Penn State wrestling commit Luke Lilledahl named lightweight of the year by MatScouts
Penn State wrestling Class of 2024 commit Luke Lilledahl recently shut out all of his opponents en route to a 57-kilogram (125 pounds) title at the U20 Pan-Am Championships. Now, shortly after winning the international freestyle tournament, the Kingston, Pa., Wyoming Seminary star is being recognized for his work during both freestyle competition and the folkstyle high school season.
MatScouts has released its annual awards for the 2022-2023 season. Lilledahl, who picked Penn State in April, is the outlet’s lightweight of the year.
“You could make the case that Lilledahl should win Junior of the Year,” Wllie Saylor writes for MatScouts. “Or, to go further, that Lilledahl’s campaign over the last 12-ish months are more impressive than even Kueter’s. You know the list of guys that made three straight Cadet/Junior World Teams currently?
It’s Lilledahl. That’s it. In that time Luke has beaten Cadet World Champ Bo Bassett, Cadet World Silver Medalist Jax Forrest, Cadet World Champ Mark Anthony McGowan, and Junior World Champ Jore Volk while he himself took Gold and Silver at Worlds.”
Lilledahl was the National Prep champion this year at 120 pounds. He also won the prestigious Super 32 and the Walsh Ironman tournaments. MatScouts calls him the No. 5 pound-for-pound high school wrestler in the country regardless of weight class or age. He is also the No. 2 120-pounder in the country, according to the outlet.
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Penn State commit Luke Lilledahl ramps up for final prep season
Lilledahl is on the cusp of one more high school season. Besides the accomplishments listed above, he also won Cadet Worlds as a member of Team USA. It was one of many freestyle accomplishments. The latest was the Pan-Am title, which came with relative ease.
“Lilledahl opened his finals match against scrappy Adrian De Jesus of Puerto Rico, with a pair of first-period takedowns to lead 4-0 at the break,” USA Wrestling writes. “In the second period, he added a second takedown and received a point when De Jesus, did not score on the shot clock.
“Lilledahl, a 2022 U17 World champion and 2021 U17 World silver medalist, won his third career Pan American Championships title, to go along with 2021 U17 Pan American golds in both styles.”
The 2023-2024 Penn State wrestling schedule has not yet been released. Lilledahl won’t wrestle for the Nittany Lions this year. But, fans will eagerly await his arrival in State College.
