ST. LOUIS -- A career-threatening back injury kept Penn State's Eric Bradley from wrestling last year, so he took out his frustration by boxing. He wound up winning a club level national championship.
Cleared by doctors to get back on the mat this season, the redshirt sophomore became the Big Ten champion at 184 pounds. On Thursday, Bradley made his debut in the NCAA Wrestling Championships and split two matches
"Boxing was fun, and I'd kind of like to defend that national title," he said. "But, at the same time, wrestling is my passion. It's what I dream about at night and what I think about during the day.
"I'm doing what I want to do. I'm much more happy doing what I'm doing now than if I was still boxing."
During the summer of 2001, Bradley practiced at the U.S. Olympic training center in Lake Placid, N.Y. During a workout, he felt a sharp, deep pain in his lower back. For the next few weeks, he reduced his workload and hoped that rest would heal the injury.
Eventually, however, doctors discovered two stress fractures in Bradley's back. They told him he probably would never wrestle again.
Depressed by his injury and bored with his inactivity, Bradley began meeting with a sports psychologist. The psychologist suggested Bradley refocus his goals and try another sport, something like boxing.
Bradley liked the idea and asked his doctors if he could box.
"They kind of gave me a weird look, like, 'Are you crazy?' " he said. "But then they thought about it a little bit, and they said it would be OK."
The back injury did not require surgery and already had begun to heal. And boxing would be safe because Bradley did not have to arc or hyperextend his back.
At a tournament in Las Vegas last April, Bradley won the National Collegiate Boxing championship in the 195-pound division.
Last summer, Bradley volunteered as a coach with a youth league wrestling team in State College. Working out with kids on the mat, he began to notice that his back felt fine -- calcium deposits had filled the cracks in his verterbre.
The next step was rejoining the Nittany Lions. Bradley had to prove to coach Troy Sunderland that he could get back in shape ... and that he was healthy again.
"It was definitely a concern, but I don't think it was a matter of doubt," Sunderland said. "I knew the kind of dedication he has. Once he was cleared and got back on schedule, I felt pretty confident in him."
In his first bout back with the team, Bradley rolled over Navy's Chris Pogue, 15-7. Two weeks ago, he topped Paul Bradley of Iowa, 3-2, for the Big Ten crown.
"It's really rewarding to see a kid like Eric come back from everything he's been through," Sunderland said. "It's one of those things that makes you feel really good inside."
In his opening-round match, Bradley won a 6-2 decision against slippery Nick Halsey of Cal Poly. Later, Bradley admitted he had butterflies.
"I was a little cautious in that first match," he said. "I knew that guy was dangerous, so I didn't want to make any mistakes."
In the second round, Bradley, who is seeded fourth, was upset by Ben Wissel of Purdue in double overtime. The match ended in a 2-2 tie, but Wissel won with 19 seconds of riding time in overtime.
Despite the loss, Bradley still can become an All-American if he finishes among the top eight through the wrestlebacks.
