Utah Valley out to build wrestling contender, and a hometown hero already is one

OREM — Terrell Barraclough had it all as a member of Penn State's wrestling team.

The Kaysville native was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten wrestler for Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions, who won four national championships during Barraclough's time in State College, Pennsylvania.

The former Layton High star even had his own share of individual accolades, a 22-23 record in four years that included a 12-2 mark during his final season with Penn State.

But in a stacked wrestling room, and with NCAA regulations that only allow one wrestler per school to compete at the NCAA championships, Barraclough opted to use his final season of collegiate eligibility to prove what he could do on a national stage — and from a familiar place.

The 165-pound redshirt senior who won four state titles at Layton High currently ranks No. 4 in the country by both InterMat and FloWrestling after transferring home to Utah Valley to headline head coach Adam Hall's first year in Orem.

"There was a lot of thought that went into that one," Barraclough told KSL.com. "I loved every second of Penn State, and there's a reason why that room is perhaps the best in the world.

"But for myself, I wanted one last shot. I wanted a shot at the national championship after wrestling off some of the best guys in the country ... I didn't want to leave that one up for chance again."

With help from Hall and assistants like former Utah standout Andrew Hochstrasser and top assistant Timmy McCall, who followed Hall from North Carolina State, Barraclough is off to the best start of his collegiate career.

The redshirt senior is 15-1 in his first 16 matches before Friday night's home tilt with No. 23 Oregon State at Lockhart Arena, which Utah Valley won 20-14 boosted by No. 14 Haiden Drury's 11-2 major decision over No. 23 Nash Singleton.

For Barraclough, who was unavailable against the Beavers, even his one loss was impressive.

After dropping his opening match at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational No. 28-ranked Jack Thomsen of Northern Iowa, Barraclough rallied for third place at the prestigious tournament, dropping No. 28 Cesar Alvan, No. 3 Sammy Sasso, No. 12 Brock Mantanona, No. 6 Hunter Garvin and No. 11 Bubba Wilson.

In all, nine of Barraclough's 15 victories have come against nationally ranked competition.

"We're not hiding from anybody," Hall said. "We built out a tough schedule for a reason. so that by the end of the year we are prepared to win. You're going to take your lumps, but you can see the level you're trying to get to."

Barraclough knew of Hall's reputation for producing some of the top wrestlers in the country from his time at North Carolina State, where the Wolfpack won four consecutive ACC regular-season championships, five straight ACC Tournament titles, and finished in the top 10 of the NWCA coaches' poll for eight straight years.

"We knew who coach Hall was," Barraclough said from his time at Penn State. "But what really meant the most to me was when coach Hall came over to my house, and he had a whole book of exactly what tournaments I would wrestle, my training schedule, everyone I would wrestle to see some of the best guys in the country right off the bat, how we were going to train, my diet, extra work I can do.

"It was an in-depth pamphlet of what we were going to do every day for six months. I felt the love from coach Hall, and how he believed in me. That meant a ton to me, and there's no other person I'd rather go into battle for."

Barraclough, like his head coach, isn't shying away from high expectations.

"When I took this job, our administration like me believed this program can be a top-10 team," Hall said. "I came from one that was mid-major, with a very small budget, but we had a group of guys that trained hard, believed, won and built a reputation. It starts with the people you bring in, though; that's why recruiting is so important.

"We're trying to bring in the best guys in the country that fit what we're about."

Barraclough is a prime example of what Hall wants to build at Utah Valley, as well: a collection of the state's best wrestlers, paired with select other top regional and national recruits, to go compete for championships in the Big 12 and nationally.

The former North Carolina State coach and Idaho native who wrestled for Boise State knows his recruiting rate won't be 100% — it would be nice, but nearly impossible to achieve, he adds. But with the use of the NCAA transfer portal as well as Utah's ability to produce top prep talent, he feels the staff is well-positioned to make a run at Utah's top prospects, either on first signing or bounceback.

In addition to top high school talent, Utah Valley has already added transfers from Fresno State, Nebraska and Air Force, and brought brought home junior college talent like former Box Elder star Bridger Ricks from Western Wyoming and Utah state freestyle champion Christian Slack from Wasatch by way of Snow College.

"It's no secret that a number of Utah natives are doing well in other programs," Hall said. "It was a priority when I got the job here to try to build a wall around the state of Utah, and keep the best kids home.

"When I was an athlete at Boise State, the years we were in the top-10, all of our guys were from the west. I think it gives us a chip on our shoulder that we are good enough."

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