Answer: By going undefeated at his first two Pennsylvania state high school wrestling tournaments.
Jimmy Gulibon (Photo/Stephanie Blackstone)Gulibon, who is going into his junior year at Derry Area High School, is on pace to become one of only about a dozen four-time Pennsylvania state champions. He has already won two AAA state titles and an equal number of WPIAL crowns. And with two years remaining, very few prognosticators would bet against his chances of finishing out his career free of another loss.
In addition to his wrestling with his high school, Gulibon travels to the Young Guns Wrestling Club headed up by 2000 NCAA Division I runner-up and Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Famer Jody Strittmatter. It's difficult to do, but in a room that includes future Division I stars Nico Megaludis (Penn State, 2011) and A.J. Schopp (Edinboro, 2010), Gulibon is expected to be even better.
"I really like my teammates," said Gulibon.
For Gulibon, the goal is to work hard and get better, the results, he feels, are independent of expectations.
"I just want to win every match I wrestle," said Gulibon. "I try not to think about the next season. I just want to get into the wrestling room and keep working hard and getting better in new positions."
Jody Strittmatter"He never takes anything for granted," said Strittmatter, who won two Division II national titles before transferring to Iowa. "He works and works and when everyone else would be done, he just works some more.
"Some guys are afraid to work hard, they're afraid to put themselves on the line like that, but with Jimmy, it's a natural thing. He pushes himself harder than any kid I've ever met. He's a one-in-a-million type of kid."
He's also shyer than a British Petroleum executive at Mardi Gras.
"The kid is so soft spoken and humble it's easy to forget just how nasty he can be once he's on the mat," said Strittmatter.
Like Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, another man who pursued wrestling greatness, Gulibon is a bit of a media introvert, choosing brief replies in favor of thorough self-examination. He also keeps his focus outside of wrestling on his family.
"Someone told me that his uncle is his best friend, which is just too cool," said Strittmatter.
The humble and shy Gulibon inherited those genes, but probably not from his father (who weighs in around 200 pounds). According to Strittmatter, Jimmy's father is an excellent guitar player, who plays every chance he gets: club picnics, tournaments, anytime he sees an audience.
"It's kind of funny," said Strittmatter. "His dad is incredible on the guitar and will sit down in front of people and sing for a long time. Meanwhile, you can't get Jimmy to sit down in front of on person and have a conversation (laughs)."
Jimmy Gulibon"I kind of just pace," said Gulibon. "I'm not thinking about anything bad ... I just want to get out there and wrestle. I don't like all the waiting around."
Strittmatter said that Gulibon's confidence during competition would come with age.
"He's still pretty young, learning things about competition," said Strittmatter. "The crazy thing is that you see this kid who is already accomplished and so much better than almost anyone around him and yet he's the one who's nervous."
Regardless of his pre-match butterflies or social anxieties, it's obvious that Jimmy Gulibon is the next big name in Pennsylvania wrestling. His approach to the public is different than his father's and his voice still a whisper, but his plan for success seems to strike the right chord.
"You can't win a fourth state title until you win that third," said Gulibon. "And I have a lot of work to do before I even think about next year."
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