#FreestyleFriday: Dedicated and determined Downey wins U.S. Open and prepares for Raleigh

Pat Downey’s nomadic wanderings have been well documented in the wrestling world. However, it seems like the formerly unattached assassin has finally found a home at the New Jersey Regional Training Center (NJRTC).

 

Downey has always been a gifted athlete and a talented wrestler on the mat, but talent alone is not enough on the senior level men’s freestyle circuit. Downey’s time in wrestling is running short because he plans on competing in MMA after the 2020 Olympics. He wants to make sure he leaves the sport with no regrets. 

 

At the 2019 Marine Corps U.S. Open, fans saw what a fully focused Pat Downey is capable of. In the semifinals he clawed his way out of a 7-0 deficit to defeat former National Champion and U23 World team member Myles Martin 9-7. In the finals, he controlled the match, and dominated the upper body ties with former National Team member Nick Heflin, a prolific thrower in his own right, for a 10-4 win.

 

Downey believes this is the best he’s ever wrestled.

 

“It has to be, right? First Dave Schultz title, first US Open Title, solidified myself on the USA Wrestling National Team. A lot of firsts happening since joining the NJRTC. I’m just grateful and super thankful for the opportunity.” Downey said.

 

Downey has trained at a multitude of clubs and programs over the years. But being closer to his Maryland home and training with the NJRTC and coach Reece Humphrey (who launched Downey for five from the corner after his finals win) is a fit that seems to be sticking.

 

“I feel at home back on the East Coast. I’m only a couple hours from Baltimore, and I’m able to do things with my family, my lifestyle outside of wrestling, I’m at peace, I’m happy. That makes everything else come together. I love it. We have so much fun.”

 

“I’ve got the best coach in Reece Humphrey. The dude is awesome, and I look forward to going to practice every day and getting better. We’re always working on new positions, we’re never complacent, and we’re never stagnant. It makes going to work and doing your job fun. It doesn’t feel like work.” Downey said.

 

Downey is taking full advantage of a training situations which allows him to work with partners and coaches from two Division I universities.

 

“When you prepare the way we do at the NJRTC, when you’ve got training partners like Nate Jackson, CJ Brucki, all the college guys at Rutgers and Princeton, I’m coached by Pritzlaff, Goodale, Dubuque, Ayres, and Reece Humphrey, how can you not be confident? I have a reason to be. It’s my preparation.” Downey said.

 

After his comeback semifinal victory Downey talked about the importance of earning the bid to the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Finals. The winner in Raleigh will face 2018 World Champion David Taylor at Final X. Downey pulled no punches as is his style.

 

“It’s extremely important, if I want to beat David Taylor, I’ve got to beat these other guys right? The way to do that is by setting myself up by winning this Open, and putting myself in the best position to wrestle him in the RAC at Rutgers. I’ve never scored a point on David Taylor. I’ve never made it a whole match with Taylor. I know I’ve still got work to do. I’ve wrestled far from perfect. That’s the beauty of this sport. I won the Schultz, and I’ve gotten better since then. I plan on getting better by June 8th.”  Downey said.

 

Downey followed through on his game plan in taking out Nick Heflin in the Open finals. It was highlighted by a gorgeous four-point throw off a Heflin inside trip attempt.

 

“Throw or be thrown right? You got that tie-up with over-unders and Heflin is notorious for throwing, so I just didn’t want to be on the receiving end of that. That’s my style if you want to get up there and play, we can play.” Downey said

 

Downey would have already made the jump to MMA if he didn’t believe he had the ability to be a men’s freestyle wrestling World Champion. He also recognizes the sacrifice and commitment that goes along with achieving greatness on the highest level, and it will serve him well moving forward.

 

“I believe in myself. I believe in my talent, my toughness and ability. I knew I could get the job done or else I wouldn’t still be doing it. I knew I had to come here and redeem myself from last year’s US Open, and I’ve done nothing but be determined and dedicated, and disciplined.”

 

“Consistency, your lifestyle, your training, it pays off. You can’t cut corners. At this level you can’t just be tough and talented, it’s the lifestyle, and I’ve learned to buy into that. I’ve never been this focused in my life, this is my last year or two of wrestling. I just want to make sure I’ve put in everything I can to this sport because it’s the first thing I fell in love with. I don’t want to go out in 2020 and start fighting with regrets, thinking that I left something else that I could have attained more. I don’t want to have regrets looking in the mirror.”

 

Downey’s trajectory is moving in the right direction. Can he close the gap this year?

 

“I have a lot more to get better on before I’m ready to take on Taylor. So that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to keep getting better,” he said.