No school too small, no event too big

Hanna graduate places 1st at the RMAC Decathlon on April 30.

Conor McGraw, a graduate from Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School was a standout athlete along with his twin brother Shane.

The HEM football team went to the state championship and in basketball the two were nicknamed the McGraw Machine. However, it was track where the two were individual stars. Shane had won state for the 400 meter three times and was hoping for a 4th time his senior year, before Covid-19 restrictions canceled the season.

Conor was also hoping for great things. As a junior he won both the 110 and 300 hurdles at the state meet. The bright side of their senior year was when they both received athletic scholarships from Black Hills State University (BHSU) for football and track.Both McGraw brothers are doing well at the University, although an injury to Shane has challenged him the past year.

Conor just made his brother, family, the school he currently attends and the school he attended very proud.

Conor placed 1st overall in the decathlon events, scoring 6,272 points to be crowned the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) decathlon champion.

He won the 400-meter dash with a time of 51.16 and finished 2nd in the 100 (11.08), 2nd in the 110 hurdles (15.66) and 2nd in the discus (127'-1"). The decathlon also had him competing in 10 events total, where he racked up the most points out of all competitors.

RMAC is a collegiate athletic conference which operates in the western United States,mostly in Colorado with members in Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Utah. It participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division II.

Conor's family was at the event to watch him win.

His mother, Joan, was elated.

"It was pretty awesome," Joan said. "Especially after what Covid did to his and Shane's senior year. I can say Conor worked hard to get to this point."

Mike McGraw, Conor's father, agrees his son has worked hard to get to this level.

"If you don't really follow that sport, many don't know how hard that competition is. If you run track in college, believe me, your teammates know how hard it is to be successful in decathlon," Mike said. "Sometimes people fail to realize how hard both he and Shane have worked over the years to become the athletes they are in track. They have been putting in the time year after year."

Mike said Conor had excellent coaching at HEM to lay a foundation for when he went to BHSU.

Once he got to college, Mike said different coaches helped Conor excel in events he was strong in and help him with events like pole vault in which the athlete had never done.

"Also I think with the year they lost due to Covid, it took him a year to get his legs back and the coaches were there for him being supportive," Mike said. "It has made a difference after not running track for a year for all practical purposes and then competing at the college level."

Mike said he has been told by others how great it is to see a 1A school athlete from Wyoming compete at this college level and win against athletes from bigger states.

"Conor has proven it is possible," Mike said. "That old adage of hard work conquers all works especially in track and field because it is truly an individual sport. If you work hard, good things can happen." 

Conor's former coach was in agreement with Mike about Conor wanting to get back as a competitor in track after Covid.

"I think after missing his senior year of track because of Covid, he went to college wanting it and that is what he has done," said Jackie Jones, HEM track and field head coach. "Obviously the coaches at Black Hills have done a tremendous job in turning him into a multi-event athlete."

Jones was not surprised Conor did well, but still proud.

"For him to go in and win the decathlon and compete in the javelin and pole vault events the way he did, is a testament to the work ethic and mental mind set that Conor has," Jones said. "As his former coach, along with Cliff (assistant coach Cliff Jones) we are so proud of him and what he has been able to accomplish already," Jones said. "RMAC is a tough conference and for him to win the decathlon, it is a true testament to what Conor has always been about, to be quite honest."

Jones knows Shane is very proud of his brother.

"One of the neatest things on the weekend is we were able to view it online and then we heard the announcement be made, immediately I got a text from Shane of how extremely proud he was of his brother. They have always been competitive and for him to make a point of his pride, it was wonderful."

Jones reinforces Conor's father's words about big things can occur from small schools.

"It just goes to show, that no matter how small a school you come from, good things can happen," Jones said. "Conor's win in the decathlon is truly inspirational to all student athletes that attend small schools. He has sent a great message to so many kids by his win and there is pride to say he comes from a Carbon County's school system." 

 

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