๐ฏ Penn State Powerhouse: Three Wrestlers Secure FinalโฏX Berths at U.S. Team Trials in Louisville
Penn Stateโs 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 FinalโฏX and bringing them one step closer to representing Team USA at the World Championships .
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๐ฅ Levi Haines (79โฏkg)
Haines cruised through the 79โฏkg bracket with authority, defeating Carson Kharchla 10โ5 before dispatching Dean Hamiti 10โ2 in the finals. His dominant display punches his ticket to FinalโฏX, where heโll face Evan Wick of Wisconsin .
๐ฅ Kyle Dake (86โฏkg)
At 86โฏkg, wrestling royalty was on display as Kyle Dake dismantled Parker Keckeisen via an automatic 11โ1 tech fall in the semifinals. He then squared off with Penn State teammate Carter Starocci in a rare intra-team finals showdownโa dramatic 3โ3 score decided by criteria, with Dake narrowly claiming victory. Dake progresses to FinalโฏX to battle Zahid Valencia, while Starocci still has a shot via a wrestle-off .
๐ฅ Josh Barr (92โฏkg)
Barr continued the Penn State stamp of approval with a 10โ4 semifinal win, followed by a 7โ3 decision over Aeoden Sinclair in the finals. His success booked him a FinalโฏX showdown against NC Stateโs Trent Hidlay .
๐ง Penn Stateโs Freestyle-Thriving Machine
This trioโs triumph is part of a larger trend: Penn Stateโs 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 .
Whatโs Next:
The six-person FinalโฏX series takes place June 14 in Newark, NJ. If Haines, Dake, or Barr win their best-of-three, theyโll earn a spot on the 2025 U.S. World Teamโcontinuing Penn Stateโs international legacy under coach Jake Varner .
Bottom Line: Penn State’s dominance isnโt just on campusโitโs on the global stage. With three more FinalโฏX qualifiers and a championship culture entrenched, the Nittany Lions are charging toward yet another defining moment in wrestling history.