It’s been a road full of bumps and surprises for redshirt sophomore 125-pounder Barlow McGhee during his wrestling career so far at Missouri. But that hasn’t stopped McGhee from pursuing his goals.
“I came to Mizzou to be an All-American and hopefully a national champion,” McGhee said. “Not just one, but as many as possible. At the end of the day I just want to walk off the mat knowing I gave it my all, whether it’s practice or an actual match.”
In his high school career, McGhee posted a record of 156–14 and earned his first state title his senior year at Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Illinois. He also competed and reached All-American status at several national tournaments, gaining the attention of several Division I programs across the country. McGhee intended on taking a redshirt year his freshman season but with three-time NCAA qualifier and returning All-American, Alan Waters, taking a redshirt year for the Tigers and McGhee’s impressive prep career resume, coach Brian Smith named the true freshman the starting 125-pounder for the 2013–14 season.
“I was surprised at first but I knew it was a good opportunity for me to be wrestling then. I learned a lot that season, not just about wrestling but myself as well,” McGhee said.
McGhee would struggle throughout the season, often sharing the 125-pound spot with now 133-pounder Zach Synon. McGhee would go on to finish sixth at the MAC tournament, only winning one match. The result ended with him missing a bid to the NCAA tournament — the tournament that McGhee has been dreaming about competing in.
Once Waters returned for the 2014–15 season for the Tigers, McGhee knew this was his opportunity to make his dream more of a reality. That season, McGhee took his redshirt and became more aware of his previous mistakes and more comfortable with his new surroundings.
“I learned there was room to improve in every aspect,” McGhee said. “I remember I wrestled Alan at an open tournament and only lost to him by a point. That was the day I realized I can compete with anyone in the country.”
Waters and McGhee are the same weight, and the two have competed against several of the same wrestlers. Waters is now a volunteer coach at Missouri, which is an advantage for McGhee against his opponents.
“I’ve been trying to pick his brain all season,” McGhee said. “We wrestle a lot of different styles, but Alan is still a great wrestler who beat guys that I need to beat to accomplish my goals, so of course I’m trying to learn as much as I can from him.”
Waters appreciates that connection, too.
“He’s tough,” Waters said. “He’s doing all the right things to be where he wants to be, and he’s extremely motivated.”
McGhee returned to the starting lineup for the Tigers on Nov. 20 in his home state of Illinois against SIU Edwardsville to kickoff the 2015–16 season. McGhee defeated his opponent that night 16–5. Since then, the ball has been rolling in the right direction.
McGhee currently has a record of 18–7, and five of those seven losses were to ranked opponents. McGhee’s biggest highlight of the season thus far perhaps came against returning NCAA finalist Zeke Moisey of West Virginia. Earlier in the season, McGhee defeated Moisey 14–4 thanks to the help of four takedowns. McGhee would then beat Moisey two weeks later 4–2 in Las Vegas.
This weekend, McGhee will get his best shot yet at redemption. The 125-pounder, ranked No. 9, will travel to Eastern Michigan University for the MAC Wrestling Championships. In order to qualify for the NCAA national tournament, McGhee will have to place within the top four out of nine. He currently sits in the No. 2 spot in the conference behind Northern Iowa’s Dylan Peters, who defeated McGhee earlier this season in overtime, giving McGhee his lone conference loss on the season.
“I’m just going to force my offense and do me,” McGhee said. “I just want to help my team win a conference championship and have fun. Because if you’re not having fun, then what’s the point of doing it?”
_Edited by Alec Lewis | alewis@themaneater.com
