Penn State affiliates cleaned up at the U20 World Championship Team Trials, winning five of the 10 total spots to be apart of the United States national team ahead of the U20 World Championships in August.

Nine Penn State affiliated wrestlers competed in Geneva, Ohio this weekend with Marcus Blaze, PJ Duke, William Henckel, Connor Mirasola, and Cole Mirasola taking home the national team spots.

How It Happened

Nate Desmond (57 kg)

Incoming freshman Nate Desmond fought hard in the 57 kg bracket, going 2-2 in the tournament. To start, he had a first round bye before meeting Davis Motyka of the Pennsylvania RTC in the second round. The Penn State commit won by an 11-0 tech fall in 2:58. Next, he faced Christian Castillo of the Cyclone RTC in the third round. At the 3:41 mark, Desmond capped off a 10-0 tech fall over the Iowa State commit. Desmond’s run in the championship bracket ended when he met Ignacio Villaseñor of the Cowboy Wrestling Club. In a close match, Villaseñor won by criteria in a 7-7 shootout. In the consolation bracket, Desmond met Motyka again where he lost in a 14-10 decision.

Marcus Blaze (61 kg)

Incoming freshman Marcus Blaze ran through his competition in the 61 kg bracket. He went 5-0 and claimed his spot on the U20 national team. Blaze started with an opening-round bye before meeting Jackson Blum of the Indiana RTC. Within three minutes, Blaze won by a 10-0 tech fall. In the third round, the Penn State commit faced off against Dale Corbin of Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School. At the 2:22 mark, Blaze secured his second straight tech fall, moving him onto the championship bracket semifinals against Aaron Seidel of Steller Trained Wrestling. Although it wasn’t another tech fall, Blaze managed to win by a 5-1 decision and move into the championship against Zan Fugitt of the Wisconsin RTC. Blaze made quick work of the Badger, beating him in a 10-0 tech fall in just 1:23.

In the best of three matchups with Kyler Larkin of Valiant Wrestling Club, Blaze swept the Sun Devil. In the first matchup, Blaze won in a 10-0 tech fall. In the second match, Blaze claimed his spot on the U20 national team with a 4-1 decision victory.

Sam Herring (61kg)

Class of 2026 commit Sam Herring also competed in the 61 kg bracket where he went 3-2 in the tournament. After a first-round bye, Herring faced off against Tyler Ferrara of the Spartan Combat RTC. In a close match, Herring pulled out the 9-8 decision to move onto the third round against Ben Davino of the Ohio RTC. Herring lost in a competitive 9-3 decision, knocking him into the consolation bracket. Herring went on to face Slater Hicks of Central Coast Region in the consolation bracket’s fourth round. Herring would pull out the 10-0 tech fall in a blazing 1:01. Next, Herring wrestled Isaiah Cortez of Gilroy High School in the consolation quarterfinals. The Penn State commit won 6-5 and moved onto the consolation semifinals against Aaron Seidel of Steller Trained Wrestling. Herring would lose by a 14-2 tech fall, just missing out on the third place matchup.

PJ Duke (70 kg)

Incoming freshman PJ Duke, who has already qualified for Final X in the senior division, only had to wrestle in the best of three finals to secure his spot on the U20 national team. Landon Robideau of the Cowboy RTC reached the finals but failed to secure a victory against Duke. In the first match, Duke won in a 7-0 decision and then 9-4 in the second match.

Jayden James (74 kg)

Class of 2026 commit Jayden James finished just short of winning a spot on the U20 national team. After beating Laird Root of Tar Heel Wrestling Club in a 7-0 decision in the first round, James took down Ben Weader of the Southeast RTC in the second round in a 10-0 tech fall. In the semifinals, James took on Penn State redshirt freshman Joe Sealey where he won in a second straight 10-0 tech fall. In the championship, James took on William Denny of Victory Elite Wrestling. James would go on to win in a 10-8 decision and move onto the finals against Ladarion Lockett of the Cowboy RTC. James would get swept by Lockett with back to back losses.

Joe Sealey (74 kg)

Redshirt freshman Joe Sealey had an impressive tournament, securing a third place finish at the tournament. After a first-round bye, Sealey took on Isaias Jimenez of the Pennsylvania RTC. The Nittany Lion would secure a 10-0 tech fall at 4:11, moving into the semifinals against Penn State commit Jayden James. Sealey would go on to lose by tech fall and drop into the consolation bracket where he’d face Daniel Heiser of the Askren Wrestling Academy. Sealey would win in a 12-2 tech fall and move into the third place matchup against Alessio Perentin of the Spartan Combat RTC. Sealey would cap off his tournament with an 8-1 decision victory and take home third place.

William Henckel (79 kg)

Based on past performance, incoming freshman William Henckel only needed to perform in the finals to earn a spot on the U20 national team. Henckel took on Brock Mantanona of the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club. In the first match, Henckel won by a quick 10-0 tech fall in 2:17. To secure a spot on the national team, Henckel beat Mantanona by yet another 10-0 tech fall.

Connor Mirasola (92 kg)

Redshirt freshman Connor Mirasola took home the 92 kg title in the tournament. Because of past performance, Mirasola only competed in the finals against the championship bracket winner Dillon Bechtold of the Buffalo Valley RTC. Mirasola won the first match with a quick 10-0 tech fall at 1:56. In the second match, Mirasola won in a 4-1 decision, securing a spot on the U20 national team.

Cole Mirasola (Redshirt freshman) (125 kg)

Redshirt freshman Cole Mirasola won the 125 kg finals to secure a spot on the U20 national team. Based on past performance, Mirasola only competed in the finals against the championship bracket winner in Dreshaun Ross of the Sebolt Wrestling Academy. In the first match, Mirasola won in a 4-1 decision and then again in the second match with a 5-2 decision to send him to the U20 World Championships.

What’s Next?

The U20 World Championships will be held in Bulgaria from August 18-24.