Penn State Wrestling will host a home game at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials, where 16 current, former and future Nittany Lions will compete for a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics. This group includes an incredible six wrestlers from Penn State's 2024 roster who recently set a scoring record to win their third consecutive team title at the NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Here's a look at past, present and future Penn State wrestlers competing in the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Nittany Lions Legacy
Three-time world champion and repeat Olympic champion. david taylor He is leading the way in Paris as he aims to defend his freestyle 86kg title. Taylor entered Saturday night's best-of-three Championship Series final at the Bryce Jordan Center with a bye. The 86-kilogram field will feature five other current, former and future Penn State wrestlers, including the NCAA champion. mark hall (2017) and max dean (2022).
3-time NCAA Champion Zane Retherford is one of the favorites to win in the 65kg class and was given a bye to the semi-finals of the challenge tournament. Two-time NCAA Champion nick lee After representing Team USA at the 2023 World Championships, he will join Retherford in his weight class as the top seed for the challenge tournament. 3-time NCAA Champion Jason Nolf He is the second seed at 74kg and is a two-time national champion. Vincenzo Joseph 7th seed. Nico MegaroudisPenn State's last NCAA champion, who weighs 125 pounds, is the No. 5 seed at 57 kg.
Penn State's David Taylor celebrates his victory in the 86kg freestyle category at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Mandy Wright-USA TODAY Sports
2024 Nittany Lions
Four NCAA champions, two runners-up and one redshirt wrestler from Penn State's memorable 2024 team will celebrate their return to the Bryce Jordan Center. The main ones among them are carter starocci and aaron brooks, recently became Penn State's first and second four-time NCAA champion. Interestingly, both will fight at 86kg. Last year, Taylor dominated Brooks in the Final X best-of-three championship series to earn a spot on the U.S. world team. This week, Brooks, the top seed in the Challenge Tournament, could face three former or future Nittany Lions before possibly facing Taylor in the championship series. Starozzi is one of them, sitting as the sixth seed at 86kg.
NCAA Champion Levi Haynes join teammates Mitchell Mesenbrink (second is 165 lbs) and Alex Facundo At 74 kg. Facundo had a redshirt season at the Olympics and finished third at the 2023 U.S. Senior Championships. NCAA Heavyweight Champion. Greg Kerkvliet No. 3 seed in the 125kg weight class and a likely NCAA runner-up contender. Beau BartlettHe recently announced his return to Penn State and is pre-seeded No. 5 at 65 kg.
The future of the Nittany Lions
Connor MirasolaThe four-time Wisconsin high school champion and member of Penn State's 2024 recruiting class will test his skills elsewhere at 86 kg. Mirasola defeated Dean at the 2023 Senior National Championships to take fourth place and qualify for the Olympic Trials. Mirasola, the No. 9 seed, will play Drexel assistant coach David McFadden in the opening game. If Mirasola wins, he will face Brooks in the second round.
The 2024 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials are scheduled to be held April 19 and 20 at Penn State Bryce Jordan Center. Take a closer look at the event schedule here.
AllPennState is your destination for Penn State news, opinions and perspectives on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles, and an impressive catalog of articles. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich.
