The same person has been on the other end of one of the most difficult phone calls Patrick Brucki has ever made and one of the most joyous -- Michigan wrestling coach Sean Bormet.

One of the nation's most prized 197-pound recruits, Brucki placed the call he was dreading in August of 2016 to let Bormet know he was committing to Princeton. 

Like many other college coaches, Bormet was drawn to Brucki's talent, character and by-example leadership style.

He also saw boundless potential in the country's No. 35 overall Class of 2017 recruit, who was a state champion and Fargo All-American while attending Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Illinois, racking up a 94-4 record his final two years. 

Bormet was also a family friend and had wrestled for the same high school coach (Mike Polz) as Brucki.  

While wishing Brucki was heading to Ann Arbor, Bormet quickly calmed him down with a message -- we're good.

"I had gotten to know Patrick during the previous few years being friends with members of his family and became well-aware of how valuable he would be for our program, but I told Patrick how genuinely happy I was for him and I understood the decision," Bormet said. "It was disappointing not to get him, but he had to make the decision fairly early in the process if was going to Princeton and Patrick was pulled in that direction."

Needless to say, Brucki was relieved by Bormet's reaction. 

"Obviously, I was strongly considering going to Michigan then and telling coach Bormet where I was actually going was not a conversion I was looking forward to, but he made it easier by fully supporting my decision," Brucki said. "The whole time I was at Princeton, I still felt there was a chance I could end up at Michigan one day."

Brucki's whole time with the Tigers was memorable, highlighted by becoming an All-American with a fourth-place finish at the 2019 NCAA Championships. He was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association first-team All-American the next year when the coronavirus pandemic cancelled the NCAA Championships. 

Brucki was an Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion and three-time NCAA qualifier as well,  putting together an 81-16 record with 44 bonus-point wins. 

At the same time Brucki was experiencing all that success, however, he was also hurting. 

Brucki underwent shoulder surgery prior to the 2019-20 season, but that proved to only be the first step toward addressing his ailments. 

As the season concluded, hip pain Brucki had been battling for years had become unbearable. Walking up stairs was a struggle. Nerve damage made sleeping difficult. 

Reconstructive surgery on both hips was the only way for Brucki to continue wrestling. He underwent one April of 2020, the other in June and knew before the process began he would have to redshirt the next season.

Brucki then planned to return for a final run with the Tigers in 2021-22, but soon realized that might not be possible. He was set to graduate in 2021 and the Ivy League does not allow graduate students to compete.  

Brucki also considered taking a gap year from school before returning in the fall of 2021, but  Princeton's academic policies could not guarantee him readmission due to its academic policies. 

It was time for Brucki to put his contingency plan into motion. 

In late July of 2020, nearly four years to the day after making that tough call to Bormet, Brucki could not dial fast enough to make one of the most exciting calls he ever has. 

Perhaps he was too fast. Brucki realized he had overlooked something.

"I was calling to tell him I was going to enter the transfer portal, but he could not legally pick up the phone because I hadn't," Brucki said. "I did that and was finally able to formally call coach Bormet to say I wanted to be a Wolverine and that was a great moment for both us. I was so excited because of Michigan's coaching staff, facilities and the kind of team they were going to have this season."

Still, that optimism was tempered by the fact that Brucki could hardly walk at that point and still had months of rehabilitation ahead of him. He made steady progress, celebrating milestones like being able to put his own socks on again along the way. 

"The rehab was a brutal process and it took the full 12 months for me to feel a sense of normalcy," Brucki said. "There are also changes to get used to because things like my flexibility and gait had changed."

Bormet was all too happy to help Brucki through the process, especially after he arrived on campus in April of last year and virtually completed his Princeton undergraduate degree.

Brucki had also grown his trademark mustache by then. 

"I was thankful to get that call from Patrick and have him here for his senior year," Bormet said. "I knew he would be a great fit because he checks off all the boxes as a tireless worker and a great teammate who elevates others and provides leadership. Patrick is first class on and off the mat."

On November 6, Brucki decisioned Cal-Poly's Trent Tracy, 11-2, at the Michigan State Open in his first college match in 20 months. Despite the long layoff, Brucki then gave All-American Jake Woodley (Oklahoma) all he could handle before falling, 4-2. 

Brucki racked up eight straight wins after that and is 20-6 this season with nine bonus-point wins. He is ranked fourth in the nation. 

"It's been nothing short of a privilege to put on the Block M and compete for this coaching staff and with this incredible group of guys," he said. "I've just tried to contribute to the team's success and be a small part of this program's 100-year history. I can't say enough about the great relationships I've been building and the personal growth I've experienced."

Earlier this month, Brucki decisioned two-time All-American Jacob Warner (Iowa) for third place at the Big Ten Tournament. Brucki's win added the final point to Michigan's total of 143, 1.5 better than second-place Penn State as the Wolverines captured their first conference title in 49 years. 

"B1G weekend for the team! Fought for the team title, picked up my 100th career win, and also cried a decent amount which was cool too," Brucki posted on Instagram. "Proud of the men I get to scrap with, honored to be affiliated with them. Jobs not done, NCAAs in Detroit!"

Brucki is seeded fourth for the NCAA Championships which begin Thursday at Detroit's Little Caesars Arena.

In addition to Warner, who is ranked fifth in the country, he has beaten No. 10 Thomas Penola (Purdue), No. 11 Greg Bulsak (Rutgers) and No. 14 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pittsburgh) this season. 

Brucki also owns a win over two-time All-American Dakota Geer (Oklahoma State), who is ranked No. 13 at 184 pounds.  

All six of Brucki's losses have been by a combined 11 points. He lost a total of four matches to the top three seeds -- Max Dean (Penn State), Stephen Buchanan (Wyoming) and Eric Schultz (Nebraska) -- by a combined seven points.

"I'm really excited for the opportunity Patrick has to show what he is capable of at the NCAA Championships," Bormet said. "We love him and believe in him."

Brucki opens against two-time NCAA qualifier Ben Smith (Cleveland State), whom he has not wrestled, before a likely rematch with Woodley. If he keeps winning, Brucki would probably face Dean in the semifinals.

"Standing on the podium again as an All-American would be huge," Brucki said. "It will be very special to stand up there and reflect on how much I've overcome to return to wrestling success. I don't think winning a national title is unrealistic if I'm wrestling at my best."