USA Wrestling has announced the winners of the 2010 Jacob Curby Memorial Award. This new award will be presented annually to recognize a Greco-Roman athlete from each of its Olympic Training Centers for displaying strong personal character and commitment.

The award is being presented in honor of Jacob Curby, a Greco-Roman Team USA member who unexpectedly passed away at the age of 25 in January 2010. The winners of this award will exemplify the personal traits and characteristics which Curby displayed throughout his remarkable life. 

Receiving the award for the the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich. is Ben Sanchez (Leominster, Mass./USOEC) who competes at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Receiving the award for the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. is Anton Gottfredson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who competes at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Sanchez placed third at the U.S. Open Championships in Cleveland, Ohio this year. He was a 2010 University Nationals champion, and placed second in the 2010 University World Team Trials. Sanchez is a senior at Northern Michigan University, and is a construction management major.

“Ben is one of the hardest workers on the team,” said USOEC Head Greco-Roman Coach Dennis Hall. “He never complains, and gets to business every day. He continues to improve and we expect great things from him in the future. He trains the way Jake Curby trained.”

Gottfredson was fourth at the 2010 University Nationals, as well as the 2010 University World Team Trials. He won the 2010 Northeast Senior Regionals. Gottfredson placed fifth at the 2010 Dave Schultz Memorial and the 2009 Sunkist Kids International. He is originally from Laguna Hills, Calif.

“The reason he won is the energy and attitude he brings to every practice,” said Momir Petkovic, Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach. “You can ask him whatever you want as a coach and he does it. If you ask him to climb the Himalayas, he will go and do it. He loves wrestling so much and wants to win so much. He never complains and I love his approach to training.”

These attributes for the award include: hard work, never giving up, teamwork, positive attitude, overcoming adversity, steady performance improvement, hunger for knowledge, coachability, great human qualities.

The winners of this award will be placed on display in the wrestling room at both of these training centers, and each award winner will be presented with a special plaque.

"This is a way that we can honor Jake Curby and his family, and keep his spirit alive in the wrestling world," said National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser. "He meant so much to our country and his commitment and character was impressive. This way we can also honor and recognize future wrestlers that emulate his characteristics. I am so excited about this new memorial award."

The award program is sponsored by the 2007 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team, which captured the World Team title in Baku, Azerbaijan. This was the first U.S. Greco-Roman team to win the World Championships title.