Pat McGrath had a stellar high school and college wrestling career in New Jersey. He was a NJ High School State Champion, a 4 time AAU Grand National Freestyle Champion, a 4 time USAW Cadet All-American, a 3 time USAW Junior All-American, and was runner-up at the 1994 Junior World Team Trials.

Pat competed for Wildcat WC in Manahawkin and in college at Columbia University where he won and placed at various tournaments including winning the Coast Guard Invitational.