Penn State wrestling at the U20 World Team Trials, U23 Nationals: Who's competing, who could win, and more

Penn State stars and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club members will be on the mat today as the U20 World Team Trials and U23 Nationals take place in Geneva, Ohio. The former tournament will start and end on Saturday. The latter will start Saturday and finish Sunday.

Five Nittany Lions already have a spot on the U23 Team USA if they choose to accept it. A handful of other look to join them by winning their weight class at Nationals this weekend. As for the U20 tournament, numerous Penn State wrestlers will sit out until this afternoon’s finals while others look to join them there by racking up wins earlier in the day. Winners at this tournament will claim a Team USA U20 starting spot.

Here’s everything you need to know to follow along and find results as they happen.

U20 World Team Trials and U23 Nationals schedule

Here’s a look at the times to know, courtesy of USA Wrestling:

Sat, May 31:

U20 Freestyle World Team Trials – 

Challenge Tournament – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals & Consolations
9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

U23 (Men) Freestyle Preliminaries and Consolations
9:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Session 2: Freestyle
U20 Freestyle World Team Trials 

All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
4:00PM – 7:00 PM 

U23 (Men) Freestyle 

Preliminaries, and Consolations
4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Sun., June 1

Session 3: Freestyle 

U23 (Men) Freestyle   
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations, All Medal Matches, and Best 2 out of 3 Finals
10:00 AM to 3:30 PM

U20 Penn State preview

Based on previous success, 10 wrestlers are sitting out until the best-of-three finals. Four of them are from Penn State. You can see the full list of sit-out wrestlers plus notes on other Nittany Lions in the field by weight class below:

The first listed name is who is sitting until the best-of-three finals; notes on the field follow:

57 kilograms (125.6 pounds) – Anthony Knox, Cornell commit
—Notes: Penn State freshman Nate Desmond is entered.

61 kilograms (134.4 pounds) – Kyler Larkin, Arizona State
—Notes: The challengers include Marcus Blaze, who is in here at what could be a preview of his college weight being 133 pounds. Blaze did not compete at U20s in the U.S. Open, which is why he must win his way to the finals here. Penn State Class of 2026 commit Sam Herring is in the field, too. Other contenders include Ohio State’s Ben Davino and Wisconsin’s Zan Fuggit. Blaze is favored to meet Larkin.

65 kilograms (154.3 pounds) – Luke Stanich, Lehigh
—Notes: There are no PSU connections in this weight class.

70 kilograms (163.1 pounds) – PJ Duke***, Penn State signee
—Notes: There are no other PSU connections in this weight class. Duke is favored to win it all annd should see Bishop McCort’s Class of 2027 recruit Melvin Miller in the finals.

More: PJ Duke wins 2025 Junior Dan Hodge Trophy

74 kilograms (163.1 pounds) – Ladarion Lockett, Oklahoma State
—Notes: Penn State Class of 2026 commit Jayden James in this 163.1-pound field; bumping up from his 156.2 pounds/71 kilogram U17 World team spot. PSU redshirt freshman Joe Sealey is also entered.

79 kilograms (174.1 pounds) – William Henckel***, Penn State signee
—Notes: There are no other PSU connections in this weight class. This appears to be Henckel’s team spot to lose. The top challenger is Michigan’s Brock Mantanona.

86 kilograms (189.5 pounds) – Max McEnelly, Minnesota
—Notes: There are no PSU connections in this weight class

92 kilograms (202.8 pounds)- Connor Mirasola***, Penn State redshirt freshman
—Notes: There are no other PSU connections in this weight class. Mirasola is a huge favorite, but watch for Oklahoma State’s Cody Merrill.

97 kilograms (213.8 pounds) – Justin Rademacher, Oregon State
—Notes: There are no PSU connections in this weight class.

125 kilograms (275.5 pounds) – Cole Mirasola***, Penn State redshirt freshman
—Notes: There are no other PSU connections in this weight class. It is an insanely talented field but Mirasola is the favorite. The names to know include Oklahoma State commit Dreshaun Ross, Iowa commit Michael Mocco, Minnesota’s Koy Hopke, and Cornell signee Rocco Dellagatta.

U23 Nationals preview

By virtue of being in Final X, Penn State connections who already have a U23 Team spot if they want it include: Luke Lilledahl (57kg), Duke (70kg), Mitchell Mesenbrink (74), Levi Haines (79kg), and Josh Barr (92kg). Those hoping to join them include:

70 kilograms (154.3 pounds): Connor Pierce

74 kilograms (173.1 pounds): Ty Watson

79 kilograms (174.1 pounds): Sam Beckett

86 kilograms (189.5 pounds): Rocco Welsh

125 kilograms (275.5 pounds) Dawson Bundy

Of the group, Welsh is the lone weight class favorite.