Junior Jacob Vincentini juggles three sports, academics and diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects a person’s overall health. People with diabetes have double the risk of heart disease and stroke. It is also important for them to control what they eat as well as how often they exercise to lower the risk of high blood sugar.

“I mean it’s not that hard, coaches are supportive. I’ve had diabetes for so long that I’m used to it at this point,” Vincentini said. “So I don’t really think it’s that big of a deal especially because of the support from the coaches.” Vincentini said.

Vincentini said that as a fifth grader he first found out about his diabetes.

“I was 10, [in] fifth grade. I was at the doctor and I haven’t been feeling well and the doctor tested me,” Vincentini said. “They tested my blood sugar and it was super high and they told me I had to go to the hospital because I had diabetes. I spent three to four days in the hospital.”

Wrestling coach Bob Mulligan said he feels as though Vincentini does not let his diabetes interfere with wrestling.

“I think there is always just like the awareness, I mean he does a really good job of kind of controlling it himself,” Mulligan said. “It also helps that his little brother is around too so he is also there to control. We haven’t seen a struggle yet, but that is always in the back of your mind that something might happen and you have to be ready for it.”

Vincentini is a prime example of not letting a difficult situation get in the way of your passions.

“Jacob works really hard and is probably one of the hardest workers in the room and he takes a lot of pride in that. He has had some struggles with the varsity level and he’s been a really good JV wrestler. But like I said, he works really hard and always has a good attitude and he’s always the type of person who does a good job of keeping everyone together and being a good leader,” Mulligan said.

Story updated on Feb. 22.