Words by Micah Harrison | Image by Al Blanton

Some athletes spend years developing in a single sport. For Ja’Coby Foster, wrestling came later, but the talent was undeniable.

Ja’Coby played several sports growing up, but he did not realize wrestling was even an option until his brother, Neil, transferred to Dora High School and joined the school’s well-known program. Watching his brother’s enthusiasm for the sport led Ja’Coby to give it a try himself, and once he did, he quickly proved he belonged.

“It’s kind of hard to catch up to people,” he says. Nevertheless, he did just that. By his junior year, he was wrestling in the 138-pound weight class. As a senior, he moved into the 150-pound division and finished as state runner-up, a rapid rise for someone who came to the sport later than many of his peers.

He followed that momentum and joined a wrestling club in Mountain Brook, where his coaches connected him with a representative from the University of Montevallo. Impressed by Ja’Coby’s ability and potential, Montevallo’s wrestling coach offered him a spot on the team.

Even outside wrestling, Ja’Coby has continued to show his versatility. This school year marked the end of his football career, where he contributed on offense, defense, and special teams.

Still, his attention is already fixed on what comes next. As he prepares for his freshman wrestling season at Montevallo, Ja’Coby knows there is still work ahead.

 “This off season should be good, though,” he says.

That mindset may be one of his greatest strengths – not just the natural ability that got him noticed, but the drive to keep closing the gap. 78