The popular T-shirt which was created in memory of the late Team USA member Jake Curby is now available to the general public.

The T-shirt was designed by Willie Madison, who was a teammate of Jake’s at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan and currently serves as the assistant coach for the USOEC Greco-Roman program. Many of Jake’s teammates, family and friends have worn this T-shirt at various USA Wrestling competitions during the year.

“Because the design was so well-made, we began getting a lot of requests for the shirt,” said Courtney Curby. “They were then sold at the U.S. Open and other wrestling events over the past few months. However, many people still have not had the opportunity to purchase one and we have gotten many requests for the shirts.”

Each T-shirt costs $10, and comes in either white or gray. Sizes available are Small, Medium, Large and X-Large. Payments can be made through PayPal or with a credit card.

Jake Curby Memorial T-shirts can be ordered online at:
http://chasbetts.net/curby.html

All proceeds will go directly toward a memorial to be made in Jake's honor for display at the USOEC in Marquette, Mich. Coach Willie Madison will be handling the transactions. Any questions can be directed towards him at Madison’s e-mail address at: Gk125lilwill@yahoo.com

Curby, 25, passed away unexpectedly this January, just days after he returned from competing at the 2010 Ivan Poddubny Grand Prix in Russia.

Curby was ranked No. 3 on the Greco-Roman National Team at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. at the time of his passing and was twice a national team member. 

Curby was originally from LaGrange, Ill., where he attended Lyons Township High School. He rose to national and international prominence in Greco-Roman wrestling while competing for the U.S. Olympic Education Program at Northern Michigan Univ. He was a member of the New York Athletic Club. 

During his life, Curby faced many challenges, including beating cancer while he was in high school, as well as dealing with epilepsy. Curby was well-liked and respected within the USA Wrestling and international wrestling communities.

USA Wrestling has created the Jake Curby Award, which is presented annually to one Greco-Roman athlete from the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan Univ. and one from the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. who exemplify the life qualities exhibited in Curby’s life. The 2010 Jake Curby Award winners were Ben Sanchez at the USOEC and Anton Gottfredson at the USOTC.

A memorial event, the Curby Cup, was created this spring in his home state of Illinois, where top Senior and age-group athletes compete in a dual meet to raise funds for USA Wrestling programs in Illinois.

FILA, the international wrestling federation, presented the FILA Bronze Star in Jake’s memory to his father, Dr. Dave Curby, earlier this month during the World Championsihps in Moscow, Russia. FILA President Raphael Martinetti made the presentation in a private ceremony at the Olympiysky Sports Complex. Receiving a FILA star is among the highest honors presented by FILA, the international wrestling federation.