From a young age, redshirt sophomore Emmanuel Ulrich’s parents knew he was a wrestler. But for Ulrich himself, it took him a bit to find his passion for the sport.
Now, in 2026, Ulrich’s life and interests revolve purely around wrestling. During his three years at American University, he has not been shy of the spotlight. In his 2025-26 campaign, he went 22-16 and competed in every event.
In kindergarten, his father wanted him to try basketball — an idea which was vetoed quite quickly by his mom, and he stuck with wrestling. Ulrich joked that his parents partially forced him into wrestling.
Ulrich was always aware of his talent, pointing out that he was consistently the best wrestler in his middle school. He quickly adapted to high school wrestling by winning trophies and qualifying for states yearly, including as early as his freshman year. Ulrich started receiving college offers around his junior year.
When he was going through the recruitment process, Ulrich knew he wanted to be in a big city environment, leaving his small-town life behind. When he visited American University, he recalled immediately clicking with assistant coach Joey Dance.
“I thought me and him hit it off pretty well to start,” Ulrich said. “He was a big portion of why I committed here.”
As opposed to his redshirt and freshman seasons, this year, Ulrich was the primary starter for the Eagles. He enjoyed this season more than others, as he worked on his athleticism and stamina to complement his aggression and strength.
Despite his stature, Ulrich is a calm and gentle individual with a “soft side” — specifically his love of cats which earned him the reputation of being a “big cat guy.” Ulrich keeps a 2-year-old cat named Ella at home.
Woodworking is another one of Ulrich’s passions. His favorite projects are items he’s made for his mom such as a clock, candle holders and a cutting board.
Lastly, Ulrich is an adamant fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, going as far as to watch all the preliminary fights on event days. He admits he probably watches an unhealthy amount of UFC, but that doesn’t bother him.
This year, Ulrich, alongside teammates Maximilian Leete and Caleb Campos, qualified for the NCAA nationals in Cleveland,Ohio. While he would have preferred to automatically qualify through the EIWA tournament, he was still honored to be selected to compete. Ulrich said he woke up to a confusing text from head coach Jason Borrelli, which just said, “YOU QUALIFIED.”
At nationals, Ulrich failed to earn a spot on the podium, but saw it as motivation as he aspired to place later in his college career.
Borrelli and the Eagles’ program have fit their wrestlers well, and Ulrich speaks highly of his coach. Originally too defensive as a redshirt freshman, Ulrich credited Borrelli for bringing the aggression out of him.
“I think he adapts well to anyone that comes here,” Ulrich said. “Everyone on the team has a different style, and I think he’s one of the special coaches that can adapt to anything.”
Ulrich is a complete representation of his background: a kid from wrestling history in Mifflinburg, Pa., who still holds close ties to his roots. Ulrich trains at his local high school during the off-season with teammate Gage Owen, and the duo runs laps to prepare for their 3-mile test.
One of Ulrich’s favorite collegiate wrestling matches occurred earlier this year when he took on his grandfather’s family friend, Drexel University sophomore Nate Schon, whom he had not faced since his sophomore year in high school. For Ulrich, his foundation in local roots, calm personality and work ethic continue to push him forward to the next level.
This article was edited by Matthias Jaylen Sandoval, Jack Stashower and Gabrielle McNamee. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman, Arin Burrell, Mattie Lupo, Ryan Sieve and Nicole Kariuki.
