Penn State Wrestling Shows Dominance At U.S. Open Championships
The Penn State Nittany Lions and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club affiliates showed strong representation at the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships this past weekend. The Nittany Lions had five wrestlers compete in men’s freestyle at the senior level, and six compete in the U20 division.
The Nittany Lions’ performance at the tournament was nothing short of impressive, with all six wrestlers in the U20 division making it to the finals in their respective weight classes, and two wrestlers taking home the gold at the senior level.
How It Happened
57kg: Luke Lilledahl
Fresh off his fourth career Pan American Championship title, Lilledahl kept his winning streak alive as he dominated at the U.S. Open this weekend, outscoring his opponents 40-4. He opened the tournament with a commanding 10-0 technical fall over Arizona’s Shamar Baines.
In the quarterfinals, Lilledahl faced Ohio State’s Brendan McCrone, who pinned Lilledahl in a collegiate dual meet earlier this season. This time, Lilledahl flipped the script with a decisive 10-0 victory by technical fall. Lilledahl carried that momentum into the semifinals, earning a hard-fought 10-4 victory over Nico Provo of California Regional.
In the final match, Lilledahl defeated Liam Cronin 10-0 to earn his third win by technical fall this tournament. The win marked Lilledahl’s first Senior U.S. Open title at 57kg and secured his spot at Title X, where he will face off against powerhouse Spencer Lee.
61kg: Marcus Blaze
Top-ranked high school wrestler, Marcus Blaze, had a strong showing at the U.S. Open, kicking off his tournament with back-to-back technical fall victories. He cruised past Juan Diaz of Gus Garage and Fernando Barreto of California in a dominant fashion before advancing to the quarterfinals.
In the quarterfinals, Blaze faced a tough test in competitor Nathan Tomasello but edged out a gritty 2-1 decision. Blaze eventually met his match in the semifinal bout, where he was pinned by Seth Gross of the MATPAC Wrestling Club, a tough ending to an otherwise standout performance.
65kg: Beau Bartlett
Beau Bartlett delivered a commendable performance this weekend, showcasing his skill on the national stage. He opened with a dominant 10-0 technical fall over Theodore Cha, setting the tone early. In the quarterfinals, Bartlett faced a tough challenge from Carter Young but held his ground, earning a hard-fought 5-3 decision.
In his semifinal bout, Bartlett faced Jesse Mendez, who is no stranger to Bartlett. Going into the match, Bartlett led Mendez 2-1 in matches this season. However, Mendez flipped the script, showcasing his freestyle skills and edging Bartlett in a tight 4-2 decision.
