Graham Santilli is a fairly quiet, not shy, but not loud. He's a thinker. He's pondering what I say to him during the photo session, and figuring out the best approach. I'm much more of a feeler, but we find a way to communicate so that he gives me killer expressions and great poses, and we capture the essence of this terrific young Allen track star. When he's not running or training, he enjoys watching TV, play computer games and hanging out with family and friends. His favorite quote is, "Every Battle is won before it is ever fought." I love that he has enough self-awareness to list his as his favorite personality trait: Heart/Quirkiness/Discipline/Odd sense of humor.
He is a 4 year member of National Honor Society, Awarded as an "Eagle Scholar", a 4 year member of Allen Young Men's Service League. 2 year member of Allen Eagle football team, 4 year track team member. 2 year Athletic Trainer.
Life update... he may be your pilot on your next flight!
To see more recent work or book me, here's my website: Lisa McNiel Seniors
As usually happens, mom had more to say about her son. This is her perspective: Graham has always been my disciplined and self motivated son. He is an introvert, but when he does have something to say, it's well thought out. If you get to know him, he is surprisingly witty and funny. Dry sense of humor. He has always led others by Example. i.e...Hardest worker, hates to miss practice, always gives 110%, listens to what the coaches say, is coachable. He's always been the kid the coaches use as a good example.
He has always loved to run. It energizes him. If he isn't running, he looks like an amped up race horse who needs to run... He began running track at age 10. He won various district races, but didn't see a lot of success until 2013 when at 11 years old, He advanced through District and then Regionals and moved on to the AAU Junior Olympics in the 800M.
Although he loved track, he also loved football and in our highly competitive Allen School District, he decided to focus entirely on football. He had dreamed of playing for the Allen Eagles since a player came into his kindergarten class to read to them. He always ran track for Allen, but he focused all of his attention year round on football and his football training.
He played recreational football and then moved into Select Football in the DFW area in Elementary and Middle School. Was Selected by Football University to represent Dallas Forth on Team DFW and was chosen as one of the Captains. We traveled all over the country to watch him play football. His room is plastered wall to wall with football equipment and trophies.
Graham was a great player and teammate.... But, during his Sophomore year, was advised by the team physician to quit playing football. He had too many concussions and he was getting them easier and easier. He was utterly devastated. It caused a deep sadness in him that is just now beginning to lift.
He couldn't bring himself to walk into the athletic facility to clean out his locker, and after a month, the coaches did it for him.
That event was life changing for him. The coaches begged him to stay on in any capacity: coaches helper, videographer, team manager? He turned everything down but Athletic Trainer. He hadn't a stitch of athletic trainer training..but he has had a ton of broken bones from football and he knows a thing or two about concussions...so he worked extra hard to get caught up, and has spent the past two years as an athletic trainer for the football and track program.
Running and Track has always been there for him... He won the District 6A Championship for Allen in the 800M in 2015, but following that, was plagued by a bunch of growth injuries.
He ran one race for Allen last year and right away tore an achilles. He sat out the entire track season for Allen except for District. He was so disappointed in missing his track season, that on a whim I asked him if he would consider running Summer track... The rest is history. He put his nose to the grindstone and within 2 months, he had advanced through District, and then through Regionals and landed the USATF Hershey National Junior Olympics.
Graham has never had one coach (not one) that isn't amazed by his grit, determination, and heart. Every Coach he's ever had repeats the same thing to Gregg and I, He has the heart of a lion.
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