ALBANY - Every time Albany senior Nick Patchen wrestles, he's carrying his school's name on his shoulders.
Patchen is the only wrestler from Albany on the Evansville-Albany co-op squad this season. He takes pride in carrying on the tradition.
"I don't feel too much pressure," Patchen said. "I just feel proud to represent my school."
Patchen is gearing up for the WIAA Division 2 Richland Center sectional. After several years of flirting with qualifying for sectionals, he broke through at 189 pounds last Saturday to qualify for his first sectional tournament. He lost a regional championship match, 4-2, to Lakeside Lutheran's Philip Behl. However, Patchen was assured a spot in the sectional after an earlier win against Hans Klopp of Lodi.
"I have been trying to get that (a sectional berth) for three years now," Patchen said.
He isn't satisfied with just qualifying for the sectional tournament.
"I have a feeling the state tournament is in the future," he said.
Patchen said he's not just looking to qualify for state, but also wants to place.
Last year, Patchen finished third in the regional and his chance at qualifying for the sectional were dashed when he lost to Portage's Scott Gessner. He watched the championship match, but didn't get the wrestleback opportunity he was hoping for.
"You could tell it weighed on him, being the No. 1 seed and not getting out," Evansville-Albany assistant coach Stuart Ritzert said. "It has been a motivator."
Patchen has a passion for wrestling in his 10th year in the sport.
"The real reason is I get to kick the snot out of somebody legally," Patchen said. Patchen received his start as a Mat Rat wrestler. He wrestled six years with the Mat Rats and learned the technique of the stance and the art of the takedown.
"I thought the WWF was wrestling," Patchen said. "That (Mat Rats) is the reason I started."
Patchen has received joking from friends since he decided to wrestle.
"That is something that has gave me more juice to add to add to the fire," he said.
Patchen has compiled a 31-6 record this season and is 87-20 in his varsity career. He went 15-1 as a freshman on the junior-varsity wrestling team.
"I just think he is more focused and determined on what he needs to do," Ritzert said. "He knows what he wants and knows it will take hard work to get there. He has been doing that all season."
Patchen has grown accustomed to being a road warrior since he has traveled to Evansville for practices and home dual meets. He looks forward to the support.
"It means more to me when I see people there from Albany," Patchen said.
He helped the Blue Devils win their fourth straight conference title by winning the clinching match for the second straight year.
Patchen doesn't have any unusual superstitions before wrestling in matches, but he does follow a routine.
"I just pray before and after my matches," he said.
Patchen will wrestle Whitewater's Nick Romani in his first sectional match on Saturday. He defeated Romani by pin in the first period in a dual meet earlier this year.
"Unpredictable things happen," Patchen said. "I'm just going to go out and wrestle like he was the state champ from last year."
Patchen is the only wrestler from Albany on the Evansville-Albany co-op squad this season. He takes pride in carrying on the tradition.
"I don't feel too much pressure," Patchen said. "I just feel proud to represent my school."
Patchen is gearing up for the WIAA Division 2 Richland Center sectional. After several years of flirting with qualifying for sectionals, he broke through at 189 pounds last Saturday to qualify for his first sectional tournament. He lost a regional championship match, 4-2, to Lakeside Lutheran's Philip Behl. However, Patchen was assured a spot in the sectional after an earlier win against Hans Klopp of Lodi.
"I have been trying to get that (a sectional berth) for three years now," Patchen said.
He isn't satisfied with just qualifying for the sectional tournament.
"I have a feeling the state tournament is in the future," he said.
Patchen said he's not just looking to qualify for state, but also wants to place.
Last year, Patchen finished third in the regional and his chance at qualifying for the sectional were dashed when he lost to Portage's Scott Gessner. He watched the championship match, but didn't get the wrestleback opportunity he was hoping for.
"You could tell it weighed on him, being the No. 1 seed and not getting out," Evansville-Albany assistant coach Stuart Ritzert said. "It has been a motivator."
Patchen has a passion for wrestling in his 10th year in the sport.
"The real reason is I get to kick the snot out of somebody legally," Patchen said. Patchen received his start as a Mat Rat wrestler. He wrestled six years with the Mat Rats and learned the technique of the stance and the art of the takedown.
"I thought the WWF was wrestling," Patchen said. "That (Mat Rats) is the reason I started."
Patchen has received joking from friends since he decided to wrestle.
"That is something that has gave me more juice to add to add to the fire," he said.
Patchen has compiled a 31-6 record this season and is 87-20 in his varsity career. He went 15-1 as a freshman on the junior-varsity wrestling team.
"I just think he is more focused and determined on what he needs to do," Ritzert said. "He knows what he wants and knows it will take hard work to get there. He has been doing that all season."
Patchen has grown accustomed to being a road warrior since he has traveled to Evansville for practices and home dual meets. He looks forward to the support.
"It means more to me when I see people there from Albany," Patchen said.
He helped the Blue Devils win their fourth straight conference title by winning the clinching match for the second straight year.
Patchen doesn't have any unusual superstitions before wrestling in matches, but he does follow a routine.
"I just pray before and after my matches," he said.
Patchen will wrestle Whitewater's Nick Romani in his first sectional match on Saturday. He defeated Romani by pin in the first period in a dual meet earlier this year.
"Unpredictable things happen," Patchen said. "I'm just going to go out and wrestle like he was the state champ from last year."
