Brandon Murray has been named wrestleutah.com "Athlete of the Week" for the week of September 11th, 2016.

With three older brothers that also wrestle, Brandon has grown up on the wrestling mat. He started competing in little league wrestling tournaments in Kindergarten. Wrestling is his favorite sport and has taught him how to deal with his personal challenges in life. 

Every time Brandon steps out on the mat, he is not only wrestling against his opponent, he is wrestling with diabetes which causes him to constantly need to monitor his blood sugar and ensure it is in a correct range. In the fall of Brandon’s 3rd grade year, Brandon was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition in which the body destroys its own cells that produce insulin. At the end of Brandon’s first football season, he was using the bathroom more frequently, seemed more thirsty than normal, and was really tired and lost 6 pounds. Brandon’s doctor diagnosed him with diabetes and sent him to Primary Children’s Hospital where he spent three days learning about diabetes, how to manage it and how it would affect him for the rest of his life.  Brandon was determined to not let diabetes stop him from enjoying his favorite sport. One week after lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to monitors and an IV drip, Brandon wrestled in the first tournament of that fall season.  

This year Brandon placed fourth at the Tour of America Salt Lake Slam and third at Utah Youth Super State. This was Brandon’s first year competing in spring season wrestling. In June he competed at the Cliff Keen West Regional Tournament in Pocatello, Idaho. He battled difficult blood sugars the first two days and even had to forfeit his first match in Greco due to his blood sugar. Brandon persevered and on day three went on to place second in Freestyle.

Brandon is a great student and will be a fifth grader this fall where he will continue learning Mandarin Chinese in a Dual Immersion program.

Brandon is grateful for all of his coaches for their support and training as well as being great role models. He enjoys his supportive teammates and is looking forward to another great wrestling season this fall.

To nominate someone for the "Youth Athlete of the Week," please submit your nominations to wrestlingutah@gmail.com.