys doing in her spare time is refereeing recreation soccer games in Hamlet and Rockingham. She noted she enjoys making a little bit of money, but uses it as a learning experience watching others play soccer.
“Soccer is something I enjoy,” Graham said. “So, it’s easy for me to go out and referee. I’m always looking for ways to learn and get better, and seeing the game from the perspective of a referee allows me to do that.”
Graham also enjoys doing jazz and lyrical dance at Dance Sensations and hanging out with her friends.
Interesting Fact: Growing up, Graham played recreational soccer. And for her interesting fact, she expressed how her dad, Jason Graham, helped kickstart her passion for the game.
“My dad was my very first soccer coach in rec ball,” Graham recalled chuckling. “He loves the sport of soccer. And he literally got a group of me and all my friends and made a team. I guess it all kind of started there.”
College Aspirations: With it nearly being time for her to start applying to colleges, Graham noted she’s planning on applying to several schools and seeing what opportunities arise.
“I really want to go to Georgia or North Carolina State,” she explained, noting that even with Georgia being out of state, she’d still like to go there. “But I’m going to apply to other schools like Appalachian State, UNC-Charlotte and UNC-Wilmington. I’m just going to see where I get accepted and go from there.”
She plans to major in business and minor in communications, explaining that both fields have a plethora of career options to choose from following graduation. As far as playing soccer at the collegiate level, she says she’s interested to see what offers come her way. Graham explained that if “there’s a chance,” she would consider it, especially if there was some sort of scholarship opportunity involved.
Mentors: For her mentors, or people who she believes have had a major impact on her life, Graham chose her mother, Jami Graham, and her father, Jason.
“My parents have always been so supportive of me,” Graham explained. “It doesn’t matter if its school or sports. And I know soccer can be expensive, so I appreciate all their help.
“They also tell me when I’m right and wrong,” she continued. “They’re so accepting of my decisions, so it makes it easy to go to them for advice.”
Player of the Week Stats: While the Lady Raiders’ season is still young, Graham has had a major impact on the early successes. With the departure of last year’s leading goal-scorer Cassie McFayden, Howard anticipates several players to step up and fill the 30-goal void left by the graduated senior. And just three games in, it appears as though Graham understands her role with the team.
Interestingly enough, Graham has not used her feet to score either of her goals this year.
In Richmond’s season-opening win last Wednesday on the road against Union Pines, Graham scored her first goal on the season on a cross from fellow junior teammate Chloe Wiggins. She stuck her hip out and bumped the ball past the keeper.
Two nights later, under the lights at Richmond’s home opener against Jay M. Robinson, Wiggins sent a corner to Graham on the back post, in which the forward headed it into the net in the opposite corner.
Coach Howard said he’s looking for you to help fill the scoring role this year. You’ve got two goals through three games – what’s working for you?
“It’s definitely a big responsibility this season,” Graham noted. “I’m a little nervous, but the team plays so well together, and I just have to stay confident and score. My goal is to beat my goal total from last year (9).
“Chloe (Wiggins) and Emily (Buie) make such great crosses,” she added, “which makes my job easier. We just need to stay connected as a team and use a total team effort to score.”
What are your expectations for the rest of the season for you and the Lady Raiders?
“I just want us to win as much as possible,” Graham said smiling. “Our main goal is to win a conference championship. And if we can go further to the state playoffs, of course we want to contend for a state championship.”
Coach’s Corner: Howard, who is in his final season as the Lady Raiders head, knows how integral Graham, among others, will be to make the 2018 season a success.
“Jessi is well-deserving of this award,” Howard noted. “At the beginning of the season, we talked about a multitude of people scoring goals, and she is one of seven players to score, and one of three to have two goals.
“She utilizes her speed well, which does catch the opposition off guard,” he continued. “Jessi has worked hard to have the success she’s had. She’s an individual who wants to put her best foot forward and she’s a very coachable player. I can ask her to try something and she’s more than happy to work hard and do it well. And she’s also a great student in the classroom.”
