Live updates, full Penn State wrestling and NLWC results from Senior World Team Trials Day 1
Penn State wrestlers and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club members are in action today at the U.S. World Team Trials. The senior-level men’s freestyle tournament, which is the second stop on the path to setting the Team USA lineup for the World Championships, starts Friday in Louisville with preliminary bouts and quarterfinals in the morning and semifinals tonight. The finals, then, are on Saturday. Winners go to Final X in New Jersey next month, which is where the World team will be set. Luke Lilledahl and Mitchell Mesenbrink are already qualified for that event. This is your home for live updates and full results from Day 1 of the Trials. Brackets are available at USABrackets.com. But, you will have to make an account to view them. Note: This page does not update automatically. So, please refresh your browser often for the latest information.
Penn State connections set to go for Final X spot on Saturday
05/16/2025 04:55:26 PMIt was a good Friday for Penn State wrestling connections on day one of the US Senior World Team Trials. Numerous NLWC members are going for a spot at Final X on Saturday. The finals start at Noon ET. Here’s the list:
70kg: Incoming Penn State freshman PJ Duke vs. Bryce Andonian, SERTC
79kg: Penn State senior Levi Haines vs Dean Hamiti, Oklahoma State
86kg: Penn State five-time champ Carter Starocci vs. NLWC member Kyle Dake
92kg Penn State redshirt sophomore Josh Barr vs. Aeoden Sinclair, Tiger Style Wrestling Club
See how the day played out below.
Josh Barr knocks out Dustin Plott
05/16/2025 04:48:56 PMPenn State starter Josh Barr beat Oklahoma State’s Dustin Plott 10-4 to advance to the 92 kilogram finals at the World Team Trials.
Two more Penn State connections are into the finals
05/16/2025 04:44:38 PMCarter Starocci knocked out Chance Marsteller 4-2 to advance to the 86 kilogram finals opposite NLWC member Kyle Dake, who won his semi in that weight class by technical fall.
Levi Haines is onto the finals
05/16/2025 04:13:51 PMPenn State senior Levi Haines used a huge second period to knock out Carson Kharchla 10-5 in a 79-kilogram semifinal. He’s onto the US Senior Team Trial finals tomorrow.
Duke is the first finalist
05/16/2025 03:44:31 PMPenn State freshman PJ Duke takes out Ridge Lovett in the 70kg semis and is on to the finals tomorrow in Louisville for a spot in Final X. He will face Bryce Andonian in the finals.
Session two is underway
05/16/2025 03:21:28 PMPJ Duke is in the hole on mat one as of 4:20 p.m. ET. He faces Ridge Lovett in a 70 kilogram semifinal.
Penn State session one updates, session two matchups
05/16/2025 11:55:00 AMPenn State and the NLWC are done in the first session at the US Senior World Team Trials. Incoming freshman PJ Duke beat Nebraska NCAA champ Antrell Taylor to move onto the semifinals at 70 kilograms. Classmate Marcus Blaze won his first round match but fell to Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez in the quarters to fall into the consolation bracket at 65 kilograms. He’s joined there by Beau Bartlett, who lost to Bo Bassett. Here’s the second session lineup for the Lions. Updates from that will post here after 4 p.m. ET:
70 kilograms (154.3 pounds)
Nittany Lion signee PJ Duke is in the semifinals opposite Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett
79 kilograms (174.1 pounds)
Penn State senior Levi Haines is in the semifinals vs. Carson Kharchla of Ohio State. The Nittany Lion beat the Buckeye 6-4 in the school’s dual meet earlier this year.
86 kilograms (189.5 pounds)
Nittany Lion alum Carter Starocci is in the semifinals vs. Chance Marsteller
NLWC member Kyle Dake is in the semifinals vs. Parker Keckeisen of Northern Iowa
92 kilograms (202.8 pounds)
Penn State redshirt sophomore Josh Barr is in the semifinals vs. Dustin Plott of the Oklahoma State RTC
65 kilograms (143.3 pounds)
Penn State signee Marcus Blaze is in the consolation bracket against Aden Valencia of Cal RTC.
Beau Bartlett is in the consolation bracket against a TBD opponent.
Duke knocks out Antrell Taylor
05/16/2025 11:48:35 AMA four-point second period throw helps lift Penn State incoming freshman PJ Duke to a 9-6 decision over 2025 NCAA champ Antrell Taylor in a 70-kilogram quarterfinal bout at the Senior World Team Trials. He’ll face Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett in the semis later today.
Bartlett falls to Bassett
05/16/2025 11:21:39 AMIowa commit Bo Bassett beat Penn State alum Beau Bartlett 1-0 in the 65 kilogram quarterfinal round of the Senior World Team Trials. Bartlett is now off to the consolation bracket.
Mendez beats Blaze
05/16/2025 11:11:13 AMOhio State star Jesse Mendez beat Penn State Class of 2025 signee Marcus Blaze by decision, 4-1, to send the new Nittany Lion to the 65 kilogram consolation bracket.
Here’s a look at Marcus Blaze’s win over Carter Young
05/16/2025 10:48:59 AMHe’ll match up with Ohio State national champ Jesse Mendez later this today after beating the Cowboy by decision.
Latest Penn State first session updates
05/16/2025 10:32:00 AMPJ Duke will take on Antrell Taylor in his first match at 70 kilograms. Marcus Blaze still awaits his match with Jesse Mendez at 65 kilograms in the quarters. Levi Haines will face Carson Kharchla of Ohio State in the 79 kilograms semifinals later today. Kyle Dake and Carter Starocci are both in the 86 kilogram semis opposite Parker Keckeisen and Chance Marstellar, respectively. If both win later today, they’ll meet in the finals. And, Josh Barr has Dustin Plott in the 92 kilogram semis later today, as well.
Blaze wins his first match
05/16/2025 09:16:38 AMPenn State Class of 2025 signee Marcus Blaze beat Carter Young by decision 9-4 to start his tournament at 65 kilograms. Next up is a match with top seed Jesse Mendez of Ohio State.
Who will each Nittany Lion see first?
05/16/2025 08:33:56 AMHere’s a rundown. Marcus Blaze is the only Penn State connection with a preliminary round bout and will be on the mat first.
65 kilograms (143.3 pounds)
Penn State signee Marcus Blaze vs. Carter Young, Cowboy RTC
Beau Bartlett vs. Bo Bassett
70 kilograms (154.3 pounds)
Nittany Lion signee PJ Duke vs. TBD
79 kilograms (174.1 pounds)
Penn State senior Levi Haines vs. TBD
86 kilograms (189.5 pounds)
Nittany Lion alum Carter Starocci vs. Chance Marsteller
NLWC member Kyle Dake vs. TBD
92 kilograms (202.8 pounds)
Penn State redshirt sophomore Josh Barr vs. TBD
Meet the Penn State entries
05/16/2025 07:31:05 AMHere is who is competing for both Penn State and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club:
Penn State signee Marcus Blaze and program alum Beau Bartlett – 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)
Haines is the top seed in his weight class, as are Dake and Barr. Duke is No. 2 behind James Green of the Nebraska RTC. Starocci, then, is No. 3 in the five-man 86kg field. And, as noted above, Bartlett and Blaze are Nos. 6 and 8 in theirs, respectively.
Schedule of events
05/16/2025 07:32:07 AMThe event begins at 10 a.m. with first round and quarterfinal matches in session one. Session two starts at 4 p.m. ET and includes the semifinals and consolation bracket action. The finals are at Noon ET on Saturday.
