Three Olympians and a Trials Champion for Nittany Lion Wrestling and the Penn State RTC at 2024 Olympic Team Trials

UNIVERSITY PARK– Three members of the Nittany Lion wrestling family and the Penn State Olympic Regional Training Center will represent the United States at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games after winning titles at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Bryce Jordan Center. One other earned a U.S. Olympic Trials Championship and will have the opportunity to become an Olympian in Turkey this May by qualifying the weight for the Paris games.

The Penn State RTC/NLWC had eight of the 12 men’s freestyle finalists. Three of the six men’s freestyle final series were all-NLWC match-ups. In addition to the three Olympians and Trials Champion, five individuals finished in the top four at their weight to earn spots on the U.S. National Team. The Penn State RTC/NLWC won four of the six men’s freestyle titles.

Kyle Dake (PSU RTC/74 kg) and Jason Nolf (PSU RTC/74 kg) met in the 74 kg best-of-three series. Dake used an early takedown to post a 4-1 win over Nolf in the first bout of the series, wrestled in Saturday’s first session. Dake won the second meeting in Saturday’s evening session 3-1 and advanced to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games with the win. Nolf was Olympic Trials runner-up, and his second place finish earns him a spot on the U.S. National Team.

David Taylor (PSU RTC/86 kg) and Aaron Brooks (Current-PSU RTC/86 kg) battled in the 84 kg best-of-three series. Brooks used takedowns in each period to post a 4-1 win in the opening bout, wrestled in the early session on Saturday. Brooks picked up a step out in the first period and a takedown in the second to post a 3-1 win over Taylor in Saturday night’s final session to win the series 2-0. His victory earns him a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team and a trip to the Paris Summer Olympic Games. Taylor ends the tournament as the Trials runner-up and has secured a spot on the U.S. National Team.

Kyle Snyder (PSU RTC/97 kg) met Isaac Trumble (WRTC) in the best-of-three final series. Snyder controlled the action from the onset on posted a 5-0 win over Trumble in the first bout, contested during the day’s early session. Snyder used a series of step outs and a passivity call to roll to a 4-0 win in the second match against Trumble, wrestled in Saturday night’s final session. The win will send Snyder to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

Thomas Gilman (PSU RTC/57 kg) faced Spencer Lee (HWC) in the best-of-three series at 57 kg, one of the weights that has yet to qualify for the Games. Gilman dropped the first match in the series 6-3 early on in Saturday’s morning session. In the second meeting later that session, Gilman led on criteria late but gave up a takedown and eventually lost by fall (5:58). He ends the tournament as the second place finisher and earns a spot on the US National Team.

Zain Retherford (PSU RTC/65 kg) took on Nick Lee (PSU RTC/65 kg) in the best-of-three series at 65 kg, another weight that will need to be qualified for the Olympics in Turkey. Lee scored first but Retherford picked up a step out and passivity to post a 2-1 win in the first bout. Rethford controlled the action in the second match and posted a 5-0 win to claim the series and the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials title. Retherford will now have a chance to qualify his weight for the Paris Games later this May in Turkey to become an Olympian. Lee, by virtue of his second place finish, earned a spot on the U.S. National Team.

Mitchell Mesenbrink (Current-PSU RTC/74 kg) took on Quincey Monday (NJRTC) in his first consolation bout on Saturday. Mesenbrink was dominant in posting a 12-1 technical superiority win, advancing in the third place bracket. He then posted a quick 10-0 technical superiority over Jarrett Jacques (TSWC) in his next match. He finished off the tournament with a 3-1 record, taking third place and earning a spot on the U.S. national team.

Greg Kerkvliet (Current-PSU RTC/125 kg) took on Wyatt Hendrickson (AFRTC) in his fist match in the third place bracket and rolled to an 11-0 technical superiority win. He followed that up with a tough 2-2 (ct.) loss to Dom Bradley (TSWC). Kerkvliet closed out the tournament with a 2-2 record.

Mark Hall (Former PSU/86 kg) took on Max Dean (PSU RTC/86 kg) in each former Lion’s first bout of the day in the third place bracket at 86 kg. Hall posted a 12-2 win, ending Dean’s tournament run, and keeping Hall in line for a top four finish and a spot on the U.S. National Team. Hall then lost a tough 9-4 decision to Trent Hidlay (WRTC) in his next match to end his tournament. The Nittany Lion great then left his shoes on the mat as he left the BJC, announcing his retirement from freestyle wrestling.

Beau Bartlett (Current-PSU RTC/65 kg), Alex Facundo (Current -PSU RTC/74 kg), Levi Haines (Current-PSU RTC/74 kg), Carter Starocci (Current-PSU RTC/86 kg, Nico Megaludis (Former PSU/57 kg), Vincenzo Joseph (Former PSU/74 kg) and Jennifer Page (PSU RTC/WFS 57 kg) all competed yesterday as well, rounding out the Happy Valley contingent’s 19 grapplers.

Prior to the final session, Penn State RTC/Nittany Lion Wrestling Club head coach Jake Varner was named the USA Wrestling Men’s Freestyle Coach of the Year.

As stated, 13 of the 18 Trials Champions crowned at the event will represent the United States at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games, which begin on July 26. The wrestling portion of the games runs from August 5 through August 11. The other five will look to become Olympians by qualifying their respective weights for the Games later in May in Turkey. In addition, the top four finishers at each weight class earn spots on the U.S. National Team.

The 2023-24 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by the Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via X/twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.

Penn State/Penn State Olympic RTC at 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Wrestling
April 19-20, 2024 – Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.

Weight-by-weight competitors and agate (alpha by weight):

Weight-by-weight competitors and agate:

Thomas Gilman (PSU RTC/57 kg)
1: bye
2: Jax Forrest MHS – W, 5-4
3: Daton Fix CWC – W, 6-0
F-1: Spencer Lee HWC – L, 3-6
F-2: Spencer Lee HWC – LBF (5:58)

Nico Megaludis PITT-WC (Former PSU/57 kg)
1: bye
2: Spencer Lee HWC – L, 0-8
C1: Marcus Blaze PWC – L, 2-2 (ct.)

Beau Bartlett (Current-PSU RTC/65 kg)
1: Nahshon Garrett LVWC – W, 10-6
2: Andrew Alirez NCRTC – L, 2-6
C1: Joey McKenna PRTC – L, 2-3

Nick Lee (PSU RTC/65 kg)
1: bye
2: Alex Pantaleo CKWC – W, 9-2
3: Andrew Alirez NCRTC – W, 11-9
F-1: Zain Retherford NLWC – L, 1-2
F-2: Zain Retherford NLWC – L, 0-5

Zain Retherford (PSU RTC/65 kg)
1: bye
2: bye
3: Jesse Mendez OHRTC – W, 3-2
F-1: Nick Lee NLWC – W, 2-1
F-2: Nick Lee NLWC – W, 5-0

Kyle Dake (PSU RTC/74 kg)
F-1: Jason Nolf NLWC – W, 4-1
F-2: Jason Nolf NLWC – W, 3-1

Alex Facundo (Current -PSU RTC/74 kg)
1: Levi Haines NLWC – W, 6-0
2: Jordan Burroughs PRTC – L, 3-5
C1: Tyler Berger PRTC – L, 5-5 (ct.)

Levi Haines (Current-PSU RTC/74 kg)
1: Alex Facundo NLWC – L, 0-6
C1: Alex Marinelli HWC – L, 7-11

Vincenzo Joseph SKWC (Former PSU/74 kg)
1: Jarrett Jacques TSWC – L, 6-6 ct.
C1: Ladarian Lockett CWC – L, forfeit

Mitchell Mesenbrink (Current-PSU RTC/74 kg)
1: bye
2: Ladarian Lockett CWC – W, 13-3
3: Jordan Burroughs PRTC – L, 3-8
C1: Quincey Monday NJRTC – W, 12-1
3rd: Jarrett Jacques TSWC – W, 10-0

Jason Nolf (PSU RTC/74 kg)
1: bye
2: Alex Marinelli HWC – W, 7-3
3: Jarrett Jacques TSWC – W, 9-2
4: Jordan Burroughs PRTC – W, 3-0
F-1: Kyle Dake NLWC – L, 1-4
F-2: Kyle Dake NLWC – L, 1-3

David Taylor (PSU RTC/86 kg)
F-1: Aaron Brooks NLWC – L, 1-4
F-2: Aaron Brooks NLWC – L, 1-3

Aaron Brooks (Current-PSU RTC/86 kg)
1: bye
2: Connor Mirasola AWA/NLWC – W, 11-5
3: Alex Dieringer CKWC – W, 8-4
4: Zahid Valencia SKWC – W, 7-6
F-1: David Taylor NLWC – W, 4-1
F-2: David Taylor NLWC – W, 3-1

Max Dean (PSU RTC/86 kg)
1: Evan Wick TMWC – L, 1-13
C1: Connor Mirasola AWA/NLWC – W, 12-2 TS
C2: Mark Hall PRTC – L, 2-12

Mark Hall PRTC (Former PSU/86 kg)
1: bye
2: Alex Dieringer CKWC – L, 2-5
C1: Patrick Downey S-MMA – W, forfeit
C2: Max Dean NLWC – W, 12-2
C3: Trent Hidlay WRTC – L, 4-9

Carter Starocci (Current-PSU RTC/86 kg)
1: Patrick Downey S-MMA – W, 12-4
2: Trent Hidlay WRTC – L, 4-6
C1: bye
C2: Evan Wick TMWC – L, inj.

Kyle Snyder (PSU RTC/97 kg)
F-1: Isaac Trumble (WRTC) – W, 5-0
F-2: Isaac Trumble (WRTC) – W, 4-0

Greg Kerkvliet (Current-PSU RTC/125 kg)
1: bye
2: Christian Lance NWTC – W, 10-0 TS
3: Nick Gwiazdowski SPAR/TMWC – L, 1-5
C1: Wyatt Hendrickson AFRTC – W, 11-0
C2: Dom Bradley TSWC – L, 2-2 (ct.)

Jennifer Page (PSU RTC/WFS 62 kg)
1: bye
2: bye
3: Mallory Velte BDRTC – W, 8-7
4: Macey Kilty SKWC – L, 8-9
C1: did not compete