The small running back, Brad Pataky, was at a threshold -- the three-sport athlete needed to choose one path.
Football ran in the family, as did baseball. The Clearfield native's dad, Randy Pataky, was a former football player. The now-Nittany Lion's sister, Brittany Pataky, would go on to play softball at Lock Haven. His dad never wrestled, but Brad Pataky knew if he'd have a future in any sport, it would be wrestling.
It's why, along with his small stature and greater love for wrestling, Brad Pataky chose to pursue that sport after his freshman year of high school, instead of football and baseball. He hung up his pads, but the redshirt junior never put aside the mentality that allowed him to bruise his way through bigger football linebackers -- a mentality learned from his family and coaches.
"That's just the way we've always been," Randy Pataky said. "It was never a question of getting Brad to work."
The 125-pounder learned being relentless always leads to success. He saw it in his dad's hard work as a civil engineer and his parents never failing to get their kids to practice.
The model continued after the Clearfield native's fourth-place Big Ten performance. Brad Pataky was disappointed in his 2-2 record at the tournament, but at this point in the season, the redshirt junior said not much technique can change. What he hopes will change is the outcome of this weekend's NCAA championship.
The Lion has shown glimpses of responding to losses before.
The last time the 125-pounder lost before the Big Ten championship, he responded with a five-match winning streak to finish out the regular season.
And after Virginia Tech's Jarrod Garnett pinned him in the Nittany Lion Open final, Brad Pataky secluded himself behind the Rec Hall bleachers. With his head down and tears welling, the redshirt junior's eyes told passersby how things would be different the second time around. About a month later, Pataky beat Garnett by decision.
"When he doesn't do well, he comes back a lot stronger," Randy Pataky said. "He's going to be really ready to go."
Penn State coach Cael Sanderson also noted Brad Pataky's aggressive attitude. On last Wednesday's radio show, he cautioned the 125-pounder in taking too many risks but wanted the redshirt junior's notable mentality on display this weekend.
The tough little kid, as Randy Pataky called his son, will try to take down top-notched competition this weekend -- though this time around, he'll look for his bruises to be the stigma attached with an NCAA title.
Brad Pataky believes an NCAA championship is a fate he can decide for himself -- just like choosing wrestling over football years ago.
"The fight that you give can make the most difference of anything," Brad Pataky said. "Wrestling a full seven minutes and wrestling to win, not worrying about losing or anything, pays off."
