By Joe Guistina, Lycoming Associate Athletic Director/Communications
WILLIAMSPORT — After a career in which he became the first three-time All-American and first four-time National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American in program history, Lycoming College wrestler Nolan Barger (Clearfield Area High School) has earned the Middle Atlantic Conference’s most prestigious honor, the Scholar-Athlete Award, the conference office in Annville announced last week.
Barger, a business marketing and finance major, enjoyed one of the most remarkable careers in the Lycoming College wrestling program’s illustrious 61-year history. He posted a 139-28 record in his career, finishing his time with the blue and gold second in school history in career wins and second with 47 falls.
Barger was best, though, when the postseason arrived, placing at the NCAA Mideast Regional four times, earning a bid to the NCAA Division III Championships three times with a first-place finish at the regional in 2015 and second-place finishes in 2016 and 2017.
At the NCAA Championships, Barger posted a 13-5 career record, placing third in both 2015 and 2016 and sixth as a senior in 2017.
He racked up one of the longest resumes in the athletic department’s history during his career, beginning by winning the Empire College Wrestling Conference title at 157 pounds as a freshman. As a sophomore, he won the NCAA Mideast Regional’s 165-pound title by beating two nationally-ranked opponents, helping him earn his first career national ranking at No. 6.
As a junior, he entered the national ranking at No. 2 and stayed there throughout the entire season, earning the No. 2 seed at the Division III Championships. He also won the MAC Championship title at 165 pounds during a 31-match win streak, the second longest in program history.
As a senior, Barger posted a 38-6 record, recording 16 pins en route to his third appearance at nationals and All-American finish.
In the classroom, Barger was just as impressive, as he became the team’s first to earn four NWCA Scholar All-American honors. He was also a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection as a junior and he is a two-time member of the MAC Academic Honor Roll and ECWC All-Academic Team. He is also a member of the Sigma Beta business honor society and was recently nominated for Lambda Pi Eta, the communications honor society.
He has also worked in the community with food drives and lawn care with his church parish, while also working at a clothing drive and helping with flood cleanup.
Barger, the son of Greg and Susan Barger of Clearfield, is the second Warrior this year to earn the MAC Scholar-Athlete Award, joining football’s Austin Mital (Moshannon Valley). He is the 14th student from Lycoming to earn the award and he joins Derek Crane ’06 as the only wrestlers in the college’s history to achieve the accolade.
The Warriors enjoyed one of the finest seasons in the 24-year career of head coach Roger Crebs, as the team posted an 18-3 dual meet record, finished third at the Budd Whitehill National Duals, won the RIT Invitational, its first tournament win in 12 years, and also hit a high-water mark by taking seventh at the NCAA Mideast Regional. Crebs also became the school’s all-time leader in coaching wins during the season, surpassing the mark of 376 set by Budd Whitehill from 1956-93.