Penn State wrestler Terrell Barraclough enters NCAA transfer portal
Penn State wrestler Terrell Barraclough has entered the NCAA transfer portal, a source confirmed to Blue-White Illustrated. The Wrestling Room founder Pat Mineo first reported the news. Barraclough, who is from Kaysville, Utah, is in as a graduate transfer. He has one season of eligibility remaining.
Barraclough’s decision to move on is not a shock. He has been a tremendous teammate while operating mostly in a backup capacity during his time in blue and white. He was 12-2 in 2023-2024 but competed in just three dual meets, where he was 2-1. Throughout his time at Penn State, he has been flexible with his weight, filling in at both 165 and 174 pounds when needed. His most dual meet matches in one year came in 2021-2022, when he was in seven of them and went 7-8 on the year including a near upset of Nebraska star Peyton Robb.
Barraclough is the first Penn State wrestler to hit the portal since the 2023-2024 season ended. He may not be the last. Wrestlers have until May 3 to enter the portal and still be eligible next season.
How does Terrell Barraclough leaving impact Penn State?
No tight-knit family likes to see a member of it move away, but that’s what is happening here. Barraclough was unlikely to beat out Alex Facundo or anyone else for the 174-pound starting job Carter Starocci is vacating by either leaving the program entirely or moving up to a bigger weight class for his final season. And, at 165 pounds, either Mitchell Mesenbrink is going to man it again or Levi Haines and he could switch spots with the reigning 157-pound NCAA champion moving up and the 165-pound NCAA runner-up down. Thus, like when Michael Beard left a couple of years ago with Max Dean cemented into the 197-pound spot, Barraclough’s move is centered solely on being able to compete in a starting lineup and have a chance to win a national title. And, no one should blame him for doing so.
Future Lions shine at the U20 US Open
Class of 2024 Penn State signee Luke Lilledahl was the star of the just-completed U20 U.S. Open. He beat Ohio State’s Vinny Kilkeary 10-0 in the 57-kilogram finals and was named the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. He now sits in the best-of-three finals of the U20 U.S. Team Trials, which will be held in late May.
Lilledahl was not the only future Nittany Lion to leave Las Vegas with a title. Class of 2025 commit PJ Duke won the 70-kilogram division, and Class of 2024 commit Zack Ryder the 79-kilogram weight class after both scored technical fall victories in the finals. And, fellow Class of 2024 commit Connor Mirasola won the 92-kilogram weight class. All get a big advantage toward making the U20 U.S. team by virtue of doing so.
Numerous current and future Penn State wrestlers earned top-eight finishes. Kysion Garcia was fifth at 61 kilograms. Joe Sealey was second at 74 kilograms. Class of 2025 commit William Henckel was third at 79 kilograms. Sophomore-to-be Josh Barr was second at 86 kilograms. And, Class of 2024 commit Cole Mirasola was second at 97 kilograms.
