Penn State wrestling preparing to take over Final X

Penn State wrestling may not start for another six months, but the Nittany Lions are making their presence felt on the international scene heading into the summer. Five current or future Penn State wrestlers are among the seven total NLWC members who will compete at the best-of-three Final X series on June 14. The final step of USA Wrestling’s World Team Trials, Final X winners will represent America at the  2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, from September 13-21.

NLWC affiliates went 4-1 last weekend in the US World Team Trials Finals. The only loss was former Penn State great Carter Starocci, who fell to fellow NLWC member Kyle Dake 3-3 (criteria). Incoming freshman PJ Duke stole the show in Louisville, downing two former national champions en route to a title at 70 kg.

Final X will feature both a veteran and youthful presence from the NLWC. Dake and Kyle Snyder look to return to Team USA; both have been nothing but consistent since joining Penn State’s RTC. Junior Mitchell Mesenbrink and senior Levi Haines will also have the opportunity to build upon their stellar college careers with freestyle success this summer.

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However, the most intriguing matchups include several up-and-coming Nittany Lions: Duke, sophomore Luke Lilledahl, and redshirt sophomore Josh Barr. The two current Nittany Lions had incredible freshman campaigns, with Lilledahl finishing third at March’s NCAA Championships and Barr finishing as national runner-up.

Duke is the top overall recruit from the class of 2025. If he can upset opponent Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X, the momentum will only grow behind where he could fit into the Penn State wrestling lineup in 2026. The Nittany Lions return wrestlers at each weight class Duke could easily slot into – 149, 157, 165, and 174 – each of whom finished third or higher at NCAAs. It would be hard to justify redshirting a Senior World Team member, but that may be the question that Cael Sanderson will have to ponder this season.

Penn State wrestling/NLWC Final X matchups:

57 kg: Luke Lilledahl vs Spencer Lee

70 kg: PJ Duke vs Yianni Diakomihalis

74 kg: Mitchell Mesenbrink vs David Carr

79 kg: Levi Haines vs Evan Wick

86 kg: Kyle Dake vs Zahid Valencia

92 kg: Josh Barr vs Trent Hidlay

97 kg: Kyle Snyder vs Hayden Zillmer

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