UNIVERSITY PARK === Six members of the Penn State Nittany Lion Olympic Regional Training Center/Nittany Lion Wrestling Club competed at 2026’s Final X at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Five of those competitors won their best-of-three series and earned spots on the 2026 U.S. World Team. All six are already part of the 2026 U.S. National Team.

Reigning NCAA Champion Levi Haines battled Chance Marsteller at 79 kg. Haines dominated the first match-up, post a 6-1 victory. Haines then dominated the second period in the next bout, using a four-point move to roll to a 6-3 win. He won the series 2-0 and earned a spot on the U.S. World Team.

Current NCAA All-American Marcus Blaze met Jax Forrest at 61 kg. Lilledahl came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the bout 2-2 with a late point, taking the 2-2 win in the opening bout. Blaze lost the second round bout 6-1, setting up a final match for the Final X crown. Blaze, trailing 1-0 at the break, dominated the second period and posted a strong 5-2 win to claim the series 2-1 and earn a spot on the U.S. World Team.

Former Penn State NCAA Champion Zain Retherford faced Ridge Lovett at 70 kg. Retherford used a first period takedown to beat Lovett 2-1 in round one. Retherford then dominated Lovett in the second period of the next bout and rolled to an 8-2 win. His 2-0 series win earned his spot on the U.S. World Team.

Two-time Olympic Medalist, including Olympic Gold in 2016, Kyle Snyder faced Stephen Buchanan at 97 kg. Snyder posted a convincing 5-2 win the first round bout. Buchanan mounted a late comeback in the second match to win 5-5. Snyder dominated the final match, however, rolling to a 9-3 win to claim the Final X series 2-1. Snyder’s victory earned him a slot on the U.S. World Team at 97 kg.

Two-time Olympic Medalist Kyle Dake faced Zahid Valencia at 86 kg. Dake fell 3-2 in the opening round but rebounded for a strong 4-1 win in the second round match-up, setting up a third bout in the best-of-three series. Dake dominated the third bout, winning 4-0 to claim the Final X series 2-1. He became Penn State/Penn State RTC’s fifth member of the U.W. World Team with the victory.

Reigning NCAA Champion Luke Lilledahl took on Spencer Lee at 57 kg. Lilledahl dropped a 7-1 decision in the first round match-up. Lilledahl led early in the second bout, but Lee was able to come back to post an 8-4 win and claim the series 2-0. Lilledahl will be a member of the 2026 U.S. National Team.

As stated previously, the winners earn spots on the 2026 U.S. World Team and will represent the United States in international competition throughout the upcoming freestyle cycle. All six wrestlers are members of the U.S. National Team as well.