Sports
Shelton's Pat Gillen: Wrestling Is An Art
The Virginia-bound senior is undefeated this season and approaching the state record for career wins
Shelton's Pat Gillen continues his remarkable wrestling career by winning his fourth consecutive Southern Connecticut Conference title in the 215-pound weight class.
The Virginia-bound senior improved to 37-0 this season and won his 189th career match, leaving him 11 wins shy of the state record set by Ledyard’s T.J. Hepburn from 2004-2007.
Interestingly, Gillen's nickname is "Patch," a tag his father gave to him when he was young. Patch.com recently sat down with Gillen to discuss his wrestling career and future plans.
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Q: Where were you born?
A: Milford Hospital (Milford, Connecticut)
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Q: What’s your middle name?
A: Michael
Q:What’s your nickname?
A:Patch
Q:What is your favorite subject?
A: English
Q: Who do you look up to as a role model?
A: That would be my father.
Q: What is your favorite thing about wrestling?
A: The fluidity of it. It’s kind of like an art to me.
Q: When did you start wrestling?
A: In fourth grade. He (father, Bob Gillen) was the coach at Staples from when I was younger and then in fourth grade I told him I wanted to wrestle.
Q: What goes through your mind during a wrestling match?
A: Just making sure that I do the best that I can, that I hit everything correctly and, uh, make sure I win. (laughs)
Q: What made you choose wrestling over football?
A: Wrestling has always been my favorite. That’s what we do in our house so it was an easy choice.
Q: What made you choose Virginia?
A: Everything from academics to the campus life, even the weather down there. Everything was a perfect fit for me and all the people involved with the wrestling program on campus were just great and I knew that’s where I needed to be.
