Kelsey Ackerman | Sports Co-Editor

Buena Vista University (BVU) freshman 141-pounder Nashid Barrow came one win short of All-American status this past weekend at the NCAA DIII national wrestling tournament.

“My goal for the season was to be a freshman national champion, and I didn’t accomplish that goal,” Barrow said.

Barrow began his day in Hershey, Penn. as the number eight seed in the tournament. His first match ended in a tough 3-10 loss to Josh Decatur of Baldwin Wallace.

As he entered the wrestle-backs, he turned the day around with a win in his first consolation match 11-7.

To reach All-American status, Barrow needed a win in his final consolation match of the day, where he fell 5-11 to the number four seed Brandon Jones of New York University.

“Nashid performed well but not his best. He was in the toughest weight class in the entire national tournament with 12 legitimate All-American candidates. He had to be at his 100% best every match to place, and he was very close to that,” head coach Jeff Breese said.

Barrow’s first season at BVU comes to an end with an impressive 25-9 record overall.

“Over the course of the next year, he needs to become the best in the country at his great positions and he needs to become great in the positions he is average in. This will be a day-to-day project that should be his primary focus,” Breese said.

Barrow has three more years of competition left at BVU.

“My expectation for myself the next three years is to get up on the podium as an All-American as well as a National Champion,” Barrow said.

Photo courtesy of BVU Athletics