Photo by: Sam Janicki
Unfinished Business: Silka Carries Funky Style, Serious Grit into 2026-27 Season
10/8/2026 12:00:00 PM | Wrestling
CHARLESTON, S.C. --Â Jacob Silka's wrestling journey at The Citadel has been anything but conventional.Â
Over the years, he's become known not only for his results but for the way he gets them -- moving seamlessly between weight classes, adapting to every opponent, and developing a reputation for what he refers to as a 'funky' style.
What stands out most, though, is his steady climb toward the top of the Southern Conference and his clear vision for what comes next.
With the 2026-27 season looming, Silka's goals are bigger than ever. After reaching the finals last year and falling just short, he's focused on finishing the job, and then going even further.
"I know that I have to do something because I remember freshman year, I got fourth at the SoCon Championship and they didn't give me a medal since only the top three on the podium get one," Silka said. "Then I got third my sophomore year, and that was great, but I didn't make it to the finals. Junior year, I tore my meniscus, so I did a redshirt that season, and then last year I made it to the finals, but I didn't finish the job. Now I need to taste that victory in the finals and finally get that ticket to the NCAA Championships."
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Adapting to Change
One of the defining features of Silka's career has been his ability to adapt—whether that means jumping weight classes or adjusting to new coaches. Last season, he bounced between 157 and 174 pounds, often giving up size but never giving up an edge.
"It was pretty interesting for sure," he said of last year's championship bout. "I lost to a guy I beat too, that's the worst part. It was pretty emotional there, big emotional loss, but I felt pretty confident just because I always had wrestled with those guys in our room -- they kind of prepared me for that jump. It wasn't as much of a dramatic change as it should have been, I think, and that's because I was already prepared for that kind of weight class just from all the guys that I wrestled with already."
His teammates in the middle weights played a major role in that preparation.
"They definitely were my three main drill partners, conditioning-wise," he said. "They just got me super ready strength-wise, plus all those guys are really funky. They all have different styles, which is one of the greatest things that they brought: Kyrel [Leavell], he's really funky, kind of like me, and [Thomas] Snipes, he's just really blue collar, kind of works straight on. I've got all the styles and it kind of just got me ready for anything that gets thrown at me. I'll be ready to handle it."
That variety helped him develop a style that keeps opponents, and sometimes even his coaches, guessing.
"I mean, I feel sometimes I catch my own coaches off guard with some of the moves I hit," Silka joked. "I don't think I've ever had a coach not confused at some of the things I hit sometimes. I sometimes confuse myself, but I'm not trying to go out there and just hit random moves. I feel my body knows what it's doing. It's sometimes just my mind trying to catch up to my body. I love just hearing people, 'Whoa, that was weird.' You know, when I watch film, whoever's filming, they're like, 'Wait, what's going on?' I definitely know that the opponent's also thinking that sometimes."
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Leadership On & Off the Mat
Now a fifth year returner, Silka has embraced his role as a leader for a roster filled with young talent and new faces.
"A lot of what people don't see is what's happening in that practice room," he noted. "All these newer guys, I believe they all have the ability to do what all the other older guys have done. Take Tommy Johnson as an example. We go hard in the room, and he competes really good with me, he's right there. It's all these younger guys, I feel they also have that ability to win. I think once they get on the mat this year, they'll find that confidence, and they'll have that opportunity since we had some of the older guys leave."
It's a leadership approach built on example as much as words.
"I was team captain for the previous two years," Silka said. "Sometimes it's just a title, you can follow whoever you want, whoever you think is who you want to be, that's your leader. A lot of these freshmen or sophomores have looked up to certain people. I can't speak for them, but I know that I've helped at least couple of guys. Brodie [Porter] has helped a couple of guys, Hayden [Watson] as well. Our senior class, our grad students, our juniors, they're all leaders in their own way, really, and Owen [Hendricks] does a really good job with the Corps and helping us stay out of trouble."
The team's internal competition and flexibility with weights has also become a strength.
"It's always really awkward sometimes when two people want the same weight, but if anything, I've shown that it's able to be done at any weight as long as you have confidence in the coach and yourself," he added. "You can go any way. They'll make the cut or the bulk, whatever's needed for the team. That's what I love about these guys is that we're a team and we're gonna do whatever it takes to keep that SoCon title."
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Looking Ahead
With a challenging schedule that includes trips to Virginia Tech, Michigan State, and Army, Silka remains eager to test himself and his teammates on big stage.
"I think the closest thing we even got to that was NC State last year, which was really cool environment," he said. "A lot of our guys did perform, and I don't think that's gonna crush our souls going to a big environment. I think we're ready for that, but I'm super excited, to be honest.
"I've wrestled tough competition, but I like going to their turf and doing it, because they don't expect you to really do anything to them. Sometimes they let their guard down and, I'm going to be honest, I think we're going to shock a lot of people this year with some of the talent we got coming up."
At the heart of it all is a wrestler who embraces every challenge as a chance to grow -- whether that means facing a bigger opponent, trying a new move or helping a younger teammate find his footing.
"I don't see myself losing anymore, to be honest," Silka concluded. "I've beaten All-Americans. I've competed with All-Americans. My goal is to become an All-American."
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Over the years, he's become known not only for his results but for the way he gets them -- moving seamlessly between weight classes, adapting to every opponent, and developing a reputation for what he refers to as a 'funky' style.
What stands out most, though, is his steady climb toward the top of the Southern Conference and his clear vision for what comes next.
With the 2026-27 season looming, Silka's goals are bigger than ever. After reaching the finals last year and falling just short, he's focused on finishing the job, and then going even further.
"I know that I have to do something because I remember freshman year, I got fourth at the SoCon Championship and they didn't give me a medal since only the top three on the podium get one," Silka said. "Then I got third my sophomore year, and that was great, but I didn't make it to the finals. Junior year, I tore my meniscus, so I did a redshirt that season, and then last year I made it to the finals, but I didn't finish the job. Now I need to taste that victory in the finals and finally get that ticket to the NCAA Championships."
Â
Adapting to Change
One of the defining features of Silka's career has been his ability to adapt—whether that means jumping weight classes or adjusting to new coaches. Last season, he bounced between 157 and 174 pounds, often giving up size but never giving up an edge.
"It was pretty interesting for sure," he said of last year's championship bout. "I lost to a guy I beat too, that's the worst part. It was pretty emotional there, big emotional loss, but I felt pretty confident just because I always had wrestled with those guys in our room -- they kind of prepared me for that jump. It wasn't as much of a dramatic change as it should have been, I think, and that's because I was already prepared for that kind of weight class just from all the guys that I wrestled with already."
His teammates in the middle weights played a major role in that preparation.
"They definitely were my three main drill partners, conditioning-wise," he said. "They just got me super ready strength-wise, plus all those guys are really funky. They all have different styles, which is one of the greatest things that they brought: Kyrel [Leavell], he's really funky, kind of like me, and [Thomas] Snipes, he's just really blue collar, kind of works straight on. I've got all the styles and it kind of just got me ready for anything that gets thrown at me. I'll be ready to handle it."
That variety helped him develop a style that keeps opponents, and sometimes even his coaches, guessing.
"I mean, I feel sometimes I catch my own coaches off guard with some of the moves I hit," Silka joked. "I don't think I've ever had a coach not confused at some of the things I hit sometimes. I sometimes confuse myself, but I'm not trying to go out there and just hit random moves. I feel my body knows what it's doing. It's sometimes just my mind trying to catch up to my body. I love just hearing people, 'Whoa, that was weird.' You know, when I watch film, whoever's filming, they're like, 'Wait, what's going on?' I definitely know that the opponent's also thinking that sometimes."
Â
Leadership On & Off the Mat
Now a fifth year returner, Silka has embraced his role as a leader for a roster filled with young talent and new faces.
"A lot of what people don't see is what's happening in that practice room," he noted. "All these newer guys, I believe they all have the ability to do what all the other older guys have done. Take Tommy Johnson as an example. We go hard in the room, and he competes really good with me, he's right there. It's all these younger guys, I feel they also have that ability to win. I think once they get on the mat this year, they'll find that confidence, and they'll have that opportunity since we had some of the older guys leave."
It's a leadership approach built on example as much as words.
"I was team captain for the previous two years," Silka said. "Sometimes it's just a title, you can follow whoever you want, whoever you think is who you want to be, that's your leader. A lot of these freshmen or sophomores have looked up to certain people. I can't speak for them, but I know that I've helped at least couple of guys. Brodie [Porter] has helped a couple of guys, Hayden [Watson] as well. Our senior class, our grad students, our juniors, they're all leaders in their own way, really, and Owen [Hendricks] does a really good job with the Corps and helping us stay out of trouble."
The team's internal competition and flexibility with weights has also become a strength.
"It's always really awkward sometimes when two people want the same weight, but if anything, I've shown that it's able to be done at any weight as long as you have confidence in the coach and yourself," he added. "You can go any way. They'll make the cut or the bulk, whatever's needed for the team. That's what I love about these guys is that we're a team and we're gonna do whatever it takes to keep that SoCon title."
Â
Looking Ahead
With a challenging schedule that includes trips to Virginia Tech, Michigan State, and Army, Silka remains eager to test himself and his teammates on big stage.
"I think the closest thing we even got to that was NC State last year, which was really cool environment," he said. "A lot of our guys did perform, and I don't think that's gonna crush our souls going to a big environment. I think we're ready for that, but I'm super excited, to be honest.
"I've wrestled tough competition, but I like going to their turf and doing it, because they don't expect you to really do anything to them. Sometimes they let their guard down and, I'm going to be honest, I think we're going to shock a lot of people this year with some of the talent we got coming up."
At the heart of it all is a wrestler who embraces every challenge as a chance to grow -- whether that means facing a bigger opponent, trying a new move or helping a younger teammate find his footing.
"I don't see myself losing anymore, to be honest," Silka concluded. "I've beaten All-Americans. I've competed with All-Americans. My goal is to become an All-American."
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-- #NextDogUp --
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