Penn State wrestling commits dominate U20 Pan American Championships

The future of Penn State wrestling was on full display in Lima, Peru, this weekend at the U20 Pan American Championships. Class of 2024 signees Luke Lilledahl, Connor Mirasola, and Zack Ryder, along with 2025 commit PJ Duke, each found the top of the podium as the United States Men’s Freestyle Team swept all 10 Gold Medals at the event.

The four future Nittany Lions combined to go 15-0 at the Pan-Ams, securing 14 technical falls in the process.

Leading the way was Connor Mirasola (Wisconsin) at 92 kg, winning the Golden Boot for the tournament’s outstanding wrestler. Mirasola defeated every competitor in his six-man bracket by a combined score of 51-0 without extending a single match beyond the first period.

OUTSTANDING WRESTLER! ⁦@connor_mirasola⁩ pic.twitter.com/vEZW8iMngP

— Casey Cunningham (@cwcunningham1) July 13, 2024

Luke Lilledahl (Pennsylvania) earned three technical falls en route to his Gold Medal at 57 kg. The top-ranked recruit in the 2024 cycle, the victory is the third Pan American freestyle title for Lilledahl, and his second straight at the U20 level.

Not to be outdone, the top wrestler in the class of 2025, PJ Duke (New York), took home the top prize at 70 kg. Duke secured all bonus point victories without surrendering a single point on his way to a title.

Similarly, Zack Ryder went 4-0, including three technical falls and a decision, without giving up a point on his way to the Gold at 79 kg. 

Also of note, 2026 Penn State wrestling target Bo Bassett used a pin and two technical falls to win the 65 kg title.

Bright future ahead for Penn State wrestling

© KELLY MARSH/JOURNAL NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK

Saturday’s results at the U20 Pan American Championships are just further evidence of what continues to lie ahead for Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions.

Luke Lilledahl, Connor Mirasola, and Zack Ryder arrive on campus this fall as part of the top recruiting class in the nation for the 2024 cycle. All three wrestlers rank in the top seven nationally for the class. In total, Penn State has more signees in the top 10 (four) and the top 15 (five) than any program in the country for the cycle.

Sanderson is already on his way to having back-to-back No. 1 classes with a strong 2025 cycle. PJ Duke is the country’s top pound-for-pound wrestler in recently released rankings from MatScouts. William Henckel (New Jersey) comes in at No. 13 overall and No. 2 at 175 pounds.

The Nittany Lions’ other three remaining in-state commitments in 2025 – Nate Desmond, Dalton Perry, and Asher Cunningham – all rank in the top ten of their respective weight classes.

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