This Durant High senior had a top-five finish at the George Jenkins invitational tournament.
Wrestling at 182 pounds, Durant senior Jashley Ulcena placed fifth at last week’s George Jenkins invitational tournament and hopes to keep improving throughout the rest of the regular season. Ulcena is a captain of the team, and head coach Drake Millard raves about his skills both on the mat and in the classroom.
How are you feeling about this season, thus far?
I’m feeling pretty good about the season. I can’t wait for districts, regionals and states. It’s going to be a fun one, since it’s my last year. I can’t wait to get there and, hopefully, place at states.
What was the toughest part of the George Jenkins tourney?
I’d have to say wrestling guys that are a lot stronger than I am and a little bit stronger than guys in our room that I usually train with. They’re a lot stronger, so it’s hard to control them, but you’ve got to deal with it.
How do you deal with it?
Beat them on technique. I try to wrestle around them, instead of bull-rush through them.
Do you have a go-to move?
I’d have to say a high crotch or rushing into a snap single.
How would you say you’ve been performing this season, as well as the team?
I feel like I’m doing OK. I could definitely do better. As a team, we have some work to do if we want to be a little bit better than we are this year.
What do you think you need to work on the most before districts?
Takedowns and working on my top moves to hold the guy down. Try to collect near-falls and pins.
How long have you been wrestling?
Four years, nothing but Durant.
How did you first get into it?
Actually, I was watching MTV, a “True Life,” and they were doing a thing on wrestling. I thought it was cool how wrestlers are pretty strong, and they do a lot of intense workouts. I thought, “Why not try it?”
What’s your favorite subject?
My favorite subject is math, and my favorite class right now is calculus. A lot of people don’t like calculus, but I think it’s entertaining.
I hated math, so I’m curious: what’s the appeal of calculus?
I don’t know, just problem-solving, I guess. I like problem-solving.
Any college plans?
I want to be a computer engineer and, hopefully, if I get something in the mail, do wrestling too. Right now, I’ve sent applications to Florida State, I’m making one for Cal-Berkeley and a prospect school called Lourdes University, in Ohio.
A kid comes up to you and asks for advice on how to be a good wrestler. What do you tell him?
It’s all about dedication. The first few years you’re in the sport, you’re kind of getting beaten up sometimes. You face a hard wall, and you feel like it’s not your sport. You have to force yourself to stay in it and keep progressing through it. Some people have talent, because it runs in the family, but the people that don’t have it running in the family have to have dedication.
Any other wrestlers in your family?
No, it’s just me.
You can have any superpower you want. What do you pick?
I’ve always wanted to fly. I’d fly all over the world.
You can have a match against any wrestler in the world. Who do you pick?
Definitely Jordan Burroughs.
Who is your favorite athlete of all time?
I could name a couple. I feel like some people are going to hate me for this one but LeBron James. Definitely Jordan Burroughs and Stephen Curry.
Is there any wrestler that you’ve tried to model your style after?
No, I like to think that I have my own, unique style.
What makes your style unique?
I think when I’m on the mat. I’m not a “bam-bam, do it, do it” wrestler. If he’s giving me this move, then I’m going to take that.
