Penn State wrestling vs. Jordan Burroughs: How Lions will meet in Olympic Trials finals

Frank Bodani, York Daily Record

STATE COLLEGE — It was quite an U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials evening for Penn State wrestlers, Jordan Burroughs and the hometown fans.

Burroughs, regarded as one of the most decorated wrestlers in U.S. history, came into these Trials in the Bryce Jordan Center with some Penn State mojo working against him, thanks to an ongoing social media fued with PSU champ Carter Starocci.

Then came Friday's Penn State wrestling fireworks.

Early in the day, Burroughs had to rally to defeat PSU sophomore Alex Facundo in the 74 kilogram bracket with a second-period drive. Later, he raised the ire of the three-quarters-filled BJC with a frustrated shove of PSU freshman Mitch Mesenbrink in a chippy match.

Jason Nolf (top) wrestles Jordan Burroughs in the 74 kilogram challenge round championship bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center April 19, 2024, in State College. Nolf won by decision, 3-0.
Jason Nolf (top) wrestles Jordan Burroughs in the 74 kilogram challenge round championship bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center April 19, 2024, in State College. Nolf won by decision, 3-0.

Burroughs won that match easily, 8-3, then left the mat and walked out off the arena floor to boos from the crowd. He had been hit with a warning call from the officials for the shove but was not penalized.

But the long-ago Olympic gold medalist still had one more Penn State match to deal with — the 74K finals against Jason Nolf.

He survived early against the PSU three-time NCAA champ thanks to two challenge wins that took three points off the board.

Jason Nolf reacts to the crowd after winning the 74 kilogram challenge round championship bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center April 19, 2024, in State College. Nolf defeated Jordan Burroughs by decision, 3-0.
Jason Nolf reacts to the crowd after winning the 74 kilogram challenge round championship bout during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center April 19, 2024, in State College. Nolf defeated Jordan Burroughs by decision, 3-0.

Finally, though, Nolf hit a big takedown that stood and strangled Burroughs' offense the rest of the way for the 3-0 victory. Zombie Nation blasted in the arena and all was well again.

Nolf will now face Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Training partner Kyle Dake in Saturday's best-of-three finals.

86 kilograms: Aaron Brooks ends night on dramatic rally

Aaron Brooks ended Friday night in dramatic fashion, advancing to the 86 kilogram finals with a victory in the final seconds over Zahid Valencia.
Aaron Brooks ended Friday night in dramatic fashion, advancing to the 86 kilogram finals with a victory in the final seconds over Zahid Valencia.

How did Aaron Brooks pull it off?

The Penn State four-time NCAA champ struggled early in all three of his matches Friday, but was truly on the verge of losing for the first time in nearly a year in the night's penultimate match at 86 kilos.

He trailed Zahid Valencia for nearly all of this Challenge Tournament final, then looked like an almost certain loser on criteria, 6-6, until the final seven seconds.

That's when Valencia was penalized a point for pulling Brooks' singlet during a frantic drive at the end.

The call stood, Brooks ran out the clock and advanced.

He'll face David "Magic Mac" Taylor in Saturday's best-of-three finals.

Taylor was the last man to beat him last summer.

Penn State wrestling: Zain Retherford vs. Nick Lee

Another all-Penn State finals to watch Saturday morning: Former national champs Zain Retherford and Nick Lee will battle in the 65 kilos best-of-three.

Both escaped with one-point victories in Friday's Challenge Tournament final matches.

Retherford defeated Ohio State NCAA champ Jesse Mendez, 3-2. Lee surged to overcome an early deficit to underdog Andrew Alirez, only to be forced to hold on at the end, 10-9.

Brothers win big, fall hard: Chance Marsteller, John Stefanowicz

York County brothers Chance Marsteller and John Stefanowicz won two side-by-side victories in the Challenge Tournament before falling hard later, minutes apart.

After two inspiring victories, including a last-second survival, Marsteller ran out of answers in a shutout defeat to Valencia.

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Just a bit later, his older brother suffered an Olympic team-deciding defeat on criteria. Stefanowicz led much of the match, 1-0, but Payton Jacobson scored last, which meant he won the tiebreaker.

Earlier in the night, Marsteller pulled out a takedown in the final few seconds to defeat NCAA runner-up Trent Hilday in the 86 kilogram quarterfinals. Stefanowicz then posted his second-straight shutout of the day, defeating Mahmoud Sebie in their Greco-Roman 87k match.

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 vs. Jordan Burroughs in Olympic Wrestling Trials

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