Episode 62 of the Five Point Move Podcast brings a first-time guest, Patrick Curran (82 kg) from Northern Michigan University’s National Training Site. Curran, 21, is one of NMU’s fastest-rising prospects despite having only begun his foray into Greco-Roman wrestling less than two years ago.
A high school state runner-up in his native Illinois, Curran went on to attend the University of Wisconsin-Osh Kosh but, following a brief stint in collegiate wrestling, decided to switch gears and enroll at NMU. In a room featuring stars like two-time World Team member Benji Peak (72 kg, Combat) and eventual Olympian Payton Jacobson (87 kg), Curran details how — although he did hold prior Greco-Roman experience as an age-grouper — he found the environment initially daunting as he navigated the intense demands which run in concert with top-level training and development.
Curran’s career as a full-time Greco-Roman athlete began with an assortment of struggles as he learned in real-time the differences beholden to both the change in wrestling discipline as well as the grueling nature associated with competition on the national and international circuits. However, it was not long before he started to gain confidence in his ability to adapt and fight through the obstacles he was forced to face in order to progress.
While there is still plenty of work to do, Curran has since made impressive strides. Throughout the early part of this season, he has put together a strong sample size of matches which demonstrate the type of potential he wields as an elite Senior, thanks in no small part to his passionate and intense approach to every competitive opportunity.
A Few Highlights
Curran on NMU head coach Andy Bisek and the culture of the program
“The best thing we’ve got here at Northern is just the culture and we’re very lucky. Andy brings a very interesting perspective because he also came through this program. He has been part of Marquette for decades. He knows the culture and he has done a very good job. My first couple of weeks on campus, I was coming off of a strictly folkstyle background. I hadn’t wrestled Greco-Roman in two or three years. When I immediately got into the room, I looked at the best guys. Payton (Jacobson) was in there, Benji (Peak), David (Stepanyan) obviously… I was looking at those guys and just trying to replicate what they were doing. I wasn’t asking too many questions, but a lot (of questions), and Andy was receptive to all of them.”
Curran on his beginning at NMU
“I didn’t see any of these guys until they came back from January camp (at the Olympic Training Center). And it was just a complete destruction of all the fundamentals that I had. In folkstyle, you wrestle with your hips out, and now I had to wrestle with my hips in. In folkstyle, you reach, and in Greco you don’t. It was just a completely new style for me.”
Curran on what he tells younger wrestlers about switching to Greco
“I don’t know but it has been one of the most rewarding things that I’ve done. I’ve grown a love for this style. Say I’m talking to a kid, I’m trying to tell him, Yeah, Northern would be a great opportunity. I’m going to tell him, You’re going to go in there and there is a lot of talent in that room, and it’s a completely different style than you are used to. But I think it is really important to the sport that we get these young guys into full-time Greco to grow it in America.”
Listen to “5PM57: Kamal Bey and David Stepanyan” on Spreaker.
Listen to “5PM56: Rich Carlson and Spencer Woods” on Spreaker.
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