Three Penn State-affiliated wrestlers secured starting positions for the upcoming World Championships at the Final X competition on Saturday.

PJ Duke, Levi Haines, and Kyle Snyder will be the starting wrestlers in their respective weight classes, with Luke Lilledahl, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Kyle Dake, and Josh Barr taking home runner-up positions. Marcus Blaze and Carter Starocci left with true-third victories.

With nine wrestlers vying for positions to represent the United States, Penn State was well represented at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

How It Happened

Championship Results

57 kg: Luke Lilledahl

Luke Lilledahl faced off against Spencer Lee of Hawkeye Wrestling Club in the best-of-three series. In the first matchup, Lilledahl failed to match Lee’s offense and fell to the former Iowa wrestler 7-2. In the second match, Lilledahl lost 6-0 to Lee, losing the series. Although Lilledahl failed to beat the former Hawkeye, he will still be on the U.S. National Team.

70 kg: PJ Duke

Incoming freshman PJ Duke took on Yianni Diakomihalis in the 70 kg series. In their first match, Duke failed to mount any offense and was tech-falled 10-0 at the 3:26 mark. In the second match, Duke won a barnburner of a match with a 17-10 decision victory to tie the series at 1-1. In the final match, Duke pinned Diakomihalis to secure first place and a starting position on the U.S. National Team.

74 kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink

Mitchell Mesenbrink took on David Carr of the Cyclone RTC in the championship series. In the first matchup in the best-of-three series, Mesenbrink took a tough loss to Cyclone RTC’s David Carr by a score of 4-3. In the second match, the Nittany Lion lost by criteria in a heartbreaking 4-4 defeat. Mesenbrink will be on the national team but failed to claim the top spot in the 74 kg weight class.

79 kg: Levi Haines

Penn State wrestler Levi Haines faced Evan Wick of the Askren Wrestling Academy in the championship series. In his first match, Levi Haines buried Wick with a 10-0 technical fall in 2:31. In the second matchup, Haines once again defeated Wick with a 6-1 decision victory. Haines will represent the United States at the 79 kg weight class in the World Championships.

86 kg: Kyle Dake

Kyle Dake took on Zahid Valencia of Cowboy RTC in the 86 kg series. In the first match, Dake fell to Valencia of Cowboy RTC in a close 5-3 matchup. In the second match, Valencia beat Dake 4-1 to sweep the series. Dake will not be the starting 86 kg wrestler at the World Championships, but will still be a member of the team.

92 kg: Josh Barr

In the championship series, Josh Barr faced Trent Hidlay of Wolfpack Wrestling Club. In the first match, Hidlay held off the Nittany Lion, beating Barr 6-1. In the second match, Barr hung tough with Hidlay but ultimately fell short of leveling the series, losing in a 3-2 decision. Barr will be on the national team but not as the starting 92 kg wrestler.

97 kg: Kyle Snyder

Kyle Snyder took on Hayden Zillmer of the Gopher Wrestling Club in the championship series. In the first match, Snyder took home the victory with an 8-0 decision. In the second match, Snyder took the series with an 8-2 decision victory. Snyder will represent the United States as the starting 97 kg wrestler.

True-Third Results

65 kg: Marcus Blaze

Penn State incoming freshman Marcus Blaze rolled past Nebraska’s Brock Hardy by a score of 8-2 in his true-third matchup. Hardy was an All-American for the Cornhuskers and fell just short of being an NCAA Champion this past season.

Blaze is also eligible for a U23 team spot now that he has secured a position on the senior team. In addition, Blaze ran through the competition at the U20 World Championship Team Trials, making him a starter for the U20 national team.

86 kg: Carter Starocci

Former Penn State wrestler Carter Starocci embarked on an NCAA Championship rematch with Panther Wrestling Club’s Parker Keckeisen in his true-third matchup. The Nittany Lion won in a close 4-3 matchup, securing his position on the senior national team.

What’s Next?

Wrestlers who won their matches at Final X will represent the United States at the World Championships in Croatia from September 13-21.