GAMES
RANKINGS
TAKE 5: Heath Grant Keeps Willis In The Fast Lane
WILLIS HIGH SCHOOL KEEPS CRANKING OUT STARS.
Former QB DJ Lagway was the Gatorade Player of the Year in football and now starts for the Florida Gators. Junior Jermaine Bishop Jr. is ranked the No. 3 athlete in the Class of 2026. Lefty Maddox Keo is spinning it on the mound for Rice Baseball.
And now? It’s Heath Grant’s time to shine. The senior track star is putting Willis on the national radar. And the best part? He doesn’t even have to change his wardrobe.
“I feel like I really put in the work and earned my scholarship to Kansas State,” Grant said. “The facilities are amazing, and I get to keep my school colors. I’m really looking forward to it.”
VYPE’s Matt Malatesta caught up with the Big Man on Campus at Willis for our TAKE 5 feature.
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VYPE: You could’ve played any sport… why track?
GRANT: I played Little League football like everybody else. I was fast, had great stamina, but I wanted to do something different. Track called me. It’s a tough mentality—there’s no hiding. You have to train consistently, even when you don’t feel like it. That’s the only way to become elite.
VYPE: What’s on your playlist before a race?
GRANT: Juice WRLD. Anything by him gets me hyped. That’s my go-to.
VYPE: What are your goals for 2025?
GRANT: I’m chasing a low 1:46 in the 800 meters, :45 in the 400, and :24.5 in the 200. The 800 is what I’m going to college for, and it’s an insanely tough race. Sometimes I’m just praying to make it to the finish line. I feel like everyone wants to beat me now. They see me as the top dog, so I can’t let my guard down.
VYPE: Who do you love watching on the track?
GRANT: My two favorites are Auhmad Robinson from Texas A&M and Grant Holloway, the Olympic hurdler. I don’t run their events, but I love how they approach the sport. I’ve got Olympic dreams too, so I have to stay locked in—like them. At the end of the day, it’s all in God’s hands.
VYPE: How do you unwind?
GRANT: I like messing around with other sports—throwing the football or playing basketball for fun. Other than that, I’m pretty chill. I hang out with friends, listen to music… just enjoy the downtime.
BRINGING THE BOOM: Prihoda Brings Big Bat, Toughness To Willis Softball
SYDNEY PRIHODA IS A FLEX.
The Willis senior outfielder, already with double-digit home runs this season, has signed to play softball at Sam Houston State. She’s a bona fide star—whether she’s in the field, at the plate, or blazing around the base paths.
“My dad has always pushed me to be my best, and I appreciate that,” Prihoda said. “He and his brothers played baseball at Sam Houston, and he’s had a bat in my hands for as long as I can remember. He’s the ultimate ‘girl dad’.”
Prihoda grew up surrounded by boys—her brother, her cousins—it was always game on.
“I’m the only girl in our extended family, so I had to learn sports, boats, and fishing,” she laughed. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I love deep-sea fishing, the adrenaline of being flung on a tube behind a boat, and, of course, hitting home runs.”
Growing up the tough one in a crew of boys meant plenty of bumps and bruises along the way.
“I was super injury-prone as a kid,” she smiled. “But it made me tough. And it also helped me find my passion beyond softball. I’d love to be a chiropractor or an athletic trainer for a professional team. I want to stay around sports and be in the field of medicine.”
As Willis’ clean-up hitter, Prihoda has big expectations for her senior year. The program missed the playoffs last season—but not if she has anything to say about it.
“I was co-Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman,” she said. “After that, I was getting everyone’s best pitch. This year, I’m hoping to get back to those numbers and provide the leadership my team needs. I love this game—but really, I play for my teammates.”
With Prihoda leading the way, Willis Softball should be thinking playoffs as April turns to May and the district race heats up.
Stay tuned.