Scott Barker transfers to Oregon
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John Fuller (TheMat.com)
09/23/2004
Scott Barker, a 2003 NCAA finalist and two-time NCAA All-American, has transferred to the Univ. of Oregon. Barker, transferring from the Univ. of Missouri, will have one year of eligibility remaining. "The decision was based on a lot of things. One of the most important things was the coaches and the trust I felt I had with the coaches here. This team's really going to do something big this year and surprise a lot of people. They're willing to work hard. I'm really excited about this year," Barker said. He was dismissed from the team at Missouri last year before the season began due to conduct detrimental to the team. He was not granted a release by his coaches, and used last year as his redshirt season. "You bring in somebody of Scott's caliber at a weight class you graduated someone out of - it feels a real big hole. We're real excited about Scott being here. He seems excited about being here," Oregon head coach Chuck Kearney stated. "He's been a real pleasant surprise at how well he is interacting with the guys and how hard he has worked. (The team) was excited. We talked to the team about some of the things that we had heard had happened at Missouri before he came out. When he came out on his visit, they liked him." Kearney was first granted permission to talk to Barker in January. Barker then took an officialy visit shortly after the NCAA Tournament and gave coaches a verbal commitment on that visit. Barker has not wrestled since he was dismissed from Missouri nearly one year ago. "I've been lifting weights and running. It's not the same as wrestling. I'm ahead of where I thought I'd be. I've been wrestling my whole life, so it's just getting used to it," the Sociology major said. "By the time December comes, I don't expect too much rustiness at all." Barker is expected to move into the Oregon lineup at 197 lbs., a weight class he has not wrestled since 2002. Also moving up to 197 this year is Oklahoma State's Jake Rosholt, who defeated Barker in the NCAA finals two years ago. It is a matchup Barker looks forward to seeing again. "(The match versus Rosholt) wasn't my match and things went wrong. I definitely look forward to wrestling with him and anyone else I compete with." As a freshman, Barker qualified for the 2001 NCAA Tournament at 285 lbs. As a sophomore, he placed sixth at the 2002 NCAA Tournament at 197 lbs. before finishing second at 184 lbs. in 2003. He was one of only two Missouri wrestlers to compete in the NCAA finals and one of only five Missouri wrestlers to earn NCAA All-American honors twice. While at Missouri, Barker posted a 59-18 record.