HAMLIN – Watson Grantham had a day last Saturday that he won’t soon forget.

The Bryant athlete got to run with his brother in a unified race on the Hamlin team at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays before he pitched a three-inning no-hitter and had two hits for the Clark high school baseball team.

The Unified 400-meter relay features squads that have two special needs members on each team. Grantham’s brother, Wesley, has special needs, and this year marked the third time they got a chance to run together on the same team.

“We each just run a leg and it’s a fun way to include kids with special needs at an important track meet,” Grantham said.

Growing up around Wesley, Grantham said he’s noticed how some people react to him.

“Since we were young, he’s got special needs so, he’s always kind of been looked at as different. Not many people really pay attention to him, or they think maybe he’s weird,” Grantham said. “For me, as a brother and growing up with it, I know how to deal with it, but getting to do something important with him on one of the biggest stages in the state, and just show other people from across the state, that we include kids with special needs, it’s a big deal and holds a special place in my heart for me.”

This year’s race was extra special since it was the last one for Watson, who will be graduating and moving on to play baseball for Valley City State next year. He said the realization hit him before the race started.

“It meant the most to me honestly. I remember I was sitting there in line,” Grantham said. “We were getting ready to go to our spots to start. I was kind of thinking, dang, this one’s kind of special. It’s the last one I get to do.”

Once the race was over, Grantham was off to a baseball game across town in Sioux Falls where he no-hit Colman-Egan-Flandreau in baseball.

“You really had to switch and get ‘locked in’ for the game, especially pitching,” Grantham said. “I really had to go from having a blast to OK, now I’ve got to settle in and get ready to pitch.”

Grantham is a key member of the Clark baseball team. The American Legion squad made it to the state tournament last summer, and he believes the high school team has a chance to make some noise later this month.

“We’re sitting at around .500 right now, we lost a couple of games we probably shouldn’t have,” Grantham said, “but we still think we’re a top team in the state and can push for a good state tournament, potentially a state championship this high school season.”

Grantham has won a pair of state championships already during his prep career, a Class 9AA state football championship last season and a Class A state basketball championship two years ago for Hamlin.

He said Wesley is always there to support him.

“He’s comes to almost every single one of my games across all sports,” Grantham said.

Grantham said the most meaningful thing through the years has been the friendships made and developed through sports and not just with his own teams.

“Building connections across the state, just having a blast, honesty,” Grantham said of what he will remember the most. “That’s what sports are about at the end of the day.”

That and getting a chance to participate with his brother in races that he will never forget.

“I’m grateful for it,” Grantham said.

So, who did the race mean more to, him or his brother?

“I would think it would mean more to him, but I mean it’s hard to tell. He doesn’t always know how to say it, exactly what he wants,” Grantham said. “There’s something in his eyes when we’re out there running. After, he’s tired, he’s panting, but he looks at you and it’s just like, you can see it in his eyes, he’s actually enjoying it.”

LEADING THE WAY

Bergan Musser of Lennox continues to lead four open events in the Class A girls topping the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash and long jump.

There are four other athletes who lead three open events. Hill City’s Tate Grabow leads the Class A boys 800, 1,600 and 3,200, Sioux Falls Christian’s Ellie Maddox leads the Class A girls in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, Philip’s Baylor Burns leads the Class B boys in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, and Bennett County’s Rush O’Neill leads the Class B boys in the 100, high jump and long jump.

There are 11 athletes who lead a pair of open events including Milbank’s Sam Rick in the Class A boys triple jump and pole vault, and Northwestern’s Ella Boekelheide in the Class B girls 800 and 1,600.

BY THE NUMBERS

Sioux Falls Christian and Lennox continue to set the pace among the team leaders in Class A girls. SFC tops eight events while Lennox leads seven.

Other team leaders are Sioux Falls Lincoln in Class AA boys (seven events), Spearfish in Class AA girls (five events), Hill City in Class A boys (four events), Philip in Class B boys (six events), and Bennett County in Class B girls (five events).