Penn State sophomore Levi Haines wins first NCAA title at 157 pounds

Levi Haines is an NCAA champion. After finishing second at the national tournament as a freshman a year ago, the Penn State sophomore beat No. 2 Jacori Teemer of Arizona State 5-0 in the 157-pound final at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships on Saturday night.

After a scoreless first, Haines escaped in the second for a 1-0 lead. Teemer took neutral in the third and the Nittany Lion hit a single leg shot into a double leg takedown for a 4-0 lead. He rode out the remaining 1:36 to win the title.

“I was just feeling his positions, taking my time, and waiting for something to open up,” Haines told ESPN.

Haines is the second Nittany Lion to earn a title in this session. Senior Greg Kerkvliet started the evening with a 13-3 triumph over No. 10 Lucas Davison of Michigan to win his first title at nationals. Penn State also has a runner up in this session. Senior Beau Bartlett gave up a takedown with four seconds left in the 141-pound final to No. 1 Jesse Mendez of Ohio State, who went on to win the bout.

The Nittany Lions have already won the team race and need a few more points to break Iowa’s all-time scoring record of 170 points with three finalists (Mitchell Mesenbrink at 165, Carter Starocci at 174, and Aaron Brooks at 197) left to wrestle.

Penn State has eight All-Americans

The Nittany Lions have eight All-Americans. Besides Kerkvliet and the other finalists, freshman Tyler Kasak earned that status at 149 pounds, where he ultimately finished third. Graduate senior Bernie Truax did so while finishing fifth at 184 pounds. Only two Nittany Lions were eliminated before the top eight was established, as 125-pound freshman Braeden Davis and 133-pound redshirt sophomore Aaron Nagao lost in the Round of 12. Here is how each Nittany Lion has performed so far at nationals, courtesy of Penn State Athletics:

25: #1 Braeden Davis, Fr., Belleville, Mich./Dundee
Rd. 1: #33 Tristan Lujan, Michigan State – W, 8-1 dec.
Rd. 2: #17 Brett Ungar, Cornell – W, 2-1 dec.
Qtr: #8 Richard Figueroa, Arizona State – L, 2-3 dec.
Cn. 4: #5 Jore Volk, Wyoming – L, 1-4 (sv) dec

133: #10 Aaron Nagao, So., La Habra, Calif./Esperanza
Rd. 1: #23 Marlon Yarbrough, Virginia – L, 5-13 maj. dec.
Cn. 1: #26 Kade Moore, Missouri – W, 16-1 (TF; 5:00)
Consolation bracket. 2: #24 Julian Chlebove, Arizona State – W, 5-1 dec.
Cn. 3: #16 Nick Bouzakis, Ohio State – W, 3-0 dec.
Cn. 4: #3 Kai Orine, North Carolina State – L, 4-11 dec.

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141: #2 Beau Bartlett, Sr., Tempe, Ariz./Wyoming Seminary (Pa.)
Rd. 1: #31 Kal Miller, Maryland – W, 6-1 dec.
Rd. 2: #15 Mitch Moore, Rutgers – WBF (5:49)
Qtr: #26 Vance Vombaur, Minnesota – WBF (6:48)
Semi: #6 Lachlan McNeil, North Carolina – W, 5-1 dec.
Finals: #1 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State – L, 4-1 dec.

149: #7 Tyler Kasak, Fr., Doylestown, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic
Rd. 1: #26 Jaden Abas, Stanford – L, 2-4 dec.
Consolation bracket. 1: #23 Drew Roberts, Minnesota – W, 14-5 maj. dec.
Cn. 2: #9 Ethan Fernandez, Cornell – WBF (0:36)
Cn. 3: #17 Graham Rooks, Indiana – W, 13-1 maj. dec.
Consolation bracket 4: #3 Jackson Arrington, North Carolina State – W, 5-4 dec.
Cn. 5: #11 Quinn Kinner, Rider – W, 10-2 maj. dec.
Cn. Semi: #1 Ridge Lovett, Nebraska – W, 10-1 maj. dec.
3^rd: #5 Ty Watters, West Virginia – W, 3-2 dec.

More: Penn State wrestler Tyler Kasak takes third while Bernie Truax grabs fifth at NCAAs



157: #1 Levi Haines, So., Arendtsville, Pa./Biglerville —
Rd. 1: #32 Isaac Wilcox, Ohio State – W, 17-2 (TF; 7:00)
Rd. 2: #16 Teague Travis, Oklahoma State – W, 19-4 (TF; 6:41)
Qtr: #8 Peyton Robb, Nebraska – W, 8-0 maj. dec.
Semi: #12 Bryce Andonian, Virginia Tech – WBF (7:48; SV)
Finals: #2 Jacori Teemer, Arizona State – tonight

165: #2 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Fr., Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead
Rd. 1: #31 Maxx Mayfield, Northwestern – W, 18-2 (TF; 5:32)
Rd. 2: #15 Brevin Cassella, Binghamton – W, 11-3 maj. dec.
Qtr: #10 Cameron Amine, Michigan – W, 6-1 dec.
Semi: #6 Mikey Caliendo, Iowa – W, 17-9 maj. dec.
Finals: #4 David Carr, Iowa State – tonight

174: #9 Carter Starocci, Sr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep
Rd. 1: #24 Andrew Sparks, Minnesota – W, 12-6 dec.
Rd. 2: #8 Adam Kemp, Cal Poly – W, 5-3 dec.
Qtr: #1 Mekhi Lewis, Virginia Tech – W, 4-0 dec.
Semi: #4 Shane Griffith, Michigan – W, 2-0 dec.
Finals: #6 Rocco Welsh, Ohio State – tonight

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184: #6 Bernie Truax, Gr., Oceanside, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista
Rd. 1: #27 Cameron Pine, Clarion – W, 18-3 (TF; 5:09)
Rd. 2: #11 Colton Hawks, Missouri – W, 4-2 dec.
Qtr: #3 Dustin Plott, Oklahoma State – L, 6-16 maj. dec.
Consolation bracket 4: #10 Dylan Fishback, North Carolina State – W, 5-0 dec.
Cn. 5: #7 Thomas Stewart Jr., Virginia Tech – W, 5-1 dec.
Cn. Semi: #4 Trey Munoz, Oregon State – LBF (2:29)
5^th: #2 Isaiah Salazar, Minnesota – W, 12-0 maj. dec.

197: #1 Aaron Brooks, Sr+., Hagerstown, Pa./North Hagerstown
Rd. 1: #33 Evan Bates, Northwestern – W, 18-4 (TF; 5:24)
Rd. 2: #17 Joseph Novak, Wyoming – WBF (2:20)
Qtr: #8 Stephen Buchanan, Oklahoma – WBF (2:44)
Semi: #12 Rocky Elam, Missouri – W, 17-2 (TF; 5:45)
Finals: #2 Trent Hidlay, North Carolina State – tonight

285: #1 Greg Kerkvliet, Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley
Rd. 1: #32 Nick Willham, Indiana – W, 19-3 (TF; 5:16)
Rd. 2: #17 Grady Griess, Navy – W, 9-1 maj. dec.
Qtr: #9 Nick Feldman, Ohio State – W, 1-0 dec.
Semi: #4 Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State – W, 8-1 dec.
Finals: #10 Lucas Davison, Michigan – tonight