A Father’s Legacy on the Turf: How Grayson Maher Finds Strength in Loss

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Online Student/Athlete Profile of the Week is on none other than The Woodlands High School lacrosse player and captain, Graysen Maher.

Graysen lost his father recently due to a tragic automobile accident and is crushed beyond belief. He is forced to deal with life without his great father. How Graysen, his brother, Aiden and his awesome Mom, Velami are getting through this tragedy should be documented for all to learn from.

The resilient high school senior stands as a pillar of strength for his coaches and teammates channeling his immense grief into unwavering bravery both on and off the lacrosse field.

Facing the final season of his high school career without his biggest fan in the stands, Graysen honors his father’s memory with every hard-fought ground ball and relentless sprint down the field. The heavy weight of sorrow is unmistakable, yet he refuses to let it break his spirit or his commitment to his teammates. Instead, he transforms his pain into a quiet, fierce leadership, proving that true courage isn't the absence of heartache, but the decision to lace up his cleats and keep moving forward.

Coach Anthony Demaio and his staff are blessed to have Graysen for a leader as well as impromptu coach in their quest to make yet another Final Four in the spring. Leaders like Maher don’t grow on trees and I don’t have the ability to truly describe the full measure of what Graysen brings to the team, but I’ll give it a shot.

Sportsmanship and leadership are two essential qualities that shape the success of any athlete or team. They go far beyond just winning or achieving personal success; they define the character of an individual and their ability to inspire and guide others. A true leader in sports is one who leads by example, fosters unity and displays humility while upholding the values of fair play and respect for all involved. Graysen is all of that and more.

Coaches are invaluable, but they can’t do it alone. They need team leaders to help influence and display what they are looking for.

Let’s learn more about Graysen’s life on and off the field in this week’s Q&A…

1) How long have you been playing lacrosse?

I have been playing since 1st grade, so a total of 12 years. My dad played in high school and college and then my older brother, Aiden started playing in Kindergarten, so it was always a family thing we did together. Lacrosse has always been my primary sport, but I also played basketball, baseball, and football in elementary school.

2) Describe the 2026/27 TWHS lacrosse team and why you enjoy playing for the Highlanders.

The team is younger this year. We had a lot of leaders graduate recently so there’s a chance for players to step into new roles and make a name for themselves, which is exciting. We have kids that are really coachable and they are eager to learn and up their level of play. It will be cool to see the growth between fall ball and spring season.

I like playing for the Highlanders due to the intensity and the high expectations regardless of what skill level you are. I also appreciate the support this team gives one another off the field. We have a culture of family and that was never more evident than seeing my teammates and coaches in the pews at my dad’s funeral this summer.

3) Why do you like attending The Woodlands High School?

I feel like The Woodlands High School is challenging academically and it is preparing me for what comes next. I’m in the health care track which allowed me to earn my CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant) the past four years and intern at a doctor’s office my senior year. I also feel like we have such great staff and events at school. It’s been a fun four years!

4) You signed with St Joseph’s University. Do you know what your field of study will be?

I plan to major in Biochemistry.

5) What do you hope to be doing after you graduate from college?

I plan to go to medical school and specialize in orthopedics or trauma surgery.

6) What do you enjoy doing away from school and lacrosse?

I love to hang out with my friends. Surfing and wakeboarding and really just being active outside.

7) Who is your role model for lacrosse?

I really admire my cosches, Kyle Berkley and Danny Dolan.. Coach Kyle really got my fundamentals locked in and Danny developed my lacrosse IQ. They both put in a lot of time and effort to make me the player I am. They were both great collegiate players and I’m glad I get to learn from them.

8) I know you lost your father recently, I am so sorry. I know he was a great man. Could you share with us what made him so great and why he was such a great father? What do you see in yourself that you are proud to say came directly from your father?

What made my father such a great man was his ability to never give up. His resilience is something I will look up to for the rest of my life. My dad was also always giving with no expectation of receiving anything in return. He was always looking out for me and my family and helping me through any hardships. I see in myself one of his strongest traits which is his resilience. My father was a man who, like me, never let failure win. No matter how long it took, he would work to achieve his goals and I hope to carry that with me forever.

9) If you were given a million dollars and had to give it to one charity, which one would you choose and why?

I would give it to a charity called Sleep in Heavenly Peace. We have supported this charity as a lacrosse team and they help build and deliver beds to children who don’t have one.

10) Three things people don't know about you.

I was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in third grade after getting a bad case of Influenza A. I almost quit lacrosse as I couldn’t breathe very well for almost a year. Im really glad I pushed through!

I grew up in Colorado until eighth grade, so snowboarding was a weekly activity that I can’t wait to get back to someday.

I love all things with an engine: cars, dirt bikes, and side by sides. I like to work on them on my own and figure out how they work.

11) What is your favorite song in your phone now? Do you have a favorite group?

My Hero by Foo Fighters is my favorite song right now. My favorite group overall is Deftones.

12)Your favorite movie of all time.

Definitely Project Hail Mary. I’ve watched it eight times since it came out and read the book.

13) If you were sentenced to death but you were allowed to go on one last date, who would the lucky girl be?

Lainey Spartz, of course and we would go to Grimaldi’s.

14) When is the last time you danced? You any good?

Probably playing Wii Just Dance with friends. I win every time, but I’m not sure if that’s considered good dancing!

TWHS Lacrosse coach, Anthony Demaio shared his thoughts regarding Graysen…

“Graysen Maher is one of the most improved players I’ve had the privilege of coaching during my time at The Woodlands. Over the last four years, I’ve watched him grow tremendously from his freshman year to now, not only as a lacrosse player, but as a leader, teammate, and young man.

Graysen is the hardest worker on our team and someone who never makes excuses. What separates him is his ability to be a problem solver. When he struggles with something, he doesn’t get frustrated or look for someone else to fix it—he finds a way to correct it, learn from it, and get better. His coachability and competitiveness are exceptional.

More importantly, Graysen is the ultimate teammate. He is accountable, puts the team before himself, and genuinely does not want to let his teammates down. He has always been willing to sacrifice for the good of the group and is someone his teammates know they can count on.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the impact he has had on our younger players. He consistently takes the time to help them, teach them, and make them better—not just as lacrosse players, but as people. Every younger player in our program looks at Graysen as a role model, and that says everything about the type of person he is.

Graysen is a winner in every sense of the word. He competes at an extremely high level, he works relentlessly, he puts others first, and he makes everyone around him better. I couldn’t be more proud of the player and person he has become over these four years.”

Sources at home stress how Graysen has always been a super empathetic and thoughtful kid. He was always quick to be really kind to younger kids, especially. The neighborhood always celebrated holidays together, and Graysen was the one making sure the little kids got first dibs at hunting Easter eggs or were the first to go to the door and say Trick or Treat without prompting. Even this last winter, he ran into a younger kid on the ski slopes who couldn’t find his way back down, and not only did Gray get him down, he let him join on several other runs which the kid thought was the coolest as he got to hang with the big kids.

He’s always been the first to welcome the new kid, but not just welcome them, he’d befriend them. They became part of his crew. Planning birthday parties was always the hardest because he never wanted to exclude anyone, so he always had to go big.

Like all of us who have lost loved ones, Grayson will never get over the loss of his father. But, as time goes by, he will continue to deal with it better and better.

You have the best mother of all time and a whole community that will do anything for you. Use us when you need us, Graysen

You lost your greatest coach, but you have ultimately discovered the unbreakable spirit your father spent his lifetime building within you. You will continue to make him proud.

We will enjoy watching you succeed on and off the field. Godspeed, Velami, Aiden and Graysen.

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