Brandon started sports at the age of six and participated in baseball, basketball, football, karate and was also part of a bowling league. After his freshman year in high school, he put all of his other sports aside to focus on wrestling where he excelled. Brandon’s life changed in September of 2001 when at the age of 19 he was in an automobile accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury at the C6-C7 level and a traumatic brain injury. After two years concentrating on his rehabilitation he was able to get back to living an active life again. He learned to play wheelchair basketball and rugby and enjoy sports such as water skiing, snow skiing, kayak, and swimming. He went on to complete his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at the University of Texas, Arlington where he played on the wheelchair basketball and rugby teams. Graduate School beckoned and he entered the UT Arlington graduate program in Dual Major Political Science and Criminal Justice.