Senior Spotlight: Levi Ulmer

There are just some arguments that a senior in high school won’t win.

That’s a tough concept to handle for senior Levi Ulmer, a standout Vandalia football player and wrestler, because he hopes to be a lawyer some day.

But even when that day comes, Ulmer still might not be able to defeat his most formidable foe.

“Against my mom,” Ulmer said of the last argument he lost. “It was if she should get a Mini Cooper or a Challenger. She won, and got the Mini Cooper.”

There is no argument, however, that Ulmer is one of the most tenacious athletes currently attending VCHS.

And there also is no argument that he is one of the classiest.

“When I’m off the mat, I’ll be your friend, even if I am wrestling you next,” Ulmer said. “But when I’m on the mat, you’re my enemy for the next six minutes, and after that, we’ll be friends again.

“My dad (Tracy) has always taught me to be respectful,” he said. “But once it comes time to take care of business, (you need to) take care of business.”

And that is exactly what he hopes to do this February when the individual state wrestling tournament gets under way.

After losing in the first round last season, Ulmer has narrowed his focus and amped up his work ethic so much that he does not believe there is a better wrestler in his weight class in the entire state.

“I’m taking it this year. It’s mine,” Ulmer said of the individual state championship. “I feel like there is no one out there who can compete with me.”

Role Models
When Ulmer was in eighth-grade, the Vandalia wrestling program was thriving.

In 2007, Ulmer’s wrestling heroes – Jo-E Smith, Adam Bowling and Matt Shroyer – had helped Vandalia place second at the state wrestling tournament, and Smith was an individual state champion.

And those guys were earning many of their wins with ease.

“The fact that they were out there destroying half of their competition without a problem was impressive to me,” Ulmer said. “They were always my role models.”

Fast forward five years, and the hope is that Ulmer will have the same kind of effect on some of the younger individuals currently on Vandalia’s squad.

Ulmer was quick to point out that he isn’t the only senior worth looking up to, but he does understand that he needs to maintain a positive reputation with his teammates.

“I try not to think about it, but I know it’s true,” he said. “I have to behave, because if I quit, what’s that going to show them?”

Added coach Jason Clay, “It’s a continued process. There were guys like that when he was a freshman, and now he is one of our ring leaders.”

Comet Connection
As a youngster, Ulmer grew up in Mulberry Grove, and he found himself on two cities’ youth teams – playing junior football in Greenville and junior wrestling in Vandalia.

When it came time to decide which high school to attend, Ulmer didn’t have a difficult decision, considering Greenville doesn’t have a wrestling program.

“It turned out to be the best pick I could made,” Ulmer said. “I would do it 110 times over again.”

Had he gone to Greenville, it’s also unlikely that he would have found the same success in football that he has at Vandalia.

Ulmer led the Vandals with 1,291 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns this season, using his brute strength to turn what ordinarily would be a short gain into a gain of more than 10 yards.

“He’s one of the toughest runners I’ve seen, not only as a coach, but in this conference, in a long, long time,” said coach John Stout after the season. “I’m sorry to see him go, and end his career.”

Ulmer anchored the run-first offense for the Vandals, but had he still been in Greenville, he wouldn’t have received nearly as many carries, as the Comets have several other strong running backs and have been a pass-heavy offense the past two seasons.

The Future
Ulmer is undecided on what college he may attend, but that’s only because he will need to weigh the athletic scholarship offers he receives.

He said about 25 schools have at least expressed interest in him for either wrestling or football, with the most notable letter of interest having come from Brown University’s wrestling coach.

His preference is to play football, but he won’t pass on a wrestling scholarship if that’s what it comes to.

Meanwhile, he will pursue a political science degree, before going to law school.

“I like to argue,” Ulmer said. “If I’m arguing, I’m arguing to win, even if it doesn’t make sense.”

Except against Mom, of course.