Penn State wrestling at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials: How to watch, Day 1 results

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials start today in State College. The Bryce Jordan Center will be at the center of the wrestling world over the next two days. And, Penn State will be well represented. Twenty competitors with ties to either the school itself or the affiliated Nittany Lion Wrestling Club will be on the mat for the men’s freestyle competition aiming to earn a spot on the team that will compete at this year’s summer games in Paris, France.

“These guys are thinking about the Olympics,” Lions coach Cael Sanderson said following his team’s NCAA title win in late March. “They’re very competitive, as we know. And so it will just be about getting ready for that. I think we’re, what, four weeks out, and it comes fast.”

Learn everything you need to get ready to follow the action below.

When are the U.S. Olympic Team Trials?

The action is split across two days. Subscription service Peacock will stream all of the matches. Some of them will be carried on USA Network, as well. But, Peacock will allow you to watch individual mats so that you don’t miss a second of Penn State competitors in action. First, here’s how the tournament works, courtesy of NBC Sports:

“On Friday, a single-elimination challenge tournament is held in each weight class to advance wrestlers to Saturday’s best-of-three finals series in each division. The early rounds run from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET. The challenge tournament semifinals and finals are 6:30-10 p.m. On Saturday, the early session — 10 a.m.-3 p.m. — includes the first match of the best-of-three finals in the 13 weight classes that are already qualified for the Olympics and the first two matches of the best-of-three finals in the five classes not yet qualified for the Olympics. Consolation matches will also be held. Saturday’s late session — 6:30-10 p.m. — will include the second matches in the 13 classes already qualified for the Olympics, and if necessary third matches in all 18 classes.”

Here’s the schedule:

Friday, April 19
10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.: Session 1, exclusively on Peacock
6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Session 2, Challenge semifinals and finals, USA Network and Peacock

Saturday, April 20
10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Session 3, Peacock
6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.: Session 4, Finals, USA Network and Peacock

Who is representing Penn State?

Here’s the breakdown:

57 kilograms (125.6 pounds)

Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member Thomas Gilman
Penn State alum Nico Megaludis
Penn State Class of 2024 commit Luke Lilledahl

65 kilograms (143.3 pounds)

Penn State alum Nick Lee
Former Nittany Lion Zain Retherford
Current PSU wrestler Beau Bartlett

74 kilograms (163.1 pounds)

Nittany Lion wrestling club member Kyle Dake
Current Penn State wrestler Mitchell Mesenbrink
PSU alum Jason Nolf
Current Nitany Lion Alex Facundo
Lions alum Vincenzo Joseph
Reigning NCAA champ and current PSU wrestler Levi Haines

86 kilograms (189.5 pounds)

Former Nittany Lion and defending team member David Taylor
Four-time NCAA champ and Penn State alum Aaron Brooks
Reigning NCAA champ and current PSU wrestler Carter Starocci
Former Nittany Lions Max Dean and Mark Hall
PSU commit Connor Mirasola

97 kilograms (213.8 pounds)

Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member and defending U.S. Team member Kyle Snyder

125 kilograms (275.5 pounds)

Defending NCAA champ and current Penn State heavyweight Greg Kerkvliet

Who will each competitor face first?

Matchups are subject to change once weigh-ins are finalized. But, based on the current brackets (see them here), here’s the rundown:

57 kilograms

–NLWC member No. 2 Thomas Gilman vs. winner of No. 7 Liam Cronis vs. No. 10 Jax Forrest

–Penn State alum No. 5 Nico Megaludis vs. No. 4 Spencer Lee

–Penn State Class of 2024 commit No. 9 Luke Lilledahl vs. No. 8 Daniel DeShazer

65 kilograms (143.3 pounds)

–Former Nittany Lion Zain Retherford will face whoever makes it to the bottom half semi-final

–Penn State alum No. 1 Nick Lee vs. winner of No. 8 Seth Gross vs. No. 9 Alec Pantatelo

–Current PSU wrestler No. 5 Beau Bartlett vs. No. 12 Nashon Garrett

More: Watch the PSU wrestling show from Blue-White Illustrated

74 kilograms (163.1 pounds)

–NLWC member Kyle Dake sits until the best of 3 final

–PSU alum No. 2 Jason Nolf vs. winner of No. 7 Alex Marinelli vs. No. 10 Tyler Berger

–Current Penn State wrestler No. 4 Mitchell Mesenbrink vs. winner of No. 5 Meyer Shapiro vs. No. 12 Ladarion Lockett

–Current Nittany Lion No. 8 Alex Facundo vs. PSU teammate No. 9 Levi Haines

–Lions alum No. 6 Vincenzo Joseph vs. No. 11 Jarrett Jacques

86 kilograms (189.5 pounds)

–Former Nittany Lion and defending team member David Taylor sits until the best of three finals

–Four-time NCAA champ and Penn State alum Aaron Brooks vs. winner of No. 8 David McFadden vs. PSU commit No. 9 Connor Mirasola

–Reigning NCAA champ and current PSU wrestler No. 6 Carter Starocci vs. No. 11 Pat Downey

–Former Nittany Lion No. 7 Max Dean vs. No. 10 Evan Wick

–Former Nittany Lion No. 5 Mark Hall vs. No. 5 Alex Dieringer

97 kilograms (213.8 pounds)

–Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member and defending U.S. Team member Kyle Snyder sits until the best of 3 finals

125 kilograms (275.5 pounds)

–Defending NCAA champ and current Penn State heavyweight No. 3 Greg Kerkvliet vs. No. 6 Christian Lance