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CLOUDY Temp: 45 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, February 19, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend January 23, 2003 The Ulrey brothers, from left to right, Jonny, Sylvan and Jimmy, have all earned starting berths in the North Medford lineup and each have a winning record. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Brothers in arms The Ulrey brothers from North Medford are three keys to the Tornado’s resurgence By DON HUNT Mail Tribune With three young sons wreaking havoc on the living room floor, Jim and Lisa Ulrey had the perfect solution for releasing their energy in a positive way: Youth wrestling. Jimmy Ulrey was shown the mats at the age of 5. Sylvan and Jonny got their first taste of takedowns, reversals and escapes at 4. A little more than one decade later, the grappling brothers are still at it, and the living room furniture — minus a lamp or two — is no worse for the wear. The three Ulreys have all earned starting berths in North Medford High’s starting lineup — senior Jimmy at 152 pounds, sophomore Sylvan at 119 and freshman Jonny at 103. Each has a winning record and each has a goal of advancing to the Class 4A state tournament at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 20-22. Jimmy and Jonny are set to take another step in that direction at 7 tonight against Eagle Point. Sylvan is currently sidelined with a knee injury and was scheduled for an examination today with orthopedic surgeon Hal Townsend in Ashland. "I did some wrestling myself, and I knew it would be a good way to keep the boys busy," explains Jim Ulrey, who graduated from Crater High in 1977. "We took them to all the local tournaments, plus a bunch of stuff up north and in California." The Ulreys have enough trophies in their home to stock a sporting goods store, and the fruits of their labor are showing at the high school level, just in time to coincide with the Black Tornado’s wrestling revival. "I’m really pleased with all three of those boys," North Medford third-year coach Kacey McNulty says. "They’re a big reason we’re starting to turn this program around. "When you can get a whole family out there, it sure helps your cause." Jimmy Ulrey has been with the Tornado for four years and, along with junior Rob Folsom, has served as an anchor in McNulty’s rebuilding process. The oldest of the Ulrey boys is having by far his best season. He’s won 22 of 25 matches and is ranked No. 3 in the state at 152 pounds. Jimmy wants nothing more than to win a district championship and make a run for a state title following last season’s fifth-place showing at district. "Last year, I had a winning record, and right before district I was ranked sixth," Jimmy says. "But I didn’t wrestle well at district. "That has haunted me for an entire year. It’s been my motivation. "My dad has always said, ‘Don’t have any regrets when you walk out of this place (North Medford).’ I’ve already got one (last season’s district performance), but that’s it." Jimmy butts heads each day in practice with Folsom, who finished seventh at state last season and is currently ranked No. 2 at 160. "We wrestle live all the time, and (Folsom) goes full-bore every second," says Jimmy, who is being recruited by Clackamas Community College and Southwestern Oregon CC. "He’s definitely made me better." Jimmy Ulrey stays after practice nearly every day to take on McNulty or assistant coaches Brandon Keosky and Bill Jones. All three coaches were college All-Americans. The extra work has given the older Ulrey new moves and far more confidence than he had a year ago. "His confidence is the main thing," McNulty says. "We took him to the state tournament last year so he could work out with Rob (Folsom), and he saw several kids up there that he’d beaten. "He knew he could compete at that level." Jimmy was ranked just 24th when this season started. But he showcased his improvement at an early tournament in Hillsboro when he beat then-second-ranked Max Murison of Glencoe and then-fifth- ranked Ryan Smith of West Linn. He also owns a pair of victories over Crater’s Ron Lee, who finished sixth at state last season as a freshman. Sylvan Ulrey has been known to bring the North Medford crowd to its feet because of his aggressive style and his penchant for pinning. "He’s a dangerous wrestler," McNulty says of the middle Ulrey. "He can be on the bottom, and then all of a sudden he’s on top and pinning his guy. "And Sylvan doesn’t let many people off their backs. He’s pretty strong." Sylvan is in the same weight class — 119 pounds — as state champion and top-ranked Bryson Gutches of Crater, sixth-ranked J.P. Sheile of Eagle Point and No. 12 Kevin Beavers of Roseburg. Sylvan has lost to all three this season but still sports a 23-6 record. "He’s going to have his work cut out to make it to state, but it’s not beyond his reach," McNulty says. That is, if Sylvan is able to keep wrestling. He injured his left knee during a 13-2 loss to Beavers last week. Sylvan thinks he tore cartilage and possibly his medial collateral ligament. But he may be able to put on a brace, keep wrestling and postpone surgery until after the season. "That’s what I’m hoping," Sylvan says. "I don’t want my season to end now." It didn’t take Jonny Ulrey long to earn the respect of his coaches. During his first tournament of the season — at Del Norte, Calif. — Jonny roared back from an 8-0 deficit to grab a 9-8 lead over an opponent, then pinned him. The youngest Ulrey might also be the most ornery Ulrey. "I’ve seen him push kids (during matches) until they puke," McNulty says. "And during practice, he’s not afraid to throw a cross-face or a forearm at one of the coaches." That boldness, no doubt, originates from all the tussles he’s had with his brothers. "I’ve had a lot of beat-downs," Jonny says. "I get picked on almost every night." When you come from a family of three boys — and no girls — wrestling doesn’t necessarily end at school. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search M Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S