Hall of Fame
Barnett, a native of Corinth, Mississippi, and graduate of Warren Fitzgerald HS, lettered four seasons on Wayne State's wrestling squad. He lettered the 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons, predominately at 167-pounds and 177-pounds during his WSU career, but also at 160-pounds in his freshman and at 190-pounds in his junior campaign.
He compiled a 43-5 collegiate match record for an 89.6 winning percentage, and Barnett recorded 19 career pins. After the conclusion of each season, Barnett participated in the NCAA College Division National Championships.
Barnett went undefeated in the 1969-70 season at 13-0, finishing with 7 pins and a team-leading 53 points. His 13 individual match victories that season tied the team single -season record he set as a freshman in 1967-68 when he finished 13-2.
His 13 wins during his junior campaign were half of a string of 26 consecutive individual match victories spanning his sophomore to senior seasons, a Wayne State record.
In his senior season, Barnett went 9-1 with two pins, and he tied for the team lead in points with 35. Besides his 13-2 record as a freshman Barnett had six pins, and as a sophomore in 1968-69 he recorded an 8-2 record with four pins.
Barnett was named Wayne State's Most Valuable Performer after his sophomore and senior seasons, and he also earned the Tartars' Pinners Award in 1968-69 and 1969-70. He served as captain of his senior squad.
Besides participating in the NCAA national championships each season, Barnett finished as runner-up all four seasons at the Michigan Collegiate Championships. After his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, Barnett was recognized in the Outstanding Collage Athletes of America editions.
During his college playing career Wayne State was not a member of a conference, so there were no individual conference championship titles or conference honors Barnett could participate for.
After graduating from WSU in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Barnett served nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He retires as a captain in 1981, and was promoted to major in the reserves.
Barnett continued to wrestle in the corps, becoming All-Marine Champion at 198-pounds in 1973 and 1976. In 1976 Barnett won silver for second place in the U.S. Armed Forces Interservice Championships at 198-pounds.
During his Marine Corps service Barnett served as an infantry officer, serving one tour in the Far East.
After retiring, Barnett began employment with the Federal Government as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
As a prep wrestler at Warren Fitzgerald High School, Barnett was third in the Michigan State Class A meet in 1967 as a senior, and was the team MVP. He won the Class A regional and the Oakland County tournament that season. His high school team won regional titles in 1966 and 1967, and he was voted the team's Most Improved Performer after his junior season. Barnett was a member of Fitzgerald's National Honor Society.
Barnett and his wife, Mary, reside in Naperville, Ill., with their three sons, Timothy, Thomas, and Michael.
