A two-time state wrestling champion and an all-state football linebacker, Jason Branigan was diagnosed with testicular cancer, brain cancer, and cancer of the lymph nodes while a high school senior. The diagnosis followed a loss in the 1991 state semifinals where Branigan, nearly doubled over with pain in the third quarter, continued to play until the final gun.
His competitive athletic career was over but he was determined to defeat cancer and remains in sports and education as the wrestling coach and a social studies teacher at Papillion-LaVista South High School.
