Six Penn State-affiliated wrestlers fought for starting positions for the upcoming World Championships at the Final X competition at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Friday.

Levi Haines, Zain Retherford, Marcus Blaze, Kyle Dake, and Kyle Snyder all clinched starting positions on the United States National Team for the Senior World Championships by winning a best-of-three championship series. Luke Lilledahl took home a runner-up position and will also represent the United States later this year.

How It Happened

57 kg: Luke Lilledahl

Luke Lilledahl took on former Iowa Hawkeye Spencer Lee in a rematch of this year’s U.S. Open Finals and last year’s Final X series. Despite a close first period, Lilledahl fell to Lee 7-1 in the opening matchup. Lilledahl failed to bounce back in the second round and lost to Lee for the second year in a row at Final X. Lilledahl will still be on the United States National Team.

61 kg: Marcus Blaze

Marcus Blaze met Jax Forrest for the first time since the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2024. Blaze fell behind in the first period, but rallied, scoring late, to beat the reigning NCAA title winner 2-2 in the first bout. Forrest tied up the series with a 6-1 victory in the second round. After falling behind early, Blaze came back with a late takedown to give him the lead and secure a series victory over Forrest in the third round. Blaze now owns the starting job at 61 kg for the United States Senior World Team.

70 kg: Zain Retherford

Penn State alumnus Zain Retherford took the mat against Ridge Lovett, a former NCAA champion for Nebraska. Retherford gained a 2-1 lead in the first period and hung on to win the first match. Retherford won convincingly 8-2 in the second bout to take the series and claim his spot on the United States World Team.

79 kg: Levi Haines

Recent Penn State graduate Levi Haines wrestled against Chance Marstellar, an Oklahoma State alum. Haines controlled the match in round one, winning 6-1. In the second bout, a four-point takedown scored by Haines in the second period highlighted a 6-3 win for the former Nittany Lion. The series victory secured Haines’ spot at 79 kg on the United States World Team.

86 kg: Kyle Dake

Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member and four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake faced Zahid Valencia in a rematch of last year’s Final X matchup. Dake fell behind early and dropped the first match 3-2. Dake rebounded with a 4-1 victory to force a third bout. Dake won 4-0 in round three to take the series over Valencia and avenge his defeat at last year’s Final X. Dake will represent the United States at the Senior World Championships.

97 kg: Kyle Snyder

Olympic gold medalist and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member Kyle Snyder matched up against Iowa alumnus Stephen Buchanan. Snyder took charge in the first bout, gaining an early lead and winning 5-2. Snyder had a late lead in the second match, but a late takedown by Buchanan and a caution called on Snyder gave way for Buchanan to take round two and tie the series. Snyder beat Buchanan in round three by a score of 9-3 to make his twelfth consecutive World or Olympic team.

What’s Next?

All six Penn State-affiliated wrestlers who competed at Final X will represent the United States at the Senior World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 24 to November 1.