Bucknell University Athletics
Fighting the Hard Times: Josh Katten Battles Through Injury and Doubt to Become All-Time Wins Leader in Bucknell Tennis History
4/29/2013 8:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
April 29, 2013
By Thomas Walter, Bucknell Athletic Communications
Josh Katten is stubborn.
But like many great athletes, stubbornness can often be the key to achieving the highest levels of success.
Katten is now the most prolific winner in Bucknell tennis history. His 155-96 career record, a sparkling .618 winning percentage, marks the most number of combined victories ever accumulated by a Bison tennis player. Katten passed Ryan Sandburg for the top spot earlier this month.
However, it was not an easy four years for Katten to get to this place of prominence. Injury and doubt, both from his doctors and himself, made it nearly impossible for the tennis senior to continue to play at the highest level.
Before the injuries, Katten was one member of the very promising recruiting class that entered Bucknell in the fall of 2009. He backed up the hype and expectations, as he became first Bison freshman to be named All-Patriot League, earning second-team honors. His freshman campaign was followed by 28-win season as a sophomore. But, then the physical hurt crept in, followed shortly by the mental hurt.
Throughout it all Katten kept his head down and gave the game of tennis the best, the hardest, the most resilient effort he possibly could no matter what the game was taking from his body, and his mind, because Josh Katten is stubborn.
***
"I hurt my left knee in the second match of my junior year, and my right knee in the second-to-last match of the year," says Katten. "I did not know what was wrong, so I never thought to stop playing, but by the end of the year I was having a tough time running."
Looking at the results of Katten during his junior campaign, and there is no way to tell that he was playing with two torn menisci. He had his most successful season to date finishing with a 47-21 record (22-11 in singles and 25-10 in doubles).
"I was playing really aggressively because I knew in the back of my head that I would not be able to run my way to victories," says Katten. "I was forced to more or less just go for it and I ended up winning a lot of matches."
The success of playing through injury did not come easy. Katten was forced to put time in the weight room nearly every day to get his knees stronger on his own time, hoping to prevent any further damage to his body.
While the success kept coming, so did the pain. After his best season Katten took a month off assuming the pain would subside, but it never did. He opted for surgery, and to speed up recovery decided to have both knees operated on at the same time. The planned recovery would be fast enough to get back on the court in time for the fall season although it would be more grueling and far more difficult than if he stuck to a traditional timeline. There would be no good leg for Katten to rely on during his recovery, and it would challenge him in more grueling fashion than he had ever faced before.
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Before he tore his menisci, the biggest problem Katten faced at Bucknell was balancing academics and tennis as well as staying mentally prepared when dealing with a two-season sport.
"Balancing academics was very difficult for me at times, especially during the season when you have to find the energy after practice to get your work done," Katten says. "I was able to stay focused because I love the game of tennis. I really enjoy stepping out on the court, as it is my escape from the academic world."
However, the recovery from the surgery was much more difficult for Katten than balancing academics ever was.
"My leg muscles disappeared and I had did not have a good leg to depend on for support," says Katten. "When I told my physical therapists the really big goals I had for myself, they laughed and said there was no way I would be competing upon returning to Bucknell in August."
Katten did physical therapy a few days a week and spent every night in the gym in order to keep the rest of his body sharp. He was not able to touch a racquet for four months.
He had to work with his coach from home to alter his running and hitting mechanics in order to take pressure of his knees. Tough times still ensued, and by the end of the fall season Katten was very close to hanging up the Bucknell jersey for good.
"I was never so close to calling it quits as I was immediately after the Lehigh tournament last fall. I was two seconds away from calling it a career," says Katten. "The game that I love had lost its `fun' element. I was still affected from the surgery and could not play the way I wanted or knew I should be."
Katten called his parents that night, and received nothing but support. His parents' show of support was something that often goes awry in sports during the modern age. Many parents can be much too demanding and overbearing; often putting too much pressure on their children to succeed. But, the Kattens challenged their son to show the same resiliency that he had his whole career at Bucknell.
So that's what he did.
Katten received two injections in his knee prior to the spring season to help deal with the pain. The hurt did not go away completely, but it was a hurt that further motivated him to get to the win total he had eyed for a long time.
***
"The record was in the back of my head as motivation when I could not walk for two weeks over the summer," says Katten. "I thought if I could get back and have a solid season I would be able to break the record, but during the spring season I tried especially not to focus on it."
Friends, family and teammates were constant reminders of the history that could be made, but Katten stuck to his strengths - his ability to handle the pressure, rebound and come back stronger.
"My coach back home always preached that the best tennis players are also the best problem solvers," explains Katten. "There are so many guys that can hit the ball well, but I think what separates me is my ability to solve the problems after events on the court don't go my way."
History finally came knocking on April 14, 2013 as Katten swept Brian Stefanowitz in singles winning 6-1, 6-3 to etch his name in the history books, and helped the Bison to a 7-0 victory over Lafayette.
In each of the last two seasons, Katten has won at least 20 double matches and has 83 wins in the format on his career. He has also notched 72 single match wins as well. This record was extremely special for Katten because it was something that he achieved from his own efforts.
"After being named to the All-Patriot League Second Team my freshman year, and to not receive any recognition for my sophomore and junior seasons in which I played much better, I was frustrated," Katten reveals. "That is why this record means so much to me, because even though one day someone might break it, it was something I accomplished, and is something that can't be taken away from me."
***
Stubbornness can often be a huge disadvantage to people. Katten admitted that it is `one of his biggest weakness', but when channeled correctly it can be used for fuel to a person's personal fire.
It might be a common trait in the Katten household. Josh's older brother played baseball at Emory. During his senior season, he played through a fractured elbow.
"When he dropped me off at Bucknell he told me `to play every day as if I was a senior.' He did not want me to take a second for granted while I was here at Bucknell," explains Katten. "When I was hurt, I spoke with him on the phone and his message was the same: you only get one chance to compete in college, and afterwards you will have time to heal."
So Katten competed, through the hurt and doubt, with all the resiliency and toughness he could possibly bring to the court. Along the way he was able to mark his place in the Bucknell record books.
Sometimes, stubbornness can go a long way.
