DeGain: One Accomplishment Left
Bloomington, Ind. “One match: Seven minutes: Four hundred and twenty seconds, that is how close senior and two-time NCAA qualifier Pat DeGain came to becoming an All-American in 2004 and 2002. It is also what he thinks about every time he practices and steps onto the mat.
The Clarkston, Mich., native has been in this position twice before, suffering setbacks to Kyle Cerminara of Buffalo, 2-1 in overtime at the 2004 NCAA Championship and Justin Ruiz of Nebraska via fall at the 2002 NCAA Championship.
“It’s one of the most frustrating things in the world,” DeGain said. “To be so close knowing that you are almost there and can taste it. Coming up short is trying.”
After competing last season at 197 pounds where DeGain went 28-7 with nine falls, DeGain and head coach Duane Goldman made the decision to move up one weight class and compete as a heavyweight.
“I had been thinking about it for awhile,” DeGain said. “After talking to my dad and Duane (Goldman), we all agreed that it would be best for me and the team.”
The first tournament that DeGain competed in as a heavyweight was the Eastern Michigan Open on Nov. 21, where he took first place. Right off the bat, he realized that he needed to wrestle heavyweights different than he would wrestle a 197-pounder.
“At first, I underestimated how strong heavyweights are,” DeGain said. “Even though they don’t look like it they have a lot of muscles. I’m not the biggest heavyweight and when you are facing guys that are 260 pounds or more, you can’t attack them like you would a 197 pounds.”
Every time DeGain steps onto the mat he comes away learning more on how to improve his wrestling skills.
“I learned a lot for my first couple of tournaments,” DeGain said. “I could wrestle for the next ten years and still continue to learn. I may not be the biggest guy out there, but I don’t feel that there is anyone who wants it as bad as I do.”
After adding two second place finishes at the Missouri Open and Mat Town Invitational, DeGain accomplished a feat that only two other Hoosiers have ever accomplished: Winning a Midlands Championship.
DeGain joins Viktor Sveda (2001) and Brian Dolph (1990) as the only other Hoosiers to claim this honor.
At the Midlands Championship DeGain defeated bigger opponents in Matt Fields of Iowa, Les Sigman of Nebraska-Omaha and in the championship match ousted Matt Feast of Penn, 5-3.
“At the time I really didn’t know how big of an accomplishment it was,” DeGain said. “But after having time to think about it and talk to people, I now realize how of an accomplishment it is.”
DeGain also added another accomplishment to his career when he recorded his 100th career win against Joe Hennis of Edinboro, 5-3 on Jan. 11 at the Virginia Duals. In dong so, he became just the 11th Hoosier in school history to achieve the honor.
“It means a lot to me,” DeGain said. “To win 100 matches really says a lot. All the hard work and hours in the practice room has really paid off.”
Despite all the awards and career achievements, DeGain won’t settle on these laurels. His final goal is to become an All-American and national champion. After falling short twice, DeGain has learned from his previous two experiences.
“Everybody wants it bad,” DeGain said. “At the national tournament, you can’t let up for one minute. It’s a seven-minute fight. Every time I step onto the mat, I’m going to leave it all out there because this is my last shot and I am determined not fail.”
DeGain doesn’t want to be one of those wrestlers that is just satisfied with becoming an All-American. He knows that its takes four matches to win a national championship.
“I’m not going to settle for just becoming an All-American,” DeGain said. “Goldman preaches that at the end of the year only 10 wrestlers can claim to be national champions and I want to be one of them.”
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