Penn State wrestlers speak out on Trump's attendance at NCAA championships

President Donald Trump entered a packed Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia to a cheering crowd ahead of the NCAA wrestling championships.

President Donald Trump's attendance at the NCAA wrestling championships prompted strong reactions from competitors. 

Before Trump entered Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia to a raucous cheer from fans, some Penn State wrestlers shared their thoughts on Trump arriving to watch their attempts at a fourth straight national championship.

"It's a great honor for the sport of wrestling," Penn State's Josh Barr told reporters Friday. "The sport of wrestling is in a place where it needs growth. It needs life and energy behind it, and President Trump brings it. 

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Barr's teammate, Mitchell Mesenbrink, told reporters Friday that, regardless of politics, he believes Trump's attendance would help improve viewership. 

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President Donald Trump attends the NCAA men's wrestling championships in Philadelphia March 22, 2025.  (Reuters/Nathan Howard)

"We want to get people to watch, right? We want people to watch wrestling. We want people to funnel, not just money, but people's time, and attention is money. So, I think that's cool. And I think if it was conservative or liberal, it would be really really cool," Messenbrink said. 

"Democrat or Republican, whoever it is, it's the president of the United States. The leader of the free world at our wrestling event is really cool when you think about it that way." 

Trump praised Penn State and all wrestlers outside the White House Friday when he spoke about attending the championships.

"We're going to the