Penn State wrestling’s Josh Barr looking forward to opportunity to prove he should be starter
When Josh Barr left his home in Davison, Michigan, he was looking to join Penn State’s wrestling team as a 174-pound wrestler.
He quickly changed his mind once he stepped foot on campus.
“I honestly thought I was going to be a (1)74-pounder, and I figured out after a couple months, I was an (1)84-pounder. Last year, I felt good, but this summer, when I started putting on the mass, I felt better,” Barr said during Monday’s media day. “I feel stronger at this weight class. Cutting weight, I don’t think really helps anybody ... that would be my advice for young kids, is to not cut weight. The approach has changed a little bit, but it’s honestly easier, because the guys get a little bit more tired and are less fit at 197 then they are at (1)84. The tactics are really the same — it’s just wrestle hard every time you get to start.”
With Carter Starocci making the choice to return for his fifth and final season, Barr wasn’t able to go at 184 this year like he had hoped either. But Barr said he was fine with it because “Penn State wrestling brings in the best guys in the country, so it’s just kind of what comes with it.”
He talked to coaches before ultimately deciding to go up to 197 pounds, and said it’s been a “fun” process.
“A whole lot of red meat, (I got) a cow from Mr. Kasak, Tyler Kasak’s dad, that’s all I eat pretty much every single day, some red meat, a lot of eggs, potatoes, rice, creatine, lift weights and wrestle,” Barr said.
Barr isn’t alone at 197 pounds — teammate Lucas Cochran is also there, with the two are competing for the starting spot.
Barr is the ranked wrestler at the weight at No. 23, but Cochran wowed Nittany Lions fans last year when he bumped up and knocked off Rutgers’ heavyweight Yaraslau Slavikouski, who was ranked No. 8 at the time.
Barr and Cochran squared off in the Black Knight Invitational finals on Nov. 24 with Barr coming out on top with a 10-1 victory. He recorded nine third-period points in the major decision.
The win may have given Barr a leg up on Cochran as the starter, according to coach Cael Sanderson. It could also mean Barr gets the nod against Lehigh on Sunday, where he could face off with a former Penn State wrestler Michael Beard.
“I’d say we’re getting closer to that. There’s been some back and forth. Some wrestle offs didn’t actually take place that may have been on online, saying that they had,” Sanderson said Monday of all the lineup battles. “I mean that’s one more step forward, but a lot still needs to play out. We’ve got matches the next three weeks. You’ve seen this in the past. Nationals aren’t until March and the Big Tens, so nothing is really set until the Big 10 tournament starts.”
As for Barr, he said he felt he had a “good” Black Knight Invitational, which is pretty humbling to say for someone who bonused his way through the tournament — two pins and two major decisions, which were over Cochran and another teammate, Connor Mirasola.
He doesn’t like having to wrestle his teammates, but knows it’s all part of the process of getting ready for March.
“It’s just another opportunity to compete. I love competing. Coach Cael says it best, ‘We don’t do all this for nothing.’ We love to compete,” Barr said. “I think that’s what I take away, is just another opportunity to get better. I think that what we work on in here (wrestling room) every single day, shows out there. I’m just happy to show my skills and kind of expose myself to the areas I need to get better in, that’s really what I take away from every competition. I’m super grateful for them.”
No. 1 Penn State (1-0) at No. 22 Lehigh (1-1)
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: PPL Center, Bethlehem
Radio: Big Foot Legends (103.7 & 104.3 FM)
TV: FloWrestling (paid subscription)
Online: Radio, Lionvision at GoPSUsports.com
X: @byncobler, @pennstatewrest
| Nittany Lions | vs. | Mountain Hawks |
| 125: No. 16 Luke Lilledahl (3-0) | vs. | No. 15 Sheldon Seymour (6-1) |
| 133: No. 10 Braeden Davis (1-0) | vs. | No. 1 Ryan Crookham (1-0) |
| 141: No. 3 Beau Bartlett (4-0) | vs. | No. 22 Malyke Hines (2-2) OR Carter Bailey (5-2) |
| 149: No. 2 Shayne Van Ness (4-0) | vs. | No. 29 Kelvin Griffin (9-2) OR Drew Munch (3-1) OR Matt Repos (5-5) |
| 157: No. 4 Tyler Kasak (3-0) OR Alex Facundo (5-0) | vs. | Griffin Gonzalez (9-3) OR Logan Rozynski (4-1) |
| 165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (5-0) | vs. | Zeke Dubler (10-3) OR Richie Grungo (4-4) OR Thayne Lawrence (5-4) |
| 174: No. 2 Levi Haines (4-0) | vs. | Rylan Rogers (4-2) |
| 184: No. 1 Carter Starocci (4-0) | vs. | Caden Rogers (2-2) OR Jack Wilt (3-1) |
| 197: No. 23 Josh Barr (3-0) OR Lucas Cochran (4-0) | vs. | No. 6 Michael Beard (9-0) OR JT Davis (4-5) |
| 285: No. 2 Greg Kerkvliet (4-0) | vs. | Calvin Lachman (2-3) |
