Terrell Barraclough has found his new college home, and it’s roughly an hour from where he became a high school wrestling star. 

The four-time Utah state high school champion, who developed into one of the nation’s best backups at Penn State, is continuing his college career at Utah Valley. 

Barraclough found himself blocked by Penn State middleweight stars Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink and Carter Starocci, but he proved to be a high-level performer when the Nittany Lions plugged him into the lineup. 

After battling Haines for the starting job in 2023, Barraclough compiled a 12-2 record last season at 165 and 174 pounds with the Nittany Lions. His defeats were an 8-5 loss to teammate Mitchell Mesenbrink, the eventual NCAA runner-up at 165, and a 2-1 setback at 174 against Michigan’s Shane Griffith, a 2021 NCAA champ. 

“I think he keeps getting better,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said in February. “He’s been in and out of our lineup since he was a freshman and he’s been in big matches and he’s always competed really well. He’s always consistent. He prepares for every match as if he’s going to wrestle. That’s a pretty rare thing.”

The Kaysville, Utah, native entered the transfer portal this spring and it eventually led him back home as one of the first big recruiting wins for new Utah Valley coach Adam Hall. 

.@UVUwre just got stronger by bringing home a UT native! We’re excited to help Terrell chase a national title! Go Wolverines! pic.twitter.com/gxA5Kx4p9e

— Adam Hall (@coachhallstar) June 10, 2024