π Penn State Hits New Heights: Five Nittany Lions Secure Senior & U20 U.S. Open Titles
Penn State wrestling showcased its depth and dominance this weekend at the 2025 USA Wrestling U.S. Open in Las Vegas, where five Nittany Lion/RTC athletes captured national titles β three in the Senior Freestyle division and two in the U20 bracket .
π₯ Senior Freestyle Champions
Luke Lilledahl (57β―kg, true freshman) β Pulverized the competition with a perfect 4β0 run, including three technical falls, clinching the crown with a decisive 10β0 win over Liam Cronin .
Mitchell Mesenbrink (74β―kg) β Flawless performances throughout, highlighted by a commanding 16β6 technical fall over David Carr to claim gold .
Kyle Snyder (97β―kg) β The elite heavyweight showed his class with four dominant tech-fall victories, including an 11β0 shutout of Jonathan Aiello in the finals .
Kyle Dake also made the senior finals at 86β―kg but fell just short, finishing second after advancing through dominant tech-fall victories earlier in the event .
π§© U20 Division Champions
Connor Mirasola (92β―kg, true freshman) β A perfect 5β0 run culminated in a tight 5β1 final, earning him the U20 title .
Cole Mirasola (125β―kg, true freshman) β Matchups behind him were filled with tech falls and controlled dominanceβhe sealed it with a 7β5 win in the finals .
Fourteen wrestlers from Penn State/RTC competed across both divisions, combining for an impressive 40β8 record, including 31 matches ended by tech falls or pins, with eight out of ten athletes earning top-five placements and seven reaching finals .
π Coach Honored Too
Amid the celebration, Penn State RTC assistant Casey Cunningham received the prestigious USA Wrestling Freestyle Coach of the Year awardβanother testament to the programβs elite coaching and development .
π Why This Matters
These results reinforce Penn Stateβs position as both a collegiate and post-collegiate wrestling powerhouse. With youth such as Lilledahl and the Mirasolas primed for rising star status, and veterans like Snyder and Mesenbrink holding their ground, the Nittany Lion footprint grows deeper. The high-level structureβfreshmen stepping up to seniorsβensures sustained success from NCAA mats to the global stage.
Penn State didnβt just compete this weekend β they ruled. And they did it with style and substance.