Which Penn State wrestlers will compete for Team USA at U23 Worlds? The decisions are in

Team USA has announced its roster for the U23 World Wrestling Championships, scheduled to take place in Serbia this October. And, many Penn State competitors are on it. That’s no surprise, of course, as current Nittany Lions were eligible to take more than half of the starting spots if they wanted them.

By advancing to Final X, which set the Senior world team, Luke Lilledahl, PJ Duke, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Levi Haines, and Josh Barr all received the right of first refusal to be on the U23 team. Once Lilledahl and Barr lost at Final X, it became a guarantee that they would take the U23 57 and 92 kilogram U23 spots, respectively. But, it wasn’t as certain that Duke, Mesenbrink, and Haines would after each made the U.S. Senior World team at Final X.

Beyond that group, Nittany Lion newcomer Rocco Welsh had already earned the 86-kilogram spot by finishing first at U23 Nationals earlier this year. And, incoming freshman Marcus Blaze joined the others in having the first chance at taking the 65-kilogram spot on the U.S. U23 team after beating Nebraska’s Brock Hardy in a Final X third-place match to earn an alternate spot on the senior Team USA.

So which Penn State wrestling took or declined Team USA spots?

The final decisions are in. USA Wrestling announced them on July 2. All seven eligible Nittany Lions will compete at U23 Worlds this fall. Here is a look at the complete U23 Team USA:

57 kg – Luke Lilledahl (St. Charles, Mo./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

61 kg – Jax Forrest (Johnstown, Pa./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg WC/Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg – PJ Duke (Slate Hill, N.Y./KD Training Center)

74 kg – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

79 kg – Levi Haines (Arendtsville, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Rocco Welsh (Fredericktown, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Josh Barr (Davison, Mich./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

97 kg – Garavous Kouekabakilaho (San Diego, Calif./Viking WC)  

125 kg – Daniel Herrera (Ames, Iowa/Cyclone RTC)

A look at the Nittany Lions who are on World teams

Penn State will be represented at the following world championships later this year:

World Wrestling Championships (Sept. 13 – 21 in Zagreb, Croatia)

PSU ties on Team USA include PJ Duke (70 kilograms), Levi Haines (79 kilograms), and NLWC member Kyle Snyder (97 kilograms)

U23 World Wrestling Championships (Oct. 20-26 in Serbia)

Penn State ties include:

57 kg – Luke Lilledahl (St. Charles, Mo./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

65 kg – Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg WC/Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg – PJ Duke (Slate Hill, N.Y./KD Training Center)

74 kg – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

79 kg – Levi Haines (Arendtsville, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Rocco Welsh (Fredericktown, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Josh Barr (Davison, Mich./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

U20 World Wrestling Championships (Aug. 18-14 in Bulgaria)

PSU ties include Marcus Blaze (61 kilograms), PJ Duke (70 kilograms), William Henckel (79 kilograms), Connor Mirasola (92 kilograms), and Cole Mirasola (125 kilograms)

U17 World Wrestling Championships (July 28 – Aug. 3 in Greece)

Penn State Class of 2026 commit Jayden James will compete for Team USA at 71 kilograms.