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Which Penn State wrestling connections will compete at the 2025 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament?

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel05/12/25GregPickel
NCAA Wrestling: DI Wrestling
(Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

Penn State wrestling will be well represented at this week’s U.S. World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Louisville. The list of entrants headlines today’s newsstand.

The two-day men’s freestyle tournament will set the lineup for Final X. That event, which will be held in June, will ultimately set the senior-level U.S. World team for 2025. Two Nittany Lions, Luke Lilledahl and Mitchell Mesenbrink, already qualified for it by winning the 57-kilogram and 74-kilogram divisions at the U.S. Open. Lilledahl will face former Iowa standout Spencer Lee for that weight class’s starting spot. Mesenbrink will know his Final X opponent after this weekend as will NLWC member Kyle Snyder at 97kg.

As for the Penn State connections hoping to join them in New Jersey next month by winning their weight class bracket at the trials challenge, their competition starts on Friday. The list of competitors includes:

Penn State signee Marcus Blaze, program alum Beau Bartlett, and assistant coach Nick Lee – 65 kilograms (143.3 pounds)

Nittany Lion signee PJ Duke – 70 kilograms (154.3 pounds)

Penn State senior Levi Haines – 79 kilograms (174.1 pounds)

Nittany Lion alum Carter Starocci and NLWC member Kyle Dake- 86 kilograms (189.5 pounds)

Penn State redshirt sophomore Josh Barr – 92 kilograms (202.8 pounds)

Jon Kozak of FLO Wrestling projects Lee to be the top seed at 65 kilograms. He has Duke as the projected No. 2 seed at 70 kilograms. He has Haines at No. 2 at 79 kilograms, while Dake is No. 1 and Starocci No. 3 at 86kg. Barr, then, is projected to claim the top seed at 92 kilograms.

You can see his full seeding projections here.

Headlines of the day

Penn State’s playoff win over SMU continues to pay off on the recruiting trail: Snyder, BWI

Former Penn State star Tyler Warren gets 1st jersey number with Indianapolis Colts: Ralph, PennLive

Yanic Konan Niederhauser builds case at G League Elite Camp: Bauer, BWI

Eight Under-the-Radar Nittany Lions to Watch This Season: Wogenrich, SI

A thought, question, and prediction for the Penn State cornerbacks after spring ball: Pickel, BWI

Will Howard calls out Penn State for thinking Ohio State is their rival: ‘Ohio State just doesn’t really see it that way’: McVeigh, On3

Penn State defensive tackle commit Alex Haskell brings a speed rusher’s mentality: Carr, BWI

Jersey numbers, contracts released for Penn State rookies in NFL: Linderman, Daily Collegian

Quote of the day

“They were the first school to say they believed in the player that I can be and I felt like I have the best relationship with the coaches up there. I feel like I can come in and try to make a difference 

“But the person that I connect with best [at Penn State] is definitely Coach Barnes. He’s been recruiting me since I was in 8th grade, and I feel like he truly believes in me. He told me that I can be either [end or tackle]. He sees me more as a D-tackle, but definitely have the potential to play edge too.”  

New PSU DL commit Alex Haskell to BWI on the Nittany Lions.

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