FEATURE: Jacob Curby is a warrior on and off the mat

Instead of battling in wrestling tournaments for his high school team in LaGrange, Illinois, Jacob Curby was fighting his own personal battle.

At 16, Curby was diagnosed with leukemia.

"Leukemia had a big impact on my life. It was really intense," Curby said. "It spread really fast. I had a doctor's appointment one week and then four weeks later, I was in the hospital with tumors all over my body."

Just as the cancer spread quickly, it was treated quickly too. Curby endured six months of intense chemotherapy and within two years, he was in remission.

With chemotherapy and cancer still fresh on his mind, Curby did not waste any time returning to wrestling.

"I rushed back into wrestling after chemotherapy," he said. "I was done with chemo in October, and I had a wrestling match in December. I don't remember the third period because I was so tired, but I did win."

Just as if cancer wasn't enough, Curby had been diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 14.

"The seizures have only been a mild distraction," he said. "Sometimes if I get stressed out with homework or training, I might have a seizure, but I haven't had one in two years."

As long as Curby doesn't get run down and takes his medication regularly, he is in control of his seizures.

With all of the adversities he faced when he was young, Curby has managed to come out on top.

He recently graduated with a history degree from Northern Michigan University and is working toward an economics degree. Curby is also a member of the U.S. Olympic Education Center program.

"It's world-class training and great school environment," he said. "Anyone that trains hard and wants to be successful, good things happen to them when they move on from there."

While at the USOEC, Curby improved so much that he was ranked No. 2 in 2007 for the 66 kg/145.5 lbs. weight class.

"He was a walk-on when he first went to Northern Michigan," said U.S. National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser. "Within one year, they brought him in as a full-time resident because of his work ethic and he improved very fast."

Fraser said with continued training and international competitions, he believes Curby has the potential to make the World or Olympic team.

Curby is on the right track to achieve the goal of many U.S. athletes.

He placed second in the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials, losing in the finals to USOEC teammate Harry Lester, but he wants more.

At the 2008 Olympic Trials, Curby fell short of his goal of making the Olympic Team when he was pinned in the semifinals by Faruk Sahin and eliminated by veteran wrestler Marcel Cooper.

That setback has not stopped Curby from going after his dream.

"It would mean so much, not only for me but for my family and friends," he said. "When you make the Olympics, it's a group effort so it would be great for everybody around me. It would be a nice honor to do that for them."

In order for Curby to reach that much-respected level, he needs work on his mental game and focus on taking it one match at a time.

"In my experience, everyone at the top is physically at the same level but the best ones are strong mentally," Curby said. "I've been focusing on what's at hand and not in the future. When I step on the mat with anyone, I want to know that I can beat them."

USOEC Assistant Coach Jim Gruenwald said he believes in his mind that there is no reason why Curby cannot be the No. 1 guy at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

"He has a tremendous work ethic, he doesn't complain and he's a solid technician. He has great muscle endurance. He's just a solid overall guy," Gruenwald said. "He has to take another step up the ladder. There is a huge difference in being the No. 1 guy and No. 2 guy. It doesn't come down to any ability or non ability, it's mental toughness. 'Are you willing to sacrifice to get to that step higher so you can represent a lot of responsibility?' I think he is fully capable of doing that."