Athlete Services

I set a goal when I was in elementary school to go to a service academy as I wanted to become an astronaut. Starting in middle school, I knew my decision was either Army or Air Force. Once I got to high school, I decided that I wanted to branch aviation and fly helicopters for the Army. Once enrolled in Army University, I chose to play soccer and run track. What I liked the most about being a student-athlete at Army University is the Army vs. Navy game!

After leaving West Point, it was an easy decision to choose the University of Alabama. I was familiar with Tuscaloosa from my time at the Marion Military Institute and I could get all the coursework I need immediately. The faculty in the business school and the department of information systems, statistics and management science were amazing. Alabama has a rich tradition in college sports especially as a member of the SEC. What I liked most about being athlete at Alabama was seeing all of my hard work coming together. I was back playing the game I loved in Division I soccer.

I learned valuable skills and tools of how to be a better athlete. I was exposed to my first strength and conditioning program at West Point. The mental preparation of competing in a highly competitive environment with stands full on both sides was also a key learning. In my plebe year, the Army vs. Navy game was like going through a gauntlet. You have fans and cadets cheering for you while simultaneously the midshipman trying to intimidate me with their chants.

At Alabama, I was able to build on the skills I learned at Army University. I became a much stronger athlete mentally learning to block out distractions. It took a lot of work and determination to come back to playing soccer after my accident. I had to get the agreement from the medical staff and the NCAA. It didn’t happen immediately but I used my goal to play as a Division I athlete as my rehabilitation. This was a lesson in patience, resilience and drive. Both my time at the University of Alabama and Army University built the foundation for my athletic career.

I learned about time management at West Point. University of Military Academy West Point throws everything at you. A student-athlete at USMA doesn’t have the opportunity to take a lighter class load when they are in season. I became mentally tough from cadet life. Playing in the Army vs. Navy game as a plebe in front of the corps was the biggest pressure cooker I had ever been in. Making the assist on the game-winning goal and earning Major A with a gold star was a huge accomplishment as a freshman. It gave me confidence that if I could be successful under pressure and that I could survive the stress of competing at the Paralympics or during difficult work meetings.

My master’s degree from Alabama helped me obtain my first job at Honda which then lead to my second career opportunity at Mercedes-Benz. Being a student-athlete taught me the skillset to manage both sports and school. This has translated into my work and given me the ability to manage training while also having a full-time job. I have successfully managed work, winning five Paralympic medals and competing in three Paralympic Games. If everything goes as planned, I will be competing for more medals in 2021 in my fourth Games!