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Here’s everything that happened with Penn State-affiliated wrestlers at the Olympics Trials

Nate Cobler
·7 min read

Twenty-one Penn State-affiliated wrestlers took part in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and they didn’t have to go far to do it.

The major event started Friday morning at Penn State’s own Bryce Jordan Center. On Saturday morning, eight Nittany Lions-affiliated wrestlers needed just two wins to claim a spot on the Olympic team. Five others were in the hunt for a World team spot by finishing third.

We have you covered here with everything that happened with Penn State wrestlers as they tried to get a spot to Paris this summer.

Follow along below or see an X list for updates here.

Saturday, session four

Recap: Three more Penn State-affiliated wrestlers in Aaron Brooks, Kyle Dake (Nittany Lion Wrestling Club) and Kyle Snyder (NLWC) claimed spots on the US Olympic Team with Zain Retherford, who earned his spot Saturday morning. Two-thirds of the US team has a connection to the Nittany Lions.

86 kilograms: Aaron Brooks dec. David Taylor, 3-1. Brooks wins best-of-three series to make his first Olympics.

74 kilograms: Kyle Dake dec. Jason Nolf, 3-1. Dake wins best-of-three series to reach his second straight Olympic games.

97 kilograms: Kyle Snyder dec. Isaac Trumble, 4-0. Snyder wins best-of-three series to reach his third straight Olympic games.

Saturday, session three

Recap: Zain Retherford is done wrestling in the trials by sweeping the best-of three series. Spencer Lee swept the best-of-three series against Thomas Gilman. Aaron Brooks, Kyle Snyder and Kyle Dake are one win away from becoming Olympians.

65 kilograms: Zain Retherford dec. Nick Lee, 5-0. Retherford wins best-of-three series to claim spot on Olympic team. However, he has to qualify the weight in May at a Last Chance Qualifier in Turkey to become an Olympian.

Zain Retherford motions to Nick Lee as they both have blood during their first bout of the 65 kg challenge round U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
Zain Retherford motions to Nick Lee as they both have blood during their first bout of the 65 kg challenge round U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, April 20, 2024.

125 kilograms: Dom Bradley dec. Greg Kerkvliet, 2-2 (criteria), ends Kerkvliet’s tournament.

57 kilograms: Spencer Lee pinned Thomas Gilman, 5:58. Lee wins best-of-three series to claim spot on Olympic team. However, he’s not an Olympian yet as he has to qualify the weight in May at a Last Chance Qualifier in Turkey.

74 kilograms: Mitchell Mesenbrink tech. superiority Jarrett Jacques, 10-0 (2:20), secures himself a spot on the World team

86 kilograms: Aaron Brooks dec. David Taylor, 4-1, first match of best-of-three series finale.

125 kilograms: Greg Kerkvliet tech. superiority Wyatt Hendrickson, 11-0 (4:16), consolation semifinals.

74 kilograms: Kyle Dake dec. Jason Nolf, 4-1, first match of best-of-three series finale.

Kyle Dake wrestles Jason Nolf in the first of their best-of-three series final in 74 kg during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Dake won by decision, 4-1.
Kyle Dake wrestles Jason Nolf in the first of their best-of-three series final in 74 kg during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Dake won by decision, 4-1.

74 kilograms: Mitchell Mesenbrink tech. superiority Quincy Monday, 12-1 (5:40), consolation semifinals

97 kilograms: Kyle Snyder dec. Isaac Trumble, 5-0, first match of best-of-three series finale.

86 kilograms: Trent Hidlay dec. Mark Hall, 9-4, consolation semifinals. Hall took his shoes off on the side of the mat, not sure if he’s done competing or not.

Mark Hall takes a moment after losing his consolation bout in the 86 kg weight during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, April 20, 2024. After the match Hall took off his shoes, showing his retirement from competitive wrestling.
Mark Hall takes a moment after losing his consolation bout in the 86 kg weight during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, April 20, 2024. After the match Hall took off his shoes, showing his retirement from competitive wrestling.

57 kilograms: Marcus Blaze dec. Luke Lilledahl, 5-1, consolation semifinals. Lilledahl’s tournament comes to a close.

65 kilograms: Zain Retherford dec. Nick Lee, 2-1, first match of best-of-three series finale.

57 kilograms: Spencer Lee dec. Thomas Gilman, 6-3, first match of best-of-three series finale.

86 kilograms: Mark Hall tech. superiority Max Dean, 14-2 (5:23), consolation semifinals. Dean’s tournament comes to an end.

Friday, session two

Recap: Eight wrestlers connected to Penn State reach best-of-three series finales. Three of the matchups will put Nittany Lions-affiliated wrestlers against one another.

86 kilograms: Aaron Brooks dec. Zahid Valencia, 7-6, finals. Brooks faces David Taylor Saturday for shot on Olympic roster.

Women’s 62 kilograms: Macey Kilty dec. Jennifer Page, 9-8, finals. Kilty takes on Kayla Miracle for shot on Olympic roster on Saturday.

74 kilograms: Jason Nolf dec. Jordan Burroughs, 3-0, finals. Nolf faces Kyle Dake Saturday for shot on Olympic roster on Saturday.

86 kilograms: Aaron Brooks dec. Alex Dieringer, 8-4, semifinals

65 kilograms: Nick Lee dec. Andrew Alirez, 11-9, semifinals

65 kilograms: Zain Retherford dec. Jesse Mendez, 3-2, semifinals

57 kilograms: Thomas Gilman dec. Daton Fix, 6-0, semifinals

Women’s 62 kilograms: Jennifer Page dec. Mallory Velte, 8-7, semifinals

125 kilograms: Nick Gwiazdowski dec. Greg Kerkvliet, 5-1, semifinals

74 kilograms: Jordan Burroughs dec. Mitchell Mesenbrink, 8-3, semifinals

74 kilograms: Jason Nolf dec. Jarrett Jacques, 9-2, semifinals

85 kilograms: Evan Wick forfeit Carter Starocci, consolation quarterfinals

Friday, session one

Recap: Of the 21 Penn State-affiliated wrestlers, 10 still have a shot of making the Olympics. Seven saw their tournaments come to a close.

57 kilograms: Luke Lilledahl dec. Liam Cronin, 2-2 (criteria), consolation first round

57 kilograms: Marcus Blaze dec. Nico Megaludis, 2-2 (criteria), consolation first round

74 kilograms: Ladarion Lockett forfeit Vincenzo Joseph, consolation first round

74 kilograms: Tyler Berger dec. Alex Facundo, 5-5 (criteria), consolation first round

Alex Facundo controls Tyler Berger in a 74 kg consolation bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.
Alex Facundo controls Tyler Berger in a 74 kg consolation bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.

74 kilograms: Alex Marinelli dec. Levi Haines, 11-7, consolation first round

84 kilograms: Mark Hall forfeit Pat Downey, consolation first round

65 kilograms: Joey McKenna dec. Beau Bartlett, 3-2, consolation first round

Beau Bartlett controls Joey McKenna in a 65 kg consolation bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.
Beau Bartlett controls Joey McKenna in a 65 kg consolation bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.

57 kilograms: Spencer Lee dec. Nico Megaludis, 8-0, quarterfinals

57 kilograms: Thomas Gilman dec. Jax Forrest, 5-4, quarterfinals

57 kilograms: Zane Richards dec. Luke Lilledahl, 5-3, quarterfinals

125 kilograms: Greg Kerkvliet tech. superiority Christian Lance, 10-0 (4:48), quarterfinals

Greg Kerkvliet controls Christian Lance in a 125 kg quarterfinal bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.
Greg Kerkvliet controls Christian Lance in a 125 kg quarterfinal bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.

74 kilograms: Jason Nolf dec. Alex Marinelli, 7-2, quarterfinals

74 kilograms: Mitchell Mesenbrink tech. superiority Ladarion Lockett, 13-3 (4:28), quarterfinals

74 kilograms: Jordan Burroughs dec. Alex Facundo, 5-3, quarterfinals

86 kilograms: Trent Hidlay dec. Carter Starocci, 6-4, quarterfinals

86 kilograms: Aaron Brooks dec. Connor Mirasola, 11-5, quarterfinals

86 kilograms: Alex Dieringer dec. Mark Hall, 5-2, quarterfinals

65 kilograms: Andrew Alirez dec. Beau Bartlett, 6-2, quarterfinals

65 kilograms: Nick Lee dec. Alec Pantaleo, 9-2, quarterfinals

Nick Lee faces Alec Pantaleo in the 65 kg quarterfinals during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.
Nick Lee faces Alec Pantaleo in the 65 kg quarterfinals during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.

57 kilograms: Luke Lilledahl dec. Daniel DeShazer, 3-2, first round

74 kilograms: Jarrett Jacques dec. Vincenzo Joseph, 6-6, criteria, first round

86 kilograms: Carter Starocci dec. Pat Downey, 12-4, first round

74 kilograms: Alex Facundo dec. Levi Haines, 6-0, first round

86 kilograms: Evan Wick tech. superiority Max Dean, 13-1 (2:59), first round

86 kilograms: Connor Mirasola dec. David McFadden, 4-0, first round

65 kilograms: Beau Bartlett dec. Nahshon Garrett, 10-6, first round

Fans start to arrive for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.
Fans start to arrive for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, April 19, 2024.