Indiana University Athletics
Pat DeGain: In Search of a Title
1/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Pat DeGain weighs 197 pounds, is a self-confessed "momma's boy" and the 2002 Missouri Open 197-pound champion.
A sophomore wrestler from Clarkston, Mich., Pat DeGain is preparing for a season in which he knows there is only one goal - the national championships.
"My goal this season is to be in the (NCAA) finals," says DeGain. "You have to set your goals high, otherwise you won't ever reach that high level. If I don't reach that goal, I'll still have a shot at being All-American."
Pat DeGain has plans set for mid-March. He's headed to Kansas City, Mo. Although not the hottest destination for a spring break crowd, everyone who is anyone in the collegiate wrestling world will be in Kansas City for the NCAA Championships.
DeGain has his sights set on the finals. Currently ranked 10th by InterMat and in the top 15 by both W.I.N. Magazine and TheMat.com, this Hoosier grappler is well on his way to the championships.
Greatness on the mat is not surprising for this Hoosier. The DeGain brothers - Joe, Pat and Clint - are three champion wrestlers and widely known throughout the wrestling community.
Pat is a two-time Michigan High School Athletic Association state champion, winning the final 99 matches of his high school career. In 1998 in Manchester, England, he took home the silver medal at the Cadet Freestyle World Championships.
Pat's older brother, Joe, wrestled for the University of Michigan for four seasons at 197 pounds and as a senior in the 2000-01 season Joe co-captained the Wolverine team. Pat's younger brother, Clint, is a senior at Clarkston High School, ranked third in the nation by InterMat and the reigning Michigan High School 160-pound state champion. Clint has committed to The Citadel where he will wrestle for the Bulldogs.
Holidays at the DeGain household are closer to championship wrestling tournaments among some of the top wrestlers in the nation than a sentimental rendition of "My Three Sons."
"We had a wrestling room in our basement," admits DeGain. "When we're all at home it's about who can pin who. My mom loves it."
Undoubtedly, some of the best bouts in the nation have played out in the practice room in the DeGain's basement. With the brothers all wrestling for Clarkston High, the question must be asked as to why they all chose different paths for their college wrestling careers. It is not because they are not supportive of each other.
"We were in the shadow of each other in Clarkston," confesses DeGain. "We all just wanted to have our own glory, separate from each other. A lot of people from home still think I should have followed Joe to Michigan."
But for Pat, IU was - and still remains - the best place for reasons far beyond wrestling.
"I chose Indiana because it offered the most athletically and academically. In the wrestling room, there are great practice partners. In academics, I can get help with all my classes and I have great professors at Indiana."
Once an informatics major, Pat recently changed his major to physical education after introduction to informatics professor Mehmet Dalkilic inspired him to become a teacher.
"He helped me in my Introduction to Informatics class, but also in other things. He gave advice on ways to do better in my other classes. I realized that I want to be a teacher like that, who can help more than in just the class I teach," says DeGain.
With his focus on a career after college clearly dialed in, Pat has all the necessary tools to thrive on the wrestling mat in his post-college years. However, he has not decided if that is something he wants to pursue when his time as a Hoosier is through - he has lots of time to decide.
For now, DeGain works hard in the Indiana practice room and humbly acknowledges that the opportunity for greatness lies within his reach.
"To be a wrestler at this level anywhere it requires hard work and discipline," admits DeGain. "But to be a wrestler at IU, it's something I'm proud of and take pride in doing. It is probably one of the only things I would ever brag about."
And with the standard he has set for himself, he has reason to brag about more than just wrestling for Indiana. He has become one of the leaders of the team in just one season of competition after qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2001-02.
After a redshirt season in 2000-01, he emerged as one of Indiana's top wrestlers in his first season in 2001-02. When returning 197-pounder Ty Matthews was forced to sit out his senior season due to injury, DeGain stepped into the spot and took full advantage of the opportunity lying in front of him. Last season in dual meets he held an impressive 12-4 record with eight pins on the season.
"Pat had a very good freshman season," said head coach Duane Goldman. "He is definitely a leader on the team both vocally and with his intensity. (Last year) he fell just short of being an All-American. He is right in there, ready to have an exceptional year."
For now, DeGain aspires to backpack through the western United States - Colorado, maybe - and to become a teacher who will make a difference.
In a dream that started when he was wrestling his brothers back home in Michigan in the basement, that continued through high school championships and both national and international accomplishments, that continues daily in the Hoosier practice room, Pat DeGain aspires, more than anything else right now, to call himself national champion.
A sophomore wrestler from Clarkston, Mich., Pat DeGain is preparing for a season in which he knows there is only one goal - the national championships.
"My goal this season is to be in the (NCAA) finals," says DeGain. "You have to set your goals high, otherwise you won't ever reach that high level. If I don't reach that goal, I'll still have a shot at being All-American."
Pat DeGain has plans set for mid-March. He's headed to Kansas City, Mo. Although not the hottest destination for a spring break crowd, everyone who is anyone in the collegiate wrestling world will be in Kansas City for the NCAA Championships.
DeGain has his sights set on the finals. Currently ranked 10th by InterMat and in the top 15 by both W.I.N. Magazine and TheMat.com, this Hoosier grappler is well on his way to the championships.
Greatness on the mat is not surprising for this Hoosier. The DeGain brothers - Joe, Pat and Clint - are three champion wrestlers and widely known throughout the wrestling community.
Pat is a two-time Michigan High School Athletic Association state champion, winning the final 99 matches of his high school career. In 1998 in Manchester, England, he took home the silver medal at the Cadet Freestyle World Championships.
Pat's older brother, Joe, wrestled for the University of Michigan for four seasons at 197 pounds and as a senior in the 2000-01 season Joe co-captained the Wolverine team. Pat's younger brother, Clint, is a senior at Clarkston High School, ranked third in the nation by InterMat and the reigning Michigan High School 160-pound state champion. Clint has committed to The Citadel where he will wrestle for the Bulldogs.
Holidays at the DeGain household are closer to championship wrestling tournaments among some of the top wrestlers in the nation than a sentimental rendition of "My Three Sons."
"We had a wrestling room in our basement," admits DeGain. "When we're all at home it's about who can pin who. My mom loves it."
Undoubtedly, some of the best bouts in the nation have played out in the practice room in the DeGain's basement. With the brothers all wrestling for Clarkston High, the question must be asked as to why they all chose different paths for their college wrestling careers. It is not because they are not supportive of each other.
"We were in the shadow of each other in Clarkston," confesses DeGain. "We all just wanted to have our own glory, separate from each other. A lot of people from home still think I should have followed Joe to Michigan."
But for Pat, IU was - and still remains - the best place for reasons far beyond wrestling.
"I chose Indiana because it offered the most athletically and academically. In the wrestling room, there are great practice partners. In academics, I can get help with all my classes and I have great professors at Indiana."
Once an informatics major, Pat recently changed his major to physical education after introduction to informatics professor Mehmet Dalkilic inspired him to become a teacher.
"He helped me in my Introduction to Informatics class, but also in other things. He gave advice on ways to do better in my other classes. I realized that I want to be a teacher like that, who can help more than in just the class I teach," says DeGain.
With his focus on a career after college clearly dialed in, Pat has all the necessary tools to thrive on the wrestling mat in his post-college years. However, he has not decided if that is something he wants to pursue when his time as a Hoosier is through - he has lots of time to decide.
For now, DeGain works hard in the Indiana practice room and humbly acknowledges that the opportunity for greatness lies within his reach.
"To be a wrestler at this level anywhere it requires hard work and discipline," admits DeGain. "But to be a wrestler at IU, it's something I'm proud of and take pride in doing. It is probably one of the only things I would ever brag about."
And with the standard he has set for himself, he has reason to brag about more than just wrestling for Indiana. He has become one of the leaders of the team in just one season of competition after qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 2001-02.
After a redshirt season in 2000-01, he emerged as one of Indiana's top wrestlers in his first season in 2001-02. When returning 197-pounder Ty Matthews was forced to sit out his senior season due to injury, DeGain stepped into the spot and took full advantage of the opportunity lying in front of him. Last season in dual meets he held an impressive 12-4 record with eight pins on the season.
"Pat had a very good freshman season," said head coach Duane Goldman. "He is definitely a leader on the team both vocally and with his intensity. (Last year) he fell just short of being an All-American. He is right in there, ready to have an exceptional year."
For now, DeGain aspires to backpack through the western United States - Colorado, maybe - and to become a teacher who will make a difference.
In a dream that started when he was wrestling his brothers back home in Michigan in the basement, that continued through high school championships and both national and international accomplishments, that continues daily in the Hoosier practice room, Pat DeGain aspires, more than anything else right now, to call himself national champion.
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