🎯 Penn State Powerhouse: Three Wrestlers Secure Final X Berths at U.S. Team Trials in Louisville
Penn State’s wrestling juggernaut roared once again this weekend as three standout athletes from the Nittany Lion program/Penn State Olympic Regional Training Center captured their weight classes at the U.S. Team Trials in Louisville, earning coveted spots in Final X and bringing them one step closer to representing Team USA at the World Championships .
—
🥇 Levi Haines (79 kg)
Haines cruised through the 79 kg bracket with authority, defeating Carson Kharchla 10–5 before dispatching Dean Hamiti 10–2 in the finals. His dominant display punches his ticket to Final X, where he’ll face Evan Wick of Wisconsin .
🥇 Kyle Dake (86 kg)
At 86 kg, wrestling royalty was on display as Kyle Dake dismantled Parker Keckeisen via an automatic 11–1 tech fall in the semifinals. He then squared off with Penn State teammate Carter Starocci in a rare intra-team finals showdown—a dramatic 3–3 score decided by criteria, with Dake narrowly claiming victory. Dake progresses to Final X to battle Zahid Valencia, while Starocci still has a shot via a wrestle-off .
🥇 Josh Barr (92 kg)
Barr continued the Penn State stamp of approval with a 10–4 semifinal win, followed by a 7–3 decision over Aeoden Sinclair in the finals. His success booked him a Final X showdown against NC State’s Trent Hidlay .
🧠 Penn State’s Freestyle-Thriving Machine
This trio’s triumph is part of a larger trend: Penn State’s deep pipeline of collegiate and post-collegiate talent taking over freestyle circuits. Alongside PJ Duke and veteran stars like Kyle Dake, the Penn State Olympic RTC is shaping athletes primed to chase global medals .
What’s Next:
The six-person Final X series takes place June 14 in Newark, NJ. If Haines, Dake, or Barr win their best-of-three, they’ll earn a spot on the 2025 U.S. World Team—continuing Penn State’s international legacy under coach Jake Varner .
Bottom Line: Penn State’s dominance isn’t just on campus—it’s on the global stage. With three more Final X qualifiers and a championship culture entrenched, the Nittany Lions are charging toward yet another defining moment in wrestling history.
