QBOL Assembly at Hollidaysburg Area Jr. HS with Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman

Beating the Odds Foundation presented a Quarterbacks of Life® assembly for eight hundred sixteen (816) 7th – 9th grade students of Hollidaysburg Area Jr. High School.
Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman, a professional mixed martial arts fighter, who serves as a Quarterback of Life® for Beating the Odds Foundation spoke to the students at a school that is very near and dear to him about his personal success story and what it takes to succeed in life. Charlie himself was once a student and later a teacher at Hollidaysburg Area Jr. High School, making this assembly one with a lasting impression.

Brenneman,  a professional mixed martial arts fighter, speaker, mentor and author turned his dream into reality. Following a successful high school wrestling career at Hollidaysburg Area Sr. High School, Charlie took his talents to Lock Haven University where he achieved a top 12 finish at Division I Nationals and 1st Team All-Academic. After teaching Spanish for three years and winning Spike TV’s Pros vs. Joes, Charlie decided to leave his job to pursue a master’s degree and begin his professional fighting career—“The Spaniard” was born. In 2011, he was ranked as high as #7 in the world, and in 2015, he published his autobiography, Driven: My Unlikely Journey from Classroom to Cage. Charlie currently lives in PA with his wife and daughter.

Charlie says: “In 2007, I left my Spanish teaching position at the Junior High to pursue a goal of fighting in the UFC. It was little more than a total shot in the dark. I had absolutely nothing in my favor other than my wrestling ability. The junior high is where my professional life started, and it’s really, really neat to come full circle. I’m so proud of my hometown and look forward to sharing my story and making an impact on the kids in my community.