Will 'Penn State wrestlers' dominate U.S. Olympic Trials? Who they are, how they got here

Frank Bodani, York Daily Record

Penn State wrestling may just take over the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials this week.

It's one thing for the university to be the host for wrestling's qualifying event for this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, France.

It's quite another to potentially dominate the most popular men's freestyle competition with so many past, present and future Nittany Lions.

There will be 17 freestyle wrestlers across six weight classes who own significant ties to Penn State — the program that recently won the NCAA Championships in record fashion. That includes reigning Olympic gold medalist David Taylor and recent four-time NCAA champ Aaron Brooks, who may duel again at 86 kilograms.

Even more, a few other top favorites are linked through their training with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club: Thomas Gilman (Iowa), 57 kilograms; Kyle Dake (Cornell University), 74k; Kyle Snyder (Ohio State), 97k; and Jennifer Page (Oklahoma City), 62k.

Penn State's Nick Lee reacts after winning the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in 2022 in Detroit. He's now one of the favorites at 65 kilograms in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Penn State, April 19-20, 2024.
Penn State's Nick Lee reacts after winning the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in 2022 in Detroit. He's now one of the favorites at 65 kilograms in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Penn State, April 19-20, 2024.

There will be three former YAIAA wrestlers competing, as well: Penn State sophomore and NCAA champ Levi Haines (Biglerville grad) and Kennard-Dale High brothers Chance Marsteller and John Stefanowicz.

Marsteller, a U.S. world team member, is the No. 2 seed at 86 kilograms; Stefanowicz, who wrestled for Team USA in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, is seeded fourth in the Greco-Roman 87 kilogram class .

In all, more than 200 wrestlers will compete in men's and women's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman.

Here are the past, present and future Nittany Lions who will compete in the Olympic Trials, how they qualified and where they are seeded in each class:

Penn State wrestling at U.S. Olympic Trials: 57 kilograms, freestyle

▶ Nico Megaludis, 5th seed: former Penn State wrestler (national champ, 3-time All-American), qualified in Dec. 2023 as Senior Nationals runner-up

▶ Luke Lilledahl, 11th: Penn State wrestling recruit (freshman in 2024-25), qualified in Dec. 2023 Senior Nationals fifth place

Penn State wrestling: 65 kilograms

Mar 23, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; At 141 pounds Ohio State Buckeyes wrestler Jesse Mendez competes against Penn State Nittany Lions wrestler Beau Bartlett. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; At 141 pounds Ohio State Buckeyes wrestler Jesse Mendez competes against Penn State Nittany Lions wrestler Beau Bartlett. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

▶ Zain Retherford, semifinal bye: former Penn State wrestler (3-time NCAA champ, 2-time Hodge Trophy winner), qualified as 2023 70kg world champion

▶ Nick Lee, 1st seed: former Penn State wrestler (2-time NCAA champ), qualified as 2023 world team member

▶ Beau Bartlett, 5th: current Penn State wrestler (NCAA runner-up), qualified in Dec. 2023 as Senior Nationals runner-up

Penn State wrestling: 74 kilograms

▶ Jason Nolf, 2nd seed: former Penn State wrestler (3-time NCAA champ), qualified as 2023 Bill Farrell champion

▶ Mitch Mesenbrink, 5th: current Penn State wrestler (NCAA runner-up), qualified as 2023 U20 World champion

▶ Vincenzo Joseph, 7th: former Penn State wrestler (2-time NCAA champ), 2024 Final Olympic Trials Qualifier champion

▶ Alex Facundo, 9th: current Penn State wrestler (Olympic redshirt season), qualified as 2023 Senior Nationals third place

▶ Levi Haines, 10th: current Penn State wrestler (NCAA champ), qualified as NCAA champ at 157 pounds

Penn State wrestling: 86 kilograms

Mar 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Carter Starocci of Penn State get set for his match during the quarterfinal of the Men’s Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Carter Starocci of Penn State get set for his match during the quarterfinal of the Men’s Division I NCAA Wrestling Championships at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Tre. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

▶ David Taylor, finals bye: former Penn State wrestler (2-time NCAA champ), qualified as 2023 Senior World champion at Olympic weight

▶ Aaron Brooks, 1st seed: former Penn State wrestler (4-time NCAA champ), qualified as 2023 U23 World champion

▶ Mark Hall, 5th: former Penn State wrestler (NCAA champ), qualified as Dec. 2023 Senior Nationals runner-up

▶ Carter Starocci, 6th: current Penn State wrestler (4-time NCAA champ), qualified as NCAA champ at 174 pounds

▶ Max Dean, 7th: former Penn State wrestler, (NCAA champ), Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, qualified as Dec. 2023 Senior Nationals third place

▶ Connor Mirasola, 9th: Penn State wrestling recruit (freshman in 2024-25), qualified as Dec. 2023 Senior Nationals fourth place

Penn State wrestling: 125 kilograms

▶ Greg Kerkvliet, 3rd seed: former Penn State wrestler (NCAA champ), qualified as NCAA champ at heavyweight

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Penn State wrestling ties to U.S. Olympic Team Trials in State College

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