18-Year-Old Student with Muscular Dystrophy Competes in Wheelchair Sports, Remembers Late Brother

KATHLEEN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) -18-year-old David Presley wheels his motorchair across Veterans High School’s gymnasium floor, ready to catch the football. He’s a very skilled wheelchair football player, and he and his team, The Houston County Sharks, are circling the proverbial waters, hungry to eat, or beat their rivals the Guppies. The team name says it all–the Guppies are not confined to a wheelchair, and they aren’t great on wheels.

The Guppies are made up of local education officials, including Houston County Superintendent Robin Hines. 41NBC’s Andrew Reeser got to play on that team. David, along with his other teammates, are very determined.

“I’m really not worried about anything slowing me down,” he says.

In fact, he’s got quite an impressive resume…he plays wheelchair football, basketball, and handball. He also is a matchmaker–setting up his mom and stepdad when he was just 13 years old. His stepdad, Don McGraw, was his teacher at the time, and David would send him not-so-subtle messages.

“‘Why don’t you come on out to the house we got a swimming pool?'” Don recalls David saying in class. “‘Mama will wear a bikini…come on out!'”

So Don joined the family–a heavily-burdened family. David was born with muscular dystrophy. He lost use of his legs when he was 12. His brother Andy, also had the disease–a special, but difficult bond they shared.

But, last September, Andy, only 22, died from his disease. David’s best buddy was gone.

“Andy didn’t wake up one morning,” David recalls.

His mother’s worst fears came true.

“I’m always scared to get a call…I never thought I’d get the call on Andy…” says Denise McGraw, David’s mother.

But for David, Andy, who was his number one fan on the field and the court, isn’t gone.

“If I ever made a basket or scored a touchdown I always thought Andy was there blocking them, Andy was there helping me with the ball…”

So, his parents and siblings scream on the sidelines cheering David on. Andy, no doubt there in spirit, inspiring David to inspire others.

“There’s no limits for anybody…I’ve seen guys on a skateboard with no legs, I’ve seen guys doing marathons with one arm, one leg…there are no limits for anybody,” David says with a smile.

The 3rd annual Houston County Sharks vs. Guppies game raised funds for the Sharks to continue to compete. They are state champions in wheelchair sports. They, of course, beat the Guppies, as they always do. This time the score was 51-14.

TO CONTACT ANDREW REESER: areeser@41nbc.com, or follow him on Twitter: @andrewreeser