subject: Jake Curby and Kerry Regner [print this page] On a Friday evening of January 22nd I received a phone call that took a blow to my life. I received a call from good friend and former roommate Cheney Haight that our other former roommate Jake Curby had passed away. Jake was one of many who was victim of the condition epilepsy. Jake was on a strict steadiness of medicine to prevent seizures. Jake had recently returned from Russia and with the time change and recent move to Boise, Idaho his body was at a heightened increase chance of having a seizure. On that evening Jake suffered a seizure and was unable to be revived. Jake had a history of health problems which he endured and conquered. In high school Jake was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of leukemia. He conquered the disease and bounced back to continue his great life he lived for 25 years. Jake's ability to deal with severe health problems such as leukemia and epilepsy were true example of how strong Jake was. I got the privilege in knowing Jake in high school when we both attended a wrestling camp in Marquette, Michigan. Little did I know that the occasional chat with a fellow camper would develop to be such a great friendship. Jake attended Northern Michigan University while training at the United States Olympic Education Center with me up to this past January. Jake was a year older than myself and I developed a friendship with him. Not only did I develop a friendship but he developed into a mentor. I had the privilege to grow up as a Regner and Knox, where work ethic was essential on both sides of the family. It is no different in the Curby house. Jake showed that daily by living a very controlled life. He worked hard daily, in his wrestling and school work, his accomplishments show this. For the first five years of my career at the USOEC I was always a weight class below Jake. I was able to use Jake's work ethic in my favor. I often wrestled with Jake, watched Jake and tried to mimic some of his wrestling and lifestyles. He even got me drinking coffee. Jake like me was a walk on at the USOEC and developed into a captain of the team his last couple years. As I continue to follow in Jake's shadow, I have too risen to the top at the USOEC. The last two years Jake and I became opponents as I bumped up a weight class into his stomping ground. It was difficult task for me to change my views from a mentor to an opponent. As the records show, with Jake being 3-0 against me.
Jake was more than just a wrestling mentor. He was an extremely intelligent kid, his mind like a sponge. Jake could read or see something and he could remember it. This made him pretty good at trivia or useless knowledge (I often would make fun of him for this). So when it came to school and learning I also would look to Jake for advice or his personal opinion. As many of you know I am passionate person. I would often come home from class where teachers spill their liberal/postmodern mumble jumble at you. I would come home fired up even yelling at Jake, but not because I was mad at him, but my passion would spill over. Jake would often agree with me, however was great at helping understand the other side whether right or not. Jake and I were your typical male friends. Jake and I watched sports together, ate and learned together at man's breakfast, fished and camped together, had a beer together, we even had a couple tussles and did many other very manly things together. Jake's death has taken a toll on all his loved ones including his teammates at the USOEC, but as Jake would want it to be, I have taken a closer look at his life. I have begun to use Jake's great attributes he used to succeed. And I thank Jake for that, the friendship and the mentorship he showed me.
