BY SYDNEY SNELSON

All the way back, during my time at Blackburn Elementary, recess was usually spent playing a group game. Whether it was kickball, tag, or an intense match of four square, our grade level always did something together. Of course, some classmates stood out as superstars. For soccer, Lillian Chronister dominated. Anything related to baseball was Logan Treloar’s game. Everyone had a sport they were the best at, except for one kid. There was one exception to this rule, one exception who was great at anything involving sports. Anthony Ulberg was an athlete through and through. Even in our years on the blacktop, his love for sports showed through anything he did. If we were in art class, he would draw a football. He only read books about professional athletes and wore his Monsters football jersey almost every day. He ate, slept, and breathed sports. Ulberg always talked about how he was excited to play football in high school, and eventually, that led to a dream of playing professionally. 

I’ve seen many of my elementary friends go on to make a name for themselves in high school. That playground, play-making gibberish became real talk on the field and court. Ulberg started getting serious in middle school; as high school coaches were already coming to scout for next year. Fortunately, his hard work paid off. Ulberg’s freshman year consisted of valuable varsity playing time—and he didn’t disappoint. In his second game, against Fort Osage High School, he sprinted to the ball on the first play and stripped the ball carrier for a fumble that the Patriots ultimately recovered. Plays like this showed his remarkable talent for the sport. An All-Conference Honor concluded his first year with the Patriots, and Ulberg’s raw talent hinted at a bright future for the young player. 

Unfortunately, his time on the field was cut short that summer. During the off-season before his sophomore year, Ulberg played rugby. During one of these games, Ulberg caught the ball running toward the sideline. As he planted his left leg to cut in, a defender tackled him, and his knee hyperextended. Ulberg described this as the worst pain he’s ever felt, but despite the state of his knee, he never got it checked out. This decision ultimately led to Ulberg officially tearing his ACL at the first practice of school football. It was a tragedy for him and the Patriots. Ulberg had to sit out his entire sophomore season, and he struggled being on the sideline, “It was a very low period for me, because I love to play but couldn’t. If you know me, you know I play sports all year-round, so I definitely found out the mental side of dealing with an injury while not being able to do what I love.” Regardless, his determination to get back on the field for his junior year pushed Ulberg to recover in a short six months. He spent multiple hours every week after school with trainers hoping his knee could recover in time. 

As the next year rolled around, Ulberg was confident enough to play again. After a great game with two sacks, a couple of tackle-for-losses, and a blocked field goal, Ulberg looked to be right back where he left off. After a rough year of recovery, he was finally back on the field where he knew belonged. 

Unfortunately, life doesn’t always go as planned. What seemed to be the recovery of champions was reality-checked the next morning when Ulberg found his knee had swollen twice its size. An MRI revealed the terrible news: a torn meniscus. Ulberg was devastated. He explains that it felt good to be back on the field, but his time was cut short because his knee wasn’t fully healed. Ulberg blamed himself for rushing his recovery and not prioritizing his rehab. 

Although his feelings were complicated, Ulberg appreciated all the support he was given from his friends and teammates. Plus, his injury didn’t mean he stopped helping out the Patriots. As Elijah Hill remembers, “When Anthony got hurt, I took over for him. He taught me moves and how to play his position.” Ulberg took his time with this round of rehab. He went slow and didn’t make any irrational decisions. He even discovered a passion for digital media, specifically sports marketing. He used this outlet to stay connected with sports while off the field. Ulberg began creating game day posts, hype videos, and personalized graphics. He kept busy with this hobby, but made sure his main focus was football. His senior year was approaching, and Ulberg had something to prove. 

With his first game back in over a year, Ulberg was serious. He had a tough game against Raytown South, and for the Wagon Wheel against Chrisman, Ulberg dominated. One of his many incredible plays was when he forced a fumble late in the game. Although both games ended in a loss, Ulberg’s grit and playmaking was on full display. His determination to get back to it after being away for so long shows his mental toughness and love for the sport. As Head Coach Robert Stough puts it, “Most people would cave, but he has continued to press on with his head down and eyes forward. A lot of people in his position would’ve quit and moved on. He inspires me with his determination and attitude towards everything. Anthony’s the man.” Ulberg’s connection to his roots pushes him to play his best every day. His faith and family motivate him on and off the field and have been his support pillars throughout high school. 

As we look toward the rest of the season, and Ulbergs final games as a Patriot, the bright light that followed his freshman year is back once again. He has the potential to do anything he sets his mind to, and his teammates agree. Logan Treloar, a long-time friend of Ulberg, explains it best, “Anthony has torn his knee twice, and it takes a lot of faith to keep trying. For two years he hasn’t played football, but he keeps working hard. He’s a great kid. That’s why he’s going to do great things in life.” 

The possibilities are endless for Ulberg. Whether his future consists of football, rugby, or sports media, Ulberg has the opportunity to do whatever he wants. Anthony Ulberg may seem like an all-serious, eat, sleep, breathe football kind of guy. However, he’s so much more than a high school athlete. He’s a friend, brother, son, and a kid who just wants to prove to himself that he can be great. Tearing an ACL is one of the most terrible things that an athlete can go through. Messing a knee up twice is even worse. For Ulberg, though, it was nothing but his motivation to fulfill his potential.