The kids in Pat Curran Sr.’s Wonder Lake neighborhood tended to bend toward cruelty, constantly badgering the young boy for a nickname paying homage to his Irish roots.

So years later, when Curran and his wife were raising a son of their own, they resisted the temptation to pass along the “Paddy Mike” moniker that had caused Pat so much ridicule growing up.

Instead, they wanted their son to establish his own identity. Even if that meant him chasing dreams of being a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter, following the example of his older cousin who has made a name, not only for himself, but for the entire Curran family.