Brecksville-Broadview Heights Bee Succeeds On the Field and In the Classroom

There are a lot of students at Brecksville-Broadview Heights listed in the . Here's a closer look at one of them. If you know an outstanding student who should be recognized on Brecksville Patch, email Editor Rachel Abbey McCafferty.

The key to succeeding at both sports and schoolwork is learning how to balance your priorities, said Kyle Graham.

It’s certainly worked for Graham, a senior at . Graham, one of the captains this year for the Bees football team, was named a member of the Academic All-Ohio team late last year, the only Bee on the list. The distinction honors those athletes who also excel in the classroom. Graham’s grade point average is above a 4.0—he earned a 4.6 last quarter, he said.

Graham keeps busy—he’s taking AP courses for calculus, chemistry and Spanish this year, and he also plays baseball and makes time to hang out with friends. His parents encouraged him to get good grades, so making time for schoolwork comes naturally, he said. He’s learned to use his time effectively.

“You just have to have self-discipline,” he said.

He encourages students to stay focused, and remember that “your academics are important for the rest of your life.”

Graham’s football coach, Jason Black, said he was a pleasure to have on the team. He’s a team player who is never worried about himself, Black said—he just gets right to work for the team. Black has coached Graham since he was a freshman.

Graham said some of his most memorable moments on the field this year were helping to win the and scoring a 35-yard touchdown during the team’s last game of the season.

Graham is headed to college next year, where he hopes to play football and study chemical engineering.

To learn more about Graham and the team's accomplishments, check out this post on the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School website.