MEDAL OF COURAGE Jacob Curby, son of David Curby and Lynne Curby and brother of Nick and Courtney, attended Lyons Township High School in LaGrange where he was coached by Hall of Fame Coach Mark King. Jake loved wrestling and it was a central part of his life from his early days spent in a playpen of the Lyons Township HS wrestling room to his first Greco-Roman match in Finland at age six. Jake accomplished a great deal in his 25 years, but it was the manner in which he conducted himself that stands out in the reflections of family, friends, and friends of wrestling. He was hard-working, humble, determined, tough, and kind to others, from his early days in the Lions Wrestling Club, where he won an IKWF state title, through high school where he was All-State and a leading Greco-Roman competitor. He was, as an article on Themat.com stated, "a warrior on and off the mat." He overcame a fierce battle with cancer during high school, and also quietly dealt with his ever-present epilepsy. As a sophomore, Jake qualified for the State Finals and just missed placing. That spring he wrestled in numerous Freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments and ultimately went on to win the Cadet Freestyle State Tournament. Shortly following the Freestyle State Tournament, Jake was diagnosed with Birkett's Lymphoma - an aggressive form of leukemia. Rather than spend his summer competing at Junior Nationals, Jake instead underwent rigorous chemotherapy treatment sessions. The intensity of the treatment took its toll, but Jake was steeled in his determination to return to the Lyons Township wrestling line-up. By Lyon's first conference match a valiant Jake Curby had indeed made it back to the varsity line-up and was victorious. However, as mentally determined as he was, the physical demands on Jake's body made for a long and difficult junior year. Jake had recovered to full strength for his senior year- a memorable senior year that was highlighted by Jake winning forty-one matches, garnering an IHSA Sectional Championship and by capping his scholastic career by taking fifth place at 152 lbs. in the IHSA Individual State Tournament. Jake added to his scholastic success by travelling the country to participate in and place in four National Regional tournaments. He won two and topped it off with being named the Outstanding Greco Wrestler at the Southern Plains Regional in Oklahoma. But his senior year was just a glimpse of what was to come. Following high school, Jake joined Ivan Ivanov in Marquette, MI where he trained at the U.S. Olympic Education Center and attended college at Northern Michigan University. Here he began his steady climb up the Olympic ladder that he hoped would end as a world and Olympic medalist. At the time of Jake's passing, he was ranked number two at 66 kg in the US. He was showing continued improvement and had some big wins his final season in Europe where he beat the U.S. National Champ in Finland and then defeated the current European bronze medalist in Sweden where he won a bronze medal. His wrestling achievements include being a 4-time senior national placewinner; 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishes in the World Team Trials; University Nationals Champion; winning places on two University World Teams; Sunkist Champion; NYAC International Champion; Dave Schultz International Champion; Slovenia Grand Prix Champion; Hamid Elofir International Champion; Bronze Medal in the Pan Am Tournament; Bronze medal in the Kartozia International in Tbilisi, Georgia; and a Bronze medal in the Happaranda Tournament in Sweden. Jake was so proud to represent USA Wrestling around the world. Coaching the Illinois Greco teams in Fargo brought him great satisfaction. He was the Greco clinician at the Overtime School of Wrestling. His message as stated on his website was simple - "you control who you are or want to become in the future. My experiences as a world-class athlete have taught me to be resilient; my battle with cancer taught me to be tough; my relationships with my God, family and country have taught me to be thankful. I cannot guarantee a world championship, but I can guarantee total dedication. I will never fail a drug test, I will always be in shape, and I will conduct myself in a manner that will make my sponsors, family and country proud!" Jake and Amy, his fiancee, followed Coach Ivanov to the new Suples Training Center in Boise, Idaho at the beginning of the year and were very excited about this opportunity. Several days after returning to the US after wrestling in the Podubbny Tournament in Russia, Jake passed away while taking a nap after the afternoon practice in Boise. Says Steve Fraser, National Coach and Olympic Champion, "Jake Curby was a great champion and a class kid. His superb attitude on and off the mat will be missed dearly. Jacob Curby was liked by everyone I know. All of the National Coaches loved him. Why? It was because Jacob was a tremendously hard working athlete that was very coachable. Jacob's wonderful positive attitude shined very bright. He was always hungry to learn and he listened to advice with open ears. Jacob never complained! Not one time did I ever hear any negative words come from this tough kid's mouth. He was a true pleasure to coach."