Warrior Profiles

A little about Me

Q. What are your short and long term goals (personal, professional, recovery-related, etc.)?
A. I definitely plan to at least medal in my events, but shooting for gold. I am currently enrolled at the University of Alaska-Anchorage working towards a BS in Chemistry. I plan on applying to pharmacy school to become a PharmD. I am working at being in overall better physical shape and exploring my abilities in sports I have given up on or never tried before. I'm constantly working on making my cognitive function reach levels close to my pre-injury state and improving my memory at the same time. I also continuously strive to be the best father, relationship partner to my girlfriend, and peer and mentor I could possibly be.

Q. How did your Service’s Wounded Warrior Program (Warrior Transition Unit, Wounded Warrior Regiment, Other Service Wounded Warrior Unit) assigned or previously assigned to enhance your recovery?
A. I had the best RCC in Dennis Fritz and was able to completely focus and invest in my recovery, while Command CMSgt (retired) Fritz helped me navigate everything non-medical related, and some medical issues that presented themselves in the almost 3 years I was at both Walter Reeds.

Q. What is the significance of sports/competition? How has it helped you? What does it mean to you?
A. I was always a competitor before in athletics, work, training, games and life in general. This has helped hone my competitive nature in a healthy, positive way through sports. It is helping me with goals and goal setting, staying healthy through exercise and eating properly, time management, and many other aspects that directly relate to living with and adapting life’s challenges.

Q. What advice do you have for future athletes?
A. Go get active, discover that missing spark or relight that flame, go kick or punch (use what you've got left) life in the balls and run, walk, hop, or wheel away happily.

Q. Who has supported you in your training? How?
A. My girlfriend has been there since day 0. She convinced me to attend the camps and helped reignite that long dead flame. She encourages me to go give it my best every day. Also, my 2 sons, I want them to know that anything is possible. Being handed a bad hand (pun intended) in life doesn’t mean you’re out of the fight. Go give it your all and make someone else have to give their all to beat you. Things in life aren’t given out for free, go earn what you want.