Top ranked Penn State men’s wrestling will likely begin its 2025–26 season without one of its biggest stars. Returning All-American Josh Barr, who finished runner-up at 197 pounds at last year’s NCAA Championships, is expected to miss the Nittany Lions’ season-opening dual meet against Oklahoma on Friday night.
Barr, a redshirt sophomore from Davidson, Michigan, entered the new season ranked No. 1 nationally at 197 pounds by InterMat and was poised to lead a loaded Penn State lineup that’s again favored to repeat as national champions. However, his status became uncertain after he suffered an injury at the U23 World Championships in late October, forcing him to injury default out of the tournament.
Head coach Cael Sanderson confirmed Tuesday that Barr will need additional time to recover before returning to competition.
“It’ll take him a little while to get back,” Sanderson told The Daily Collegian. “But he’s a tough dude.”
The exact nature of Barr’s injury has not been disclosed, but his absence represents a significant early-season setback for Penn State. Still, the Nittany Lions have considerable depth in the upper weights and are expected to adjust their lineup accordingly.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Barr’s 2024 campaign was among the most impressive for a first-year starter in program history. He posted a 26–3 record, earned All-America honors, and helped Penn State capture another NCAA team championship. His aggressive style and late-match composure made him one of the breakout stars of the season.
While Penn State will miss his presence in the lineup to start the season, Sanderson expressed optimism about Barr’s recovery and long-term outlook.
“He’ll be back,” Sanderson said. “He’s resilient. We’re not worried about Josh.”
