InterMat talked with Barnes about his season, Mark Manning, Jordan Burroughs, Simley wrestlers, goals and more.
Micah Barnes (Photo/Nebraska Athletic Communications)Barnes: I'm at my best weight class. 174 pounds is my most natural fit. The biggest reason is probably because I have guys like Robert Kokesh, Jordan Burroughs, Bryan Snyder and Mark Manning to help me out. If I didn't have those guys I wouldn't be nearly as good as I am now. I think those are the main reasons I'm improving and getting better as the season goes on.
Last season you competed at 197 pounds. Now you're down two weight classes at 174 pounds. How different is it competing against 174-pounders as opposed to 197-pounders?
Barnes: It's quite a bit different. In high school I was 170 pounds. I've wrestled at 174 pounds before, so I knew what the weight class felt like. I think one of the things I'm good at is just being an athlete and being strong. Being two weight classes down I can definitely feel the difference. Guys aren't as strong. They are definitely a little quicker, probably a little bit more technical. As far as strength and power goes, it has definitely decreased. I've been able to feel a difference there. I feel like my hands are heavier at this weight class. I definitely feel stronger.
Earlier this season you defeated Minnesota's Nick Wanzek, a wrestler who attended the same high school as you, Simley. You also beat him at University Nationals. Is it strange wrestling him because you're from the same high school?
Barnes: It is a little bit awkward at times. We grew up wrestling against each other in tournaments since probably fifth or sixth grade. So I was kind of familiar with the feeling. I just kind of had to put it aside, not look at his face and just look at him as the opponent I'm wrestling. There were some personal feelings, but by the time the whistle blows all that stuff kind of goes away and it's just wrestling from there.
Micah Barnes was an undefeated state champion for Simley High School in 2012 (Photo/Mary Christen, The Guillotine)Barnes: I follow them. We all grew up together … me, Nick [Wanzek], Jake [Short], Kyle [Gliva] and Kurtis [Julson], who was an All-American last season. I definitely keep up with how they're doing, and I wish them the best. But for the most part I'm concerned about what I'm doing and my progression. I talk to them every now and then and check out their results.
Your lone loss this season came to NCAA runner-up Brian Realbuto of Cornell, 9-6. What did you take away from that loss?
Barnes: He got the best of me in a couple positions. From a technical standpoint there were a few things I took away. He's good at scrambling and sitting the corner. That's definitely an area I'll be working on and working to improve. There are also some mentality things I'll learn from. I'm not going to sulk about it. I usually reflect on it for a little bit, go back to the drawing board, get back to practice and get better from there.
Mark Manning is considered to be one of the nation's top wrestling coaches. What's it like wrestling for Coach Manning?
Barnes: It's awesome. He brings such a passion and intensity to not only competition, but every day in practice. He really brings a good energy into the room. It helps us all to wrestle a little bit harder in practice and competition. It's fun wrestling for him. We all believe that he knows what he's talking about. We're all bought in and committed to doing what we have to do to get better. It's fun.
Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs has been training in Lincoln since he graduated from Nebraska. How much have you wrestled Burroughs since you arrived in Lincoln?
Barnes: I have wrestled him quite a bit. There are periods of time where he's out at the OTC. But I feel like I get quite a bit of time to scrap with him, and that's a huge asset. If I'm going into a match and maybe feeling nervous I can think no one is as good as Jordan. There's nothing to worry about. He's definitely helped us all out. It gives us a lot of confidence knowing the things he brings up are going to be the best coaching and teaching in the world. He's a just a huge asset, not only to me, but to all the guys from 125 pounds to heavyweight. He has a wealth of knowledge. I definitely try to pick his brain as much as I can, and I try to work out with him as much as I can.
What makes Burroughs one of the best wrestlers in the world?
Barnes: I think from the naked eye most people look at him and say he's so explosive. He's so strong. He's so fast. That's true. But the thing that I feel separates him is that he's always in good position, and he wrestles as hard as anybody. He wrestles extremely hard, gets off a lot of attacks, doesn't break positioning hardly ever and he just keeps wrestling. He can scramble with anybody, and that just makes him tough to beat. Most guys that have a really high gas tank, their attacks maybe aren't as good. But when you have a guy who has the best attacks in the world, plus he has one of the best gas tanks in the world, it just makes him all the more dangerous. I think his positioning and his ability to keep wrestling in all positions really separates him from other people.
James Green earned a medal in his first World Championships on the senior level this fall. Were you surprised that he was so successful on the world stage so soon?
Barnes: No, I don't think anyone here was really surprised. I think we all thought that if he wrestled up this ability that he would find his way to a medal. It was just a matter of time before he wrestled up to his full potential. I think he has a good style for freestyle wrestling. He's good on his feet. He's explosive. He's extremely strong for his size. So I don't think anyone here was too surprised when he earned a bronze at the Worlds.
You originally committed to Old Dominion before changing your mind and signing with Nebraska. Has Nebraska been everything you thought it would be?
Barnes: Looking back on it, yes. It was definitely the right move for me. Don't get me wrong there were times I doubted and questioned whether this was the right place for me. But now that I have a spot in the lineup and things are starting to spiral up I can definitely see how this was the right place. Wrestling is only a fraction of it. I think socially, spiritually and everything else, this is just the best fit. I'm definitely glad I stuck it out and made that decision.
Your redshirt year you beat Illinois' Jordan Blanton, who was ranked fourth in the county at the time. What do you remember about that win? What did it do for you?
Barnes: I remember he beat the crap out of me later on in that tournament. It gave me the confidence that the coaching at Nebraska and what they're teaching is going to work. If you really buy in and trust the coaches, then it will come together. It might take a little time, but it will come together. It also helped me understand that I have the ability to compete with the best guys at that weight class. It was a confidence builder. It helped me stick with it a little bit.
Nebraska is ranked in the top 10 in both the tournament rankings and dual meet rankings. All 10 wrestlers in the lineup are ranked in the top 20. What are realistic expectations for the program this season?
Barnes: We're gunning for a national title. All of us believe that we can get there. We definitely have work to do at every weight class, and we definitely have a lot of growth to do. But I think we're all on the same page in terms of believing that if we just work hard each day, put the effort in, buy in, then come March it will come together and we'll have a legitimate chance at a national title. There are some other good teams. It's definitely going to be hard, but we believe we have the talent and right mindset to get there in March.
Micah Barnes finishes a takedown against Wyoming (Photo/Nebraska Athletic Communications)Barnes: Long term I want to be a Big Ten champion and national champion. But really I try to focus on each day, just take it a day at a time and just work hard each day. It's pretty simple. It's nothing new. It's no secret. I just try to put forth the effort in the practice room and do the right things off the mat, and work hard and work smart, and believe in myself. I think it will pay off. I just have to stay positive and stay enthusiastic about it.
You still have another season after this one, but at this point do you plan on continuing on with your wrestling career in freestyle after your collegiate wrestling career is over?
Barnes: The thought has crossed my mind, and honestly I'm not really sure. There are some days I think, yeah, maybe it would be something to look at to keep training. Then there are days I think maybe I won't. In two years, I don't know … I might want to keep training, or I might say I want to move on to a different area of life. I don't worry about that at all. I think in two years, and even after this season, I think I'll have a better idea.
This story also appears in the December 11 issue of The Guillotine. The Guillotine has been covering wrestling in Minnesota since 1971. Its mission is to report and promote wrestling at all levels -- from youth and high school wrestling to college and international level wrestling. Subscribe to The Guillotine.
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