Jon Michael McGrath

Temple Zenoni
February 18, 2010
Filed under Profiles

Not many people have felt what its like to be a National Champion, let alone an Olympian. But senior Jon Michael McGrath knows all to well what that feels like. Of course, he is best known for his success in the sport of skeet shooting, but he is just a typical teenager.

            Like any 17-year-old, McGrath’s days are filled with talking to friends, extracurricular activities and homework.  When he is not practicing shooting, he said he enjoys “playing golf, hunting and fishing.”  And, of course, as a typical high school student he enjoys spending free time with friends. 

“We go to movies, chill at each others houses,” senior Glenn Mattox said.

McGrath’s favorite movies include Armageddon and anything with Will Ferrell.  McGrath met Mattox around 5th grade, through baseball.

“I like to be around humble people,” McGrath said.

“The thing about Jon is that he’s really down to earth and really easy to talk to,” junior Jordan Fields said, who has become friends with McGrath after meeting him in Oklahoma history class.

McGrath also loves music and going to concerts like Lil Wayne and Dave Matthews.

Although McGrath is just like any other teenager, he also gets to do and experience things that most never will. Because of his status in the sport of skeet shooting, McGrath gets to travel a lot.

“I’ve been to ten different countries,” McGrath said.

He has traveled to countries such as Barbados, Germany and China.

“Italy is my favorite though,” McGrath said, “because of all the history that was there. I really enjoyed the Vatican city.”

McGrath doesn’t exactly have a normal family life either. Although he does he get grounded just like any other teenager, he rarely does any chores.

“I have to shoot a lot of skeet. That’s my chore,” McGrath said.

According to Mattox, McGrath has the unknown hobby of “extreme skipping and rock throwing. He pretty much has it down at everything.” Also, McGrath is a 3 time State Champion Spring Board Diver, but he decided to quit when he learned that “he was good at skeet.”

Most high school seniors decide where they want to go to school by thinking about what they want to do and how far away they want to be from home. But McGrath’s college decision deals with a lot more.

“I’ll go to college either way. If I want to go away to school, I’ll have to find a range somewhere. But if I decide to go to the Olympic Training Center, I’ll be practicing everyday,” McGrath said.

On the outside, McGrath is a typical high school senior. He’s preparing for college, getting into trouble, and hanging out with friends. But McGrath is also an Olympian.

“When I first met Jon, he didn’t act different at all. I just thought it was cool that he had found something he was really passionate about and that he loved,” Fields said.