Numerous Penn State and Nittany Lion Wrestling Club members competed in the World Team Trials this weekend in Louisville. Nittany Lions Levi Haines and Josh Barr, incoming freshman PJ Duke and NLWC member Kyle Dake won bids to compete at Final X where they could earn a spot on the USA Wrestling team ahead of the World Championships.
How It Happened
Current Penn State Wrestlers:
Marcus Blaze (65 kg)
Incoming freshman Marcus Blaze had a great outing in his second year at the senior level. The talented freshman faced off against Carter Young of Cowboy RTC where he won by a 9-4 decision. In the quarterfinals, Blaze wrestled Jesse Mendez of Ohio RTC. Blaze would lose by a 4-1 decision, knocking him into the consolation bracket.
In the consolation quarterfinals, Blaze took on Aden Valencia of California RTC where he won by a close 2-1 decision. In the consolation semifinals, Blaze took on Bo Bassett of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. The two future Big Ten rivals were locked in a close matchup before Blaze hit a massive four-point move where he went on to win 5-1 and advance to the consolation finals. Blaze would go on to take third place after defeating Carter Young once again by decision.
PJ Duke (70 kg)
PJ Duke, another incoming freshman, shined at the World Team Trials. After receiving a first round bye, Duke started his tournament against defending NCAA champion Antrell Taylor of Nebraska RTC in the quarterfinals. Duke would go on to win by 9-6 decision where he would face yet another NCAA champion from Nebraska in Ridge Lovett. The freshman won his semifinal matchup 3-2 to move onto the 70 kg finals. Duke faced off against Bryce Andonian of South East RTC. The new Nittany Lion won 4-1 and solidified his spot at Final X where he will compete against Yianni Diakomihalis for a spot on the USA Wrestling team.
Levi Haines (79 kg)
Penn State senior Levi Haines took care of business at the World Team Trials. After a first round bye, Haines beat Carson Kharchla of Ohio RTC by a 10-5 decision. In the finals matchup, Haines took on Dean Hamiti of Cowboy RTC in a NCAA Championships semifinal rematch. Haines avenged his loss with a 10-2 decision victory to confirm a spot at Final X. Haines will face Evan Wick of Askren Wrestling Academy.
Josh Barr (92 kg)
Josh Barr ran the table at the World Team Trials. After a first round bye, Barr took on Dustin Plott of Cowboy RTC in the semifinals. In dominant fashion, Barr took the fight to the former Oklahoma State wrestler with a 10-4 decision victory. In the finals, Barr beat Aeoden Sinclair of Tiger Style Wrestling Club in a 7-3 decision. Barr will face Trent Hidlay of Wolfpack RTC at Final X.
Nittany Lion Wrestling Club:
Beau Bartlett (65 kg)
Beau Bartlett didn’t have his best tournament. Bartlett faced Bo Bassett in the quarterfinals where took a 1-0 decision loss. In the consolation bracket, Bartlett took a 10-0 loss to Carter Young, ending his weekend.
Carter Starocci (86 kg)
Starocci was one of five wrestlers competing in the 86 kg division. After a first round bye, Starocci took on Chance Marsteller of New Jersey RTC where he won by a 4-2 decision. In the finals, Starocci met with fellow Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member Kyle Dake. After a competitive match, Starocci lost by criteria in a 3-3 decision.
Kyle Dake (86 kg)
Dake was on the opposite side of the bracket of Starocci. In the quarterfinals, Dake ran through Parker Keckeisen of Panther Wrestling Club in a 11-1 technical fall. In the finals, Dake took on Starocci where he won by criteria in a 3-3 match. Dake will compete against Zahid Valencia of Cowboy RTC at Final X.
What’s Next?
Duke, Haines, Dake, and Barr join Luke Lilledahl, Mitchell Mesenbrink, and Kyle Snyder as Penn State and NLWC members who will compete at the Final X event on June 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The matches at Final X will determine who represents the United States at the Senior World Championships September 13-21 in Zagreb, Croatia.
