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Penn State wrestling results: How did the Lions fare at the U.S. Open? Here's a rundown

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•about 21 hours•

GregPickel

Penn State wrestler Luke Lilledahl. (© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Penn State wrestler Luke Lilledahl. (© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Penn State and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club kicked off the freestyle season with a successful weekend at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas. After crowning two champions at the senior level on Saturday, current and future Nittany Lions added five more gold medal finishes at the U20 and U17 levels on Sunday.

At the start of the day, three current Nittany Lions —  Joe Sealey (74 kilograms), Connor Mirasola (92 kilograms), and Cole Mirasola — two Class of 2025 signees — PJ Duke and William Henckel at 70 and 79 kilograms respectively — and Class of 2026 commit Sam Herring were in the U20 quarters. Class of 2026 commit Jayden James, then, was in the U17 quarters.

By the end of the day, the Lions had a U17 champ and four U20 champs. In the latter division, PJ Duke took the 70 kilogram crown 8-5 over Bishop McCort’s Melvin Miller. William Henckel was first at 79 kilograms with a 12-8 decision over Brock Mantanona of the Cliff Keen Wrestling Club. And Connor and Cole Mirasola were champs at 92 and 125 kilograms, respectively. Connor beat Cody Merrill of Oklahoma State 5-1. And Cole beat Oklahoma State Class of 2026 commit Dreshaun Ross 7-5.

Penn State sophomore-to-be Joe Sealey finished second at 74 kilograms, dropping his title bout to Oklahoma State’s Ladarion Lockett. And Herring was second at 61 kilograms.

James will represent Team USA at the U17 level. He won the 71 kilogram weight class title.

“James was in command in his two-match sweep over Justus Heeg of Illinois,” USA Wrestling writes. “James scored a quick 10-0 technical fall in the first match in just 1:18. In the second match, James won the key positions in a 3-1 decision.”

Penn State wrestling senior level U.S. Open recap

Penn State sophomore Luke Lilledahl and redshirt freshman Mitchell Mesenbrink are U.S. Open champs. Both crushed their competition in Vegas to win the 57- and 74-kilogram brackets, respectively. They went and combined 8-0 and outscored their opponents by an astounding 98-11 mark. Both are now off to Final X. The event, which is set for June in New Jersey, will set the senior-level Team USA for the World championships.

Lilledahl knows his opponent. He will need to knock out former Iowa star Spencer Lee in a best-of-three series to make the team. Mesenbrink, who was the CLAW U.S. Open senior level CLAW Most Exciting Wrestler, will learn his foe following the U.S. Senior World Team Trials Challenge in Kentucky next month. Whoever wins that will face him in a best-of-three showdown at Final X for a World team spot.

NLWC member Kyle Snyder won the 97-kilogram title. Like Mesenbrink, he will learn his Final X opponent at the Challenge tournament next month. Other Penn State wrestlers competing at the U.S Open include Beau Bartlett and Rocco Welsh, who were fifth at 65 and 86 kilograms, respectively. And, Nittany Lion freshman Marcus Blaze was third at 61 kilograms while NLWC member Kyle Dake was second at 86kg. They are all eligible to compete at the Challenge tournament for a second shot at making Final X.

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