I don't see it.
Barr doesn't seem to be a large 197 pounder.
2026 NCAA Championship Session VI Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
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Barr doesn't seem to be a large 197 pounder.
She should do a podcast with AJ Ferrari
Look at the photo of the 10 individual champs. Trumble looks absolutely massive next to Barr. It actually shocked me.
Sunday morning thoughts…
this tourney had a little something for almost everybody —
- psu with record and 4 champs, 8 Aa’s in top 4
- oks with a couple champs
- ia exceeds expectations
- nebby on the team podium
-Stanford!
- ncaa gets its future rivalry
- both Fiats denied finals platforms
about the only ones empty handed were Osu.
and of course some soul searching is needed regarding officiating and incentives created by the current rule set.
this tourney had a little something for almost everybody —
- psu with record and 4 champs, 8 Aa’s in top 4
- oks with a couple champs
- ia exceeds expectations
- nebby on the team podium
-Stanford!
- ncaa gets its future rivalry
- both Fiats denied finals platforms
about the only ones empty handed were Osu.
and of course some soul searching is needed regarding officiating and incentives created by the current rule set.
We had 4 champions last night and 2 were first timers. Ohio States last four champs are Mendez, Snyder, Martin and Tomassello/ Steiber in 2915.
12 years and they had 4 guys. Iowa has had 2 over the same period, Spencer and Cory Clark.
Cael will sleep fine but okie State is a a very close second . . They will compete and make Penn State better.
Ditto, but I was an athlete (football). Had my MS by 21. Heck, I might have been younger than Lucas Byrd when I got my PhD. Front door brag.
But in today's NCAA paradigm, with NIL, I'd lawyer-up to be a "student"-athlete until my 30's.
Just think if Beau gets that double leg in finals vs Mendez do we hear any of this stuff.
Looks like he is majoring in archery at Okie State base d on his celebration.
Cauliflower ears to be more specific!
Barr is not a big 197 at all. I remember him against Buchanan; huge size differential. No disrespect to arguably the 2nd most dominant wrestler in the country this season, but I don't see him doing all that much better than Cole at HWY. It's just a pure horsepower issue for someone likely not much over 200lbs. without a cut. He'll likely bonus his way to another title at 197 next year. Connor would certainly be a contender for the title at 197, but he's not bonusing everyone. And with all the graduations, hard to see Cole not AA'ing next year. Even if Barr were a sure-thing champ at HWY, I don't think it makes any sense points-wise.
Edit: I just saw that picture
. Photos can be deceiving, but it looks like McEnelly probably weighs more than Barr before the cut.
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That’s what one wrestling media member theorized, and he’s not one to sensationalize stuff.
I’m so glad he got his azz kicked. Now, he needs to shut up and go away.
I've mentioned this in the past but it came to fruition.
With Barr and Lilledahl winning, Penn State has a more recent winner at every weight than Iowa does.
With Barr and Lilledahl winning, Penn State has a more recent winner at every weight than Iowa does.
What about Trumble’s wife? A former Nebraska swimmer who looks like she’s 6’ tall. Cael should start recruiting their baby now.
OK I’ll bite…as a parent, I’d want my son to be humble, appreciative and grateful as opposed to arrogant, shooting 37 imaginary arrows and vain. Just my two cents about “not much about Forrest not to like.”
Maybe he goes 197, heavyweight, 197 to allow a different Mirasola in the lineup year in and year out.
Well, Rocco's a solid kid too, so I can absolutely see him at 197, but he'd have to beat Barr on the mat and I don't believe that he'd do it right now. As others have pointed out, Barr's not a huge 197 and moving him to HWT makes ZERO sense in my opinion and I'd be shocked if it was something that interested Josh. There are at least a few unexpected weight changes every season in college wrestling, but Josh Barr at any weight other than 197 next year makes ZERO sense for Josh or for Penn State.
Why did the NCAA decide to allow finger grabbing? The sport is looking for more action, and they gave wrestlers another stalling tool.
Speaking of more action, I like the pushout rule. It would have to be applied only when wrestlers are in neutral, though. Not when action begins from the referee's position.
Speaking of more action, I like the pushout rule. It would have to be applied only when wrestlers are in neutral, though. Not when action begins from the referee's position.
Have you been to Johnstown? Obviously full of the best and brightest
I'm a novice at wrestling and not as astute as most on this board. My observation this weekend is that nearly every Penn State opponent looked bigger and stronger than the Penn Stater. Is this by design since quickness may be more important than size and strength? This was so obvious in the Rocco Welch final match. The opponent looked like a heavyweight compared to Rocco.Barr is not a big 197 at all. I remember him against Buchanan; huge size differential. No disrespect to arguably the 2nd most dominant wrestler in the country this season, but I don't see him doing all that much better than Cole at HWY. It's just a pure horsepower issue for someone likely not much over 200lbs. without a cut. He'll likely bonus his way to another title at 197 next year. Connor would certainly be a contender for the title at 197, but he's not bonusing everyone. And with all the graduations, hard to see Cole not AA'ing next year. Even if Barr were a sure-thing champ at HWY, I don't think it makes any sense points-wise.
Edit: I just saw that picture
AND for being on this list:
Don't we already have a quasi push out rule? If you get pushed OOB, you get a stall. Id be fine if they got rid of the warning. If a real push out rule ends backing to the edge wrestling, then I hope they put it in.
Allowing finger grabbing was beyond stupid. I cant fathom that somebody thought that was a good idea. Whoever voted to allow that should be removed from the Competition Committee.
Didn't hear his interviews but I'll cut him some slack. He still has the potential to win four. Not many can say that.
PSU has had some characters as well. Not everyone can be Jason Nolf or Zain Retherford.
Cael doesn't like his guys to cut a lot of weight. Its one of the reasons theyre typically fresher during the later stages of a match. Of course, there are tradeoffs. But one can not deny that his philosophy works well.
Butt hurt - NINE …. count em 9 times! Lashing out in his last college match. Guys has to live with himself forever. Sad & embarrassing end for a guy who mighta won 1 or 2 in the absence of MM.
I live not too far from VT, but, am a long time PSU season tix holder. Down here in the hillbilly nation there is great excitement. VT fans who never followed wrestling are reading and talking about wrestling at levels I’ve never seen. They are growing the sport! Now … I just have to hope that Cael inks another home and home series with VT. Such a dual would have 3-4 outstanding matchups.
Bring back Billy Baldwin. That guy knew how to do interviews and he understood wrestling.
It says no wrestler in the country wants to be on the same mat as Barr
And enjoy the sport. Weight cutting is a quick way to kill wrestling in youth. Compete and have fun.
Is 50 points behind "very close"? I don't think it is, but that's just me.
I just had the exact same thought on another thread
184 and 197 will be status quo for next season
To play devil's advocate:
Barr might go 92 kg / 202.4 lb freestyle this year, but his Olympic weight is 97 kg / 213 lb. His optimal weight for that will be cutting down from around 230. Cassar weighed 228. Snyder is typically in the 235 range outside competition (and is 5-11, short for a HWT).
He is currently cutting down from 210-ish to 197.
Looking at the landscape: with Bastida and Trumble and Ghadiali all gone, who are the good 250+ HWTs? 6-seed Taylor is probably the best of them -- he went 1-2 after losing in Round 1 and then losing to 1-legged Feldman (himself not a giant).
Doesn't mean Barr will do it, but it's not a crazy idea.