Penn State wrestling's road to the Olympics: Day 1 Live updates from U.S. Olympic Trials

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State wrestling is expected to put on a nationwide show this weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The university is hosting the U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials, which will headline so many performers with strong ties to the Nittany Lions.

Seventeen freestyle wrestlers across six weight classes are future, present or past Penn State wrestlers — 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.

More: How to watch Penn State wrestling in 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials: TV streaming, tickets

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.

All of the action begins at 10 a.m. Friday, the first of four sessions concluding with Saturday night's championship finals.

When is Penn State wrestling in the NCAA Wrestling Championships?

∎ Friday: Challenge Tournament preliminaries, quarterfinals and consolations, 10 a.m.; Challenge Tournament semifinals and finals, 6:30 p.m.

∎ Saturday: Championship Series (rounds 1 and 2) and Challenge Tournament consolations and third-place matches, 10 a.m.; Championship Series (rounds 2 and 3); 6:30 p.m.

U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team Trials live Penn State updates

Follow along with live updates from Friday's opening rounds right here by REFRESHING your browser and scrolling down. Or follow York Daily Record Penn State beat writer Frank Bodani on X (formally Twitter).

74 kilograms: Jason Nolf, Mitch Mesenbrink roll early

Former Nittany Lion star Jason Nolf (three-time NCAA champ) and up-and-coming star Mitch Mesenbrink (freshman NCAA runner-up) earned big victories in their first matches of the Challenge Tournament.

Nolf went up 7-0 before securing a 7-3 victory over Alex Marinelli. Mesenbrink, driving the action furiously as usual, won by technical superiority, 13-3.

Mesenbrink gets Olympic star Jordan Burroughs, next.

74 kilograms: Nittany Lion loses tough to the legend, Jordan Burroughs

Penn State sophomore-to-be Alex Facundo (Olympic redshirt year) led legendary Jordan Burroughs early at 74 kilos.

Facundo was up 2-0 before ending the first period in a tie to the former Olympic gold medalist.

But Burroughs methodically pulled away, never risking much, scoring when absolutely necessary.

He beat Facundo, 5-3.

86 kilograms: Carter Starocci finally 'loses'

Four-time Penn State national champ Carter Starocci lost for the first time on the mat in more than a year.

The senior with the injured right knee lost to Trent Hidlay, the NCAA runner-up at 197 pounds, 6-4. It was his first competitive defeat since his match at Iowa in the winter of 2023. (He took two injury default defeats at the Big Ten Championships in early March).

Starocci can wrestle for third place at 86 kilograms.

Brothers Chance Marsteller, John Stefanowicz wrestle side-by-side

Kennard-Dale High grads and brothers Chance Marsteller and John Stefanowicz may have pulled an Olympic Trials' first: wrestling on side-by-side mats.

Marsteller took down longtime rival Evan Wick, 6-0, in his opening 86 kilogram match.

Meanwhile, Stefanowicz dominated in his opening 87 kilos Greco-Roman match, winning 8-0 on technical superiority.

86 kilograms: Aaron Brooks crushes, Mark Hall falls

Penn State four-time national champ and fan favorite Aaron Brooks took down a potential future Nittany Lion star.

Brooks pulled away late from incoming Nittany Lion Connor Mirasola, winning 11-5.

Meanwhile, former PSU national champ Mark Hall dropped his opening 86 kilogram match to Alex Dieringer, 5-2.

65 kilograms: Beau Bartlett loses, drops into consolation bracket

Beau Bartlett rallied to tie his second-round 65 kilos match early but couldn't sustain his momentum.

The Penn State national runner-up at 141 pounds couldn't find any offense in the second period. He lost to former Northern Colorado wrestler Andrew Alirez, 6-2.

The defeat prevents Bartlett from meeting top seed and PSU national champ Nick Lee later today.

65 kilograms: Nick Lee dominates in first match

Two-time NCAA champ Nick Lee, the No. 1 seed at 65 kilos, crushed Alec Pantaleo in his opening Trials competition here.

He ripped off a 9-0 lead to big cheers from the three-quarters-filled Bryce Jordan Center.

He held strong in the final two minutes for the 9-2 victory.

57 kilograms: Luke Lilledahl rallies late for victory

Penn State recruit Luke Lilledahl came from behind in the final moments for a 3-2 opening victory at 57 kilos over Daniel Deshazer.

The Wyoming Seminary wrestler will join Cael Sanderson's team in the fall.

74 kilograms: Vincenzo Joseph, Penn State wrestling loses second

Two-time NCAA champ Vincenzo Joseph dropped the toughest opening match at 74 kilos.

The former Nittany Lion lost to Jarrett Jacques, 6-6, on criteria.

86 kilograms: Carter Starocci rallies to win big

The Penn State fans here roared as four-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci made his triumphant opening.

Down early in his opening match with Baltimore's Patric Downey (Iowa State grad), Starocci stormed back for the 12-4 victory.

He was helped, it seemed, by Downey struggling with a leg injury midway through their match.

Starocci now prepares to meet NCAA runner-up at 197 ponds, Trent Hidlay.

74 kilograms: Levi Haines vs. Alex Facundo

Penn State sophomore-to-be Alex Facundo made an early statement on taking his Olympic redshirt season.

He completely shut down PSU national champ Levi Haines this morning in their opening bout at 74 kilos. Facundo beat the sophomore national champ, 6-0.

Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs, one of the most accomplished USA wrestlers of all time, is up next for Facundo.

86 kilograms: Connor Mirasola posts shutout

Penn State recruit Connor Mirasola started his Trials with a 4-0 victory over David McFadden at 86 kilos.

Mirasola will be a Nittany Lion in the fall.

Next up for him?

Just Penn State four-time NCAA champ Aaron Brooks.

Beau Bartlett opens Penn State wrestling with victory

Penn State's Beau Bartlett started out his Olympic quest in winning fashion here in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Bartlett, the national runner-up at 141 pounds, defeated older, nationally-accomplished Nahshon Garrett, 10-6, in today's opening of the 65 kilogram weight class competition.

Bartlett led 5-2 and then 9-6 in his rapid-fire match against Garrett, a 2016 Cornell grad and member of Team USA.

Beau Bartlett, Penn State wrestling kicking off Olympic Trials

National runner-up Beau Bartlett will be one of the first Penn State wrestlers to go in this morning's opening of the U.S. Olympic Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Bartlett will take on Nahshon Garrett, a 2016 Cornell grad, in the 65 kilogram class on mat two (four-mat stage setup here). Green trains with the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club and is a member of Team USA.

Other assignments this morning:

Penn State's Carter Starocci vs. Patrick Downey (86 kilos) on mat 1; Max Dean vs. Evan Wick (86 kilos) on mat 2 and a PSU battle between Levi Haines vs. Alex Facundo on mat 4.

Penn State wrestling, U.S. Olympic Trials countdown is on

A stunning six members of the current national championship Penn State wrestling team are scheduled to participate in today's opening of the Olympic Trials Challenge Tournament.

That's more than half of their starting lineup competing for a spot on the Olympic team.

Kind of incredible.

Action begins soon.

Pregaming

▶ Here's what to know about the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials this weekend at Penn State

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

▶ Who stands in Aaron Brooks' way at the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials?

▶ The dream road: How Chance Marsteller, Penn State wrestlers clash at Olympic Trials

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Penn State wrestling at U.S. Olympic Trials: Live updates