Is Josh Barr a legit title contender?

[RockLobster]

20 hours ago, macwoodfleet said:

Yeah, history tells us to doubt a superstar freshman upperweight at Penn State. Those guys never make a run, as opposed to upperweights from Iowa and Michigan, who always live up to expectations at nationals. 

*jerkoff motion*

My opinion of any wrestler's ability is based on their wrestling.

It's never based on what team's singlet they wear.

[RockLobster]

20 hours ago, macwoodfleet said:

Calling a Penn State upperweight who has quality wins and looks fantastic "maybe a contender" is an opinion someone should only have if they've been in a coma for the last 15 years. 

My post was 'maybe to probably' contender.

And, you can't be serious - you're telling us what opinions we should or shouldn't have?

Total douche bag comment on your part. You're a mutt.

[RockLobster]

16 hours ago, nhs67 said:

He has beaten last year's #7 (Little, #9 seed), #8 (Beard, #4 seed), and R12 (Poz, #14 seed).

If you aren't willing to call him a contender, you shouldn't be willing to call Focus a contender, either.

This whole "you shouldn't" directive on other people's opinions is disturbing.

Telling other posters what their opinion should or shouldn't be based on your personal opinion is super weak.

[RockLobster]

20 hours ago, BruceyB said:

You're just in a rush. Barr may very well be a legitimate contender, but until he beats another contender, it's fair to call him a "maybe contender." Lilledahl was being credited as a contender and just lost to Dean who is a mid-ranked 125. We don't yet know where Barr is in comparison to Buchanon, Cardenas, or Ferrari. He could beat them, or he could be a step behind. We just don't know yet. But if you want to blanket everyone that wrestles for PSU as invincible then go ahead. McIntosh was pretty good, but how many titles did he win?

Good post.

For whatever reason, posters here enjoy pretending they can foresee the future - which they obviously can't.

Give it a few weeks, and it'll all shake out. We'll all get there at exactly the same time.

[macwoodfleet]

1 hour ago, RockLobster said:

My opinion of any wrestler's ability is based on their wrestling.

It's never based on what team's singlet they wear.

This is bad process. If one team's wrestlers frequently peak in march, that has to be taken into consideration. To not do that is pretty dumb. 

[JimmyCinnabon]

6 hours ago, RockLobster said:

Good post.

For whatever reason, posters here enjoy pretending they can foresee the future - which they obviously can't.

Give it a few weeks, and it'll all shake out. We'll all get there at exactly the same time.

I mean, if we only talked about things that have already happened the content on this board would be cut in like a third. 

[BAC]

The following eye-opening snippet from an article today on Flo about Starocci is very telling:

***

When Barr arrived last year as a true freshman, Starocci was one of the first new teammates he sought out in the room.

The senior was eager to get his hands on Barr and the rest of the freshman class. It became a yearly right of passage for Starocci to see how long he could pound on the new guys before they gave up.

Barr was willing to go the distance and then some. Starocci called him “a lunatic.”

“I wanna see how long these guys can go for until they break,” Starocci said. “It’s always that one guy when you wrestle, ‘Alright bro, I’ve gotta go.’ So who is going to be that guy? And I remember we were going for like five straight hours and he just kept coming back to the middle.”

That experience, coupled with the results Barr has turned in as the team’s preferred 197-pounder, has led Starocci to conclude that Barr could stack trophies just as he has.

“He just won’t stop,” Starocci said. “He’s one of those guys that’s going to be really good and he’s going to be the next four-time champ.”

See https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13586005-penn-state-wrestling-room-keeping-carter-starocci-sharp

Really explains a lot, doesn't it?  The late-match techs of Poznanski and McDanel, putting up a major on Beard?  Looks like iron's been sharpening iron.  

My guess is Barr majors Cardenas, and outlasts Ferrari at the end as he did Little.  Buchanan's the best of his opposition IMO, and I'm gonna give Buchanan the narrow win on Friday, which Barr avenges in March.

[RockLobster]

14 hours ago, JimmyCinnabon said:

I mean, if we only talked about things that have already happened the content on this board would be cut in like a third. 

Nobody is suggesting we only talk about things that already happened.

It's just that it's one thing to predict or even bet on what you think will happen. That's interesting.

It's an entirely different thing to claim to actually know what the future holds without any doubt. That's pathetic.

[ionel]

11 hours ago, BAC said:

 Starocci said. “It’s always that one guy when you wrestle, ‘Alright bro, I’ve gotta go.’ So who is going to be that guy? And I remember we were going for like five straight hours and he just kept coming back to the middle.”

Surely he's not suggesting that Cael like Gable is busting the NCAA practice time regulations?  I bet the NCAA will be all over this.  

[RockLobster]

11 hours ago, BAC said:

The following eye-opening snippet from an article today on Flo about Starocci is very telling:

***

When Barr arrived last year as a true freshman, Starocci was one of the first new teammates he sought out in the room.

The senior was eager to get his hands on Barr and the rest of the freshman class. It became a yearly right of passage for Starocci to see how long he could pound on the new guys before they gave up.

Barr was willing to go the distance and then some. Starocci called him “a lunatic.”

“I wanna see how long these guys can go for until they break,” Starocci said. “It’s always that one guy when you wrestle, ‘Alright bro, I’ve gotta go.’ So who is going to be that guy? And I remember we were going for like five straight hours and he just kept coming back to the middle.”

That experience, coupled with the results Barr has turned in as the team’s preferred 197-pounder, has led Starocci to conclude that Barr could stack trophies just as he has.

“He just won’t stop,” Starocci said. “He’s one of those guys that’s going to be really good and he’s going to be the next four-time champ.”

See https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13586005-penn-state-wrestling-room-keeping-carter-starocci-sharp

Really explains a lot, doesn't it?  The late-match techs of Poznanski and McDanel, putting up a major on Beard?  Looks like iron's been sharpening iron.  

My guess is Barr majors Cardenas, and outlasts Ferrari at the end as he did Little.  Buchanan's the best of his opposition IMO, and I'm gonna give Buchanan the narrow win on Friday, which Barr avenges in March.

Don't forget - Little isn't going anywhere. He'll likely be an even bigger challenge than last time.

There is no doubt that this weight class will be one to watch.

[Mr. PeanutButter]

1 hour ago, ionel said:

Surely he's not suggesting that Cael like Gable is busting the NCAA practice time regulations?  I bet the NCAA will be all over this.  

It's just an act. Carter is simply gassing up Barr

[AgaveMaria]

On 1/28/2025 at 12:06 AM, RockLobster said:

Good post.

For whatever reason, posters here enjoy pretending they can foresee the future - which they obviously can't.

Give it a few weeks, and it'll all shake out. We'll all get there at exactly the same time.

You are wrong, takedown breath.

I can see the future clearly. It is coming - and we can't stop it.

[Truzzcat]

23 hours ago, BAC said:

The following eye-opening snippet from an article today on Flo about Starocci is very telling:

***

When Barr arrived last year as a true freshman, Starocci was one of the first new teammates he sought out in the room.

The senior was eager to get his hands on Barr and the rest of the freshman class. It became a yearly right of passage for Starocci to see how long he could pound on the new guys before they gave up.

Barr was willing to go the distance and then some. Starocci called him “a lunatic.”

“I wanna see how long these guys can go for until they break,” Starocci said. “It’s always that one guy when you wrestle, ‘Alright bro, I’ve gotta go.’ So who is going to be that guy? And I remember we were going for like five straight hours and he just kept coming back to the middle.”

That experience, coupled with the results Barr has turned in as the team’s preferred 197-pounder, has led Starocci to conclude that Barr could stack trophies just as he has.

“He just won’t stop,” Starocci said. “He’s one of those guys that’s going to be really good and he’s going to be the next four-time champ.”

See https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13586005-penn-state-wrestling-room-keeping-carter-starocci-sharp

Really explains a lot, doesn't it?  The late-match techs of Poznanski and McDanel, putting up a major on Beard?  Looks like iron's been sharpening iron.  

My guess is Barr majors Cardenas, and outlasts Ferrari at the end as he did Little.  Buchanan's the best of his opposition IMO, and I'm gonna give Buchanan the narrow win on Friday, which Barr avenges in March.

Cardenas has been majored a singular time in his career by Hidlay and seems to be wrestling the best he ever has including his silver at u23's over the summer. If Barr majors him, I would be extremely surprised.

[Le duke]

Surely he's not suggesting that Cael like Gable is busting the NCAA practice time regulations?  I bet the NCAA will be all over this.  

Surely you’re not suggesting that they can’t attend NLWC or informal summer sessions outside of official Penn State practices.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BAC]

17 minutes ago, Truzzcat said:

Cardenas has been majored a singular time in his career by Hidlay and seems to be wrestling the best he ever has including his silver at u23's over the summer. If Barr majors him, I would be extremely surprised.

Yeah, calling a major is a bit bold, especially given how good Cardenas has looked this year.  But he only squeaked by McDanel, who Barr destroyed.  And last year he lost twice to Beard, who Barr majored.  The only other guys who have put bonus on Beard since 2019 are Buchanan and Hidlay (both majors last year), the latter of whom also majored Cardenas last year, as you mention. 

But score analysis aside, I've always seen Cardenas as a guy who's super dangerous early-match, but late match... well, I don't want to say he fades, but he doesn't put up many third period points, either.  I could see a tight match that Barr breaks open.  

I could be wrong, of course.  Heck, Little got pinned twice by Cardenas last year, and took Barr to SV a month ago.  I just like Barr in this matchup.  I think a lot of it has to do with how much Cardenas has improved since last year, and how much he holds up against the third period onslaught.  

[Truzzcat]

23 minutes ago, BAC said:

Yeah, calling a major is a bit bold, especially given how good Cardenas has looked this year.  But he only squeaked by McDanel, who Barr destroyed.  And last year he lost twice to Beard, who Barr majored.  The only other guys who have put bonus on Beard since 2019 are Buchanan and Hidlay (both majors last year), the latter of whom also majored Cardenas last year, as you mention. 

But score analysis aside, I've always seen Cardenas as a guy who's super dangerous early-match, but late match... well, I don't want to say he fades, but he doesn't put up many third period points, either.  I could see a tight match that Barr breaks open.  

I could be wrong, of course.  Heck, Little got pinned twice by Cardenas last year, and took Barr to SV a month ago.  I just like Barr in this matchup.  I think a lot of it has to do with how much Cardenas has improved since last year, and how much he holds up against the third period onslaught.  

If top bottom is not a factor in their match I can definitely see Barr coming out on top and maybe even snow balling it. Im not even as much concerned with him not giving up a takedown or two I think he just can't give one up and then get stuck there. 

[CHROMEBIRD]

Not a lot of discussion about Barr since the Iowa dual. Feels like he's been flying a little bit under the radar in the discussions, although a lot of folks did pick Buchanan. I thought Barr would take this match on "first feels" and outscramble Buchanan, and at least get out from underneath, but he really couldn't get anything started. The match didn't seem as close as the score may suggest, and I'm not sure what adjustments Barr will make between now and Big Tens.

[Boring]

13 minutes ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

Not a lot of discussion about Barr since the Iowa dual. Feels like he's been flying a little bit under the radar in the discussions, although a lot of folks did pick Buchanan. I thought Barr would take this match on "first feels" and outscramble Buchanan, and at least get out from underneath, but he really couldn't get anything started. The match didn't seem as close as the score may suggest, and I'm not sure what adjustments Barr will make between now and Big Tens.

I expect Barr to close the gap and possibly beat Buchanon the next time they wrestle. I'm sure Cael identified his weaknesses against Buchanon. 

[Truzzcat]

I did not really feel like he could generate against Buchannon he seemed to struggle with his length, the bout seemed to take place primarily at the range Buchannon wanted it to. He also struggled to push the same pace he had in other matches and seems at least for the time being to be at a disadvantage on the mat. I felt very similarly about this match that I did with the Keck vs Carter match. Would I be shocked if the result flipped? not really but I would not predict it.

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

I don't see Barr beating Buchanon or Ferrari this year.  He looked very small compared to Buchanon who big brothered him.  I would expect AJ to do the same.

[Boring]

2 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

I don't see Barr beating Buchanon or Ferrari this year.  He looked very small compared to Buchanon who big brothered him.  I would expect AJ to do the same.

All it takes is one takedown. Barr has the talent to get one takedown. 

[ChickenWing]

 

Barr looked like a talented freshman against Buchanon who was never in trouble. 

 

I don't think anything about that match struck terror in Ferrari.  Plus he's 2-0 against Buchanon but how much has AJ lost?

[Pinnacle]

Buchanon was in control the entire match and got out from bottom in something like 2 or 3 seconds to preserve RT. Barr had to score which is never the place you want to be and he lost. The way things looked he'd have likely lost anyway in OT, if not SV. 

[Hammerlock3]

On 1/28/2025 at 10:35 PM, RockLobster said:

It's an entirely different thing to claim to actually know what the future holds without any doubt. That's pathetic.

Who is doing that?

[nhs67]

3 hours ago, 666 said:

I expect Barr to close the gap and possibly beat Buchanon the next time they wrestle. I'm sure Cael identified his weaknesses against Buchanon. 

It was 1-1 and 4s of riding time decided the dual.

Barr does not take that shot if Buchanan doesn't have riding time.