Michelle Graham: Family Drives Spartan Senior to Succeed
10/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
By Ryan Smith, MSU Athletic Communications Student Assistant
For senior back Michelle Graham, family has been an integral part of her successes as both a player and a person. Graham's long journey to the Michigan State campus began in South Africa, where she was born and lived for a year before moving to Vancouver, B.C. With a lineage that includes both grandparents playing field hockey for the Kenyan national team and two older sisters who played field hockey in college, it is only right that Michelle ended up on the pitch.
The youngest of three, Michelle grew up in a constant competition with older sisters Kira and Nicky, who are five and two years older, respectively. Kira was inspired by her grandparents at a young age and wanted to pick up the game of field hockey, in turn setting the precedent for younger sister Michelle, who admired her older sister.
The three grew up playing both soccer and field hockey, both of which Michelle had a love for. It wasn't until Kira accepted an offer to play at the University of British Columbia that Michelle decided field hockey would be the path she chose.
"Everything my sisters did, I did," said Graham. "I wanted to be just like them. I would have never been interested in field hockey without them. My parents wanted me to do whatever I wanted, and gave me every chance they could at pursuing my dreams. They saw me get excited about watching my sisters play field hockey and encouraged me to go for it."
The competition between the sisters reached an entirely new level when Michelle and middle sister Nicky played on the same team during a tournament. The two spent games trying to one-up each other despite being teammates, seeing which sister could score more goals.
"My sisters and I have a lifelong competition," said Graham. "It is really healthy and we have so much fun with it. We are competitive about everything."
After the "friendly" competitions that seemed to always end in a tie, the score would have to be settled when Nicky's Northeastern team hosted Michelle's Michigan State team her freshman year, something that Michelle didn't want to talk too much about, seeing as her older sister and the Huskies took home a 5-0 win that day.
Michelle is driven by her sisters in more than just a competitive nature however, as they have always been there as role models and someone to motivate her.
"They are the most supportive people in the world," Graham explained. "They have always been my biggest fans and would do anything for me. A couple of summers ago, I really needed to practice stick-stopping. Nicky took me out to the field at home and practiced over and over. Having their support is the most helpful thing. There is nothing that beats that. I want to be just like them, so if they are encouraging and helping me to do those things, it makes it so much easier."
The family atmosphere and friendly competition continued to fuel her fire once she reached the campus of Michigan State, as she grew close with her teammates and coaches.
"From the beginning of freshman year, we clicked wand were best friends," said teammate and fellow senior Abby Barker. "Being her teammate is awesome because I know I can count on her for anything, field hockey or not. We were all in it together as freshman and bonded because of that. We have been out here practicing together every day and taking road trips. Off the field chemistry leads to on field success, and it is obvious when you watch us seniors play."
From a 7-13 record her freshman year at MSU to a Big Ten Tournament Championship and Elite Eight appearance last season, the journey is what Graham says has been the most memorable, bringing her closer with her team. It was an adjustment for Graham in the early stages, as the team was rebuilding along with her in the midst of her transition from a forward to a back. As she has always done, Graham embraced the challenge and thrived. Graham has now played in 74 games in the Green and White, including 56 starts, all as an integral part of the Spartan back line.
Now as a senior leader, Michelle has developed into an older sister figure of sorts for the younger girls on the team. After spending her life as the youngest sister, she is now playing the role of a leader, giving those around her the same guidance and support that she found so helpful growing up.
"Michelle is a great teammate," said head coach Helen Knull. "She is always looking out for those around her, helping underclassmen adjust and adapt. She always takes the time out of her schedule to help others and is very selfless when it comes to her time. She values relationships and takes the time to get to each and every person."
As her final year of field hockey winds down, the Big Ten Distinguished scholar is ready to graduate with a degree in finance and begin the next step of her journey in pursuing her dream job of owning her own financial services practice. Despite moving on from the game she grew up loving, Graham keeps in perspective the opportunities she was able to take advantage of and what made it all possible.
"I wouldn't be here without the support of my family," said Graham. "My parents have bent over backwards to support me in anything I want to do. My time at Michigan State has been a pretty incredible experience to the point where I don't know how to describe it to people back home. Us teammates, we talk about how lucky we feel to get to experience things that are unlike anything else. We have a lot of fun and learn a lot about how much hard work it takes to get where we want to be. Being on this team is the greatest experience I could ask for and I've made friends for life. I am a Spartan for life and will always bleed green. The experiences I have had here are unbeatable."
