AUGUSTA, GA. (WJBF) – Brandon Lively is a two-sport star for the Bears as a wrestler and a football player. On the field, he was a 2x winner of the McDonalds Player of the Game award on Game Night Live and he helped Team Georgia get a win at this year’s Border Bowl, and on the mat, he was an area champion in his weight class. In the classroom Brandon has a 3.87 GPA and is ranked 11th in his graduating class as well as being on the Principal’s List, on the Honor Roll, and dual enrolled at Augusta Tech. For his hard work in the classroom, the community, and in his athletic endeavors, Brandon has been named this week’s WJBF Scholar Athlete.

Brandon says he was surprised to find out he had won but says it’s good for other kids to see they can get recognized for more than athletics. “I just try to use it in the best way that I can and be a good role model for anyone who may be looking up to me because you never know,” says Brandon, “there are kids, other people on your team, you’ve always got to set a good example.”

His parents are incredibly proud of him and say that his workload definitely merits this award. “Every year he’s pushing more and more, doing more, wanting to be better. So, he’s grown.” says Brandon’s mom Diann. His dad agrees too and notes the qualities that make Brandon successful. “Yeah, just extremely proud of his discipline, dedication, and hard work in the classroom, and then on the wrestling mat and on the football field, I couldn’t be more proud,” says Brent Lively.

Brandon’s parents are not the only ones singing his praises, with his coach crediting Brandon’s leadership as a big reason their team has found success. “Just a very dedicated kid that was very driven. He doesn’t need a lot of direction, he kind of knows what he wants to get done. He has to be guided here and there, but he has that thing that a lot of kids don’t have anymore which is intrinsic motivation,” says Burke County head football coach Franklin Stephens, “he wants to be good and he’s willing to work and pay the price to be good. He’s a great example of a kid in how you want them to perform, you want kids to finish drills, work hard, I call them “Do Right” kids. Be a “Do Right” kid, and that’s what he’s about.”

Brandon is not sure where he wants to go to college yet, but he plans to study business and hopes to continue wrestling. A big congrats to Brandon and his family!