When SF State junior Curtis Schurkamp steps out onto the wrestling mat, his mind focuses on one thing: proving to everyone that he can grapple with any opponent while wrestling with his chronic disorder.

Schurkamp is one of more than 18 million people in the country who suffer from diabetes, but the Cal State Fullerton transfer said he doesn’t want to use the disorder as an excuse for not competing with everything he has.

“I don’t necessarily want to succeed more because of the diabetes,” he said. “Wrestling is such a tough sport, that it’s not the excuse that drives you personally, but the drive to prove people wrong.”

Wrestling coach Lars Jensen said that in his 25 years as coach at SF State, he has never had an athlete with diabetes, and that he sees the extra work Schurkamp has to put into the sport.

In a sport that requires shedding or adding weight to reach a desired weight class, Schurkamp has to do double duty.

“He really has to manage his diet, but he has handled it really well. He has to watch his intake basically by himself, making sure it’s not too high or low,” Jensen said.

Growing up in Escalon, Calif., Schurkamp has wrestled since he was 5 years old. The 125-pound wrestler is the second in his family to compete for Jensen, and the third to take up wrestling. His brother Max was an All-American during his time as a Gator.
Jensen named Schurkamp and sophomore Ben Lockett as key components to the Gator roster. Schurkamp is fourth on the team with seven takedowns, and is 3-4 on the season entering Friday’s match at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Lockett, the team leader with 38 takedowns and 110 points, ranks Schurkamp among the nation’s best in his weight class and said his positive outlook is a characteristic that is important to wrestling.

“He’s technically on par with any wrestler in Division I, II, or III,” Lockett said. “He’s always looking on the positive side and having fun, enjoying himself.”

The compliments from his teammates and coaching staff do not go unnoticed by Schurkamp, who said he appreciates them for making him a hard worker, proud of what he might accomplish.

And Jensen doesn’t think the wrestler is far from earning national recognition. With what Jensen calls Schurkamp’s “good technique” and quickness, the veteran coach said he has a shot at being an All-American in his lightweight class.

Schurkamp sets goals for himself every year and this year’s goal is to win a national championship ring.

“[In ten years] I see myself with a nice paying job, staying healthy and hopefully having a ring will tell the story [whether I stay in the wrestling world],” he said.