Penn State All-American Josh Barr opened his U23 World Championships run with an impressive 11-1 technical fall in just 3:53. The victory advanced him to the quarterfinals at 92 kilograms, where he faced Iran’s Mohammad Mobin Azimi.
Barr took an early 3-1 lead and briefly extended his advantage before an Iranian challenge overturned his additional points. Momentum swung sharply from there. Azimi took control and secured a 13-3 technical fall in 4:30.
Late in the bout, Barr appeared to signal for injury time as Azimi closed in on the stoppage, but the match continued. The Nittany Lion was slow to rise afterward and appeared in discomfort while leaving the mat.
Azimi went on to win his semifinal, advancing to Saturday’s gold-medal match. That result places Barr in Saturday’s repechage bracket, where he will have a chance to compete for bronze. Wrestlers from Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will face off for the right to meet Barr, with the winner of that bout advancing to take on Ivan Chornohuz of Ukraine for third place.
Barr’s availability for Saturday’s competition remains uncertain. Updates are expected early Saturday morning (Eastern Time). His status bears close watching—not only for Team USA’s medal hopes but also for the 2025-26 Penn State wrestling season, where Barr is projected to anchor the lineup at 197 pounds as a returning All-American.
