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From Understudy to Captain: Barket's Rise in Blue Devil Wrestling
2/13/2024 8:00:00 AM | Wrestling
By Morgan Pruchniewski, Duke Athletics Communications Student Assistant
DURHAM -- Connor Barket joined the Duke wrestling team last year as a freshman, but over this past summer he has truly started growing into his full potential. The heavyweight is leading the team with 13 wins and the future looks bright for the young Indiana native.
In his rookie season, Barket was behind senior Jonah Niesenbaum, only seeing action in three bouts, but gaining invaluable experience.
"I took a lot from Jonah," said Barket. "It was great to have a year to be under his wing and learn everything I could. He believed in me and kept my head up. He showed me how to become a successful Division I wrestler, how someone who achieves those kinds of things works and carries themselves."
Following Niesenbaum's leadership throughout the regular season, Barket had the opportunity to stay with the team, while they prepared for the NCAA Championship.
"Leading up to nationals was a huge learning experience for me," said Barket. "I stayed here and helped the team train for nationals and got to see what that's about. It gave me an insight into what it is like to accomplish what I want to accomplish."
Post-nationals, Barket made the choice to stay in Durham and train all summer. The summer training period resulted in a complete transformation for Barket.
"The summer has always been the key when guys stick around and they buy into that. They just really start to grow. I think that's something he's taken advantage of," said Duke wrestling head coach Glen Lanham. "I think that Connor being young and hungry -- he just doesn't want to be a guy that's going to qualify for nationals. He wants to be an All-American. He's got a plan and I like that for a young guy, so it's exciting to watch his growth."
Barket fully took advantage of the time on campus. Entering the summer as a 197 pounder, Barket worked to gain muscle and reached 230 pounds. He also had incredible strength growth, maxing at 315 at the power clean, 465 back squat, and 315 on bench press.
"Connor has done a great job of committing to the process and our system here," said Duke sports performance coach Josh Jirgal. "He's gained about 40 pounds and gotten stronger in every lift since he arrived on campus as a true freshman. What used to be his max, he can do for multiple reps now. He is a guy that stayed in town and trained hard during the summer and that's where most of his progress was made. With wrestling being a winter sport, we get limited time in the fall and spring semesters as a team to train outside of the season. Connor's progress in his strength development and size has been a testament to his sacrifice and hard work during the summer, when he could have easily went home and put his feet up. I am excited to see how far he takes his next step as the heavyweight starter and co-captain of this team."
Beyond just a physical transformation and gains in strength, the main takeaway from the summer for Barket was a mental shift. Â
"The summer is all about the mental game and the technique," said Barket. "The summer is a great place to slow the roll, you can really hone in on specific technique and strategies and mindset that you can carry into the year."
Barket's hard work paid off with collecting 13 wins so far this season, including ACC Wrestler of the Week honors on Jan. 23. A native of West Lafayette, Ind., Barket totaled victories against Gardner-Webb and Chattanooga on the week to receive the accolades. He also was honored with the responsibility of being named a tri-captain as only a redshirt freshman.
"He has great leadership ability, even when he was a freshman, he was always in here working hard," said Lanham. "We kind of knew that moving forward he was going to be a leader. He does a lot of lead by example, too. And he's vocal. He'll get on these guys, even upperclassmen if they're not working hard."
"I think [being a captain] is a great opportunity," said Barket. "We're trying to work to build and cultivate a new culture, it has been nothing but an honor. I've been enjoying it a lot and I hope I'm inspiring and leading the younger guys by example. Just doing my best to lead them where they're trying to be."
Barket, a redshirt freshman this season, has shown a commitment to his personal growth and the Duke wrestling program over his year at Duke that now is clearly paying off. But Barket isn't resting on his past accomplishments, he's eager to compete in the rest of the season with the ultimate goal of reaching the podium at Nationals in Kansas City this March.
"Getting to be a part of all of this is the dream I always had growing up and what I wanted to work for," said Barket. "Now I have the opportunity to live that dream out. It's nothing but exciting to be in this moment and enjoy it as much as possible."
Support Barket and the rest of the Blue Devils this week as Duke hosts NC State this Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m., inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. It will be aired live on ACC Network Extra.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils wrestling, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWRES".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
Â
DURHAM -- Connor Barket joined the Duke wrestling team last year as a freshman, but over this past summer he has truly started growing into his full potential. The heavyweight is leading the team with 13 wins and the future looks bright for the young Indiana native.
In his rookie season, Barket was behind senior Jonah Niesenbaum, only seeing action in three bouts, but gaining invaluable experience.
"I took a lot from Jonah," said Barket. "It was great to have a year to be under his wing and learn everything I could. He believed in me and kept my head up. He showed me how to become a successful Division I wrestler, how someone who achieves those kinds of things works and carries themselves."
Following Niesenbaum's leadership throughout the regular season, Barket had the opportunity to stay with the team, while they prepared for the NCAA Championship.
"Leading up to nationals was a huge learning experience for me," said Barket. "I stayed here and helped the team train for nationals and got to see what that's about. It gave me an insight into what it is like to accomplish what I want to accomplish."
Post-nationals, Barket made the choice to stay in Durham and train all summer. The summer training period resulted in a complete transformation for Barket.
"The summer has always been the key when guys stick around and they buy into that. They just really start to grow. I think that's something he's taken advantage of," said Duke wrestling head coach Glen Lanham. "I think that Connor being young and hungry -- he just doesn't want to be a guy that's going to qualify for nationals. He wants to be an All-American. He's got a plan and I like that for a young guy, so it's exciting to watch his growth."
Barket fully took advantage of the time on campus. Entering the summer as a 197 pounder, Barket worked to gain muscle and reached 230 pounds. He also had incredible strength growth, maxing at 315 at the power clean, 465 back squat, and 315 on bench press.
"Connor has done a great job of committing to the process and our system here," said Duke sports performance coach Josh Jirgal. "He's gained about 40 pounds and gotten stronger in every lift since he arrived on campus as a true freshman. What used to be his max, he can do for multiple reps now. He is a guy that stayed in town and trained hard during the summer and that's where most of his progress was made. With wrestling being a winter sport, we get limited time in the fall and spring semesters as a team to train outside of the season. Connor's progress in his strength development and size has been a testament to his sacrifice and hard work during the summer, when he could have easily went home and put his feet up. I am excited to see how far he takes his next step as the heavyweight starter and co-captain of this team."
Beyond just a physical transformation and gains in strength, the main takeaway from the summer for Barket was a mental shift. Â
"The summer is all about the mental game and the technique," said Barket. "The summer is a great place to slow the roll, you can really hone in on specific technique and strategies and mindset that you can carry into the year."
Barket's hard work paid off with collecting 13 wins so far this season, including ACC Wrestler of the Week honors on Jan. 23. A native of West Lafayette, Ind., Barket totaled victories against Gardner-Webb and Chattanooga on the week to receive the accolades. He also was honored with the responsibility of being named a tri-captain as only a redshirt freshman.
"He has great leadership ability, even when he was a freshman, he was always in here working hard," said Lanham. "We kind of knew that moving forward he was going to be a leader. He does a lot of lead by example, too. And he's vocal. He'll get on these guys, even upperclassmen if they're not working hard."
"I think [being a captain] is a great opportunity," said Barket. "We're trying to work to build and cultivate a new culture, it has been nothing but an honor. I've been enjoying it a lot and I hope I'm inspiring and leading the younger guys by example. Just doing my best to lead them where they're trying to be."
Barket, a redshirt freshman this season, has shown a commitment to his personal growth and the Duke wrestling program over his year at Duke that now is clearly paying off. But Barket isn't resting on his past accomplishments, he's eager to compete in the rest of the season with the ultimate goal of reaching the podium at Nationals in Kansas City this March.
"Getting to be a part of all of this is the dream I always had growing up and what I wanted to work for," said Barket. "Now I have the opportunity to live that dream out. It's nothing but exciting to be in this moment and enjoy it as much as possible."
Support Barket and the rest of the Blue Devils this week as Duke hosts NC State this Sunday, Feb. 18 at 2 p.m., inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. It will be aired live on ACC Network Extra.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils wrestling, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWRES".
Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu
#GoDuke
Â
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