Balancing pre-med coursework and Division I athletics isn’t easy. But for Jackson Hurst, that challenge became the foundation for a future in medicine.
Originally from Hobart, Indiana, but raised in Kingsport, Tennessee, Jackson found the perfect blend of grit and opportunity at UTC. He majored in pre-professional biology with a psychology minor and spent four years as a force on the Mocs wrestling team.
But wrestling was never just a sport. It was a lifestyle, one that taught him how to push through, adapt and lead.
“There was no option,” he said. “The standard we were held to was just… you show up, give your best and do it again the next day.”
It was in those hard practices, long road trips and late-night talks with teammates that Jackson found a deeper sense of purpose. “Wrestling made me who I am,” he said. “It’s the relationships that I’ll carry for life.”
His favorite memory came during his final year: a senior-night win over Bellarmine at the last dual of the season.
“That win meant everything,” he said. “It wasn’t just about the match—it was the culmination of everything we’d worked for together as a team.”
Among his accolades: two-time NWCA Scholar All-American, recipient of the SoCon Commissioner’s Medal, and team honoree of both the Positivity and Scrapper Awards.
Off the mat, Hurst volunteered at Erlanger Health System through a service-learning placement, which gave him firsthand insight into hospital life. He also shadowed healthcare professionals and found clarity in his career goals.
“My father is an orthopedic surgeon, so I’ve always been immersed in healthcare,” Hurst said. “Getting to volunteer and shadow helped me see where I wanted to go. It solidified my interest in becoming a doctor.”
“As nerdy as it sounds,” he laughed, “I’m really excited to dive into anatomy. Wrestling helped me understand discipline. Now I get to use that drive to learn the human body inside and out.”
While he’s moving on from UTC, Hurst said the relationships he built through the wrestling program will stay with him.
“The team culture. The guys. Just seeing them around campus, dropping by the house. That brotherhood… that’s what made UTC feel like home.