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The Final X field is set; how many Penn State wrestlers will be there, and who will they face?

by: Greg Pickel05/15/26GregPickel

The 2026 World Team Trials finals are in the books. Penn State alum Zain Retherford clinched his spot at Final X by beating Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson by decision, 2-1, in the 70-kilogram finals. He will face Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett in the best-of-three final in June to see who makes the Senior Team USA. Incoming Nittany Lion Jayden James cannot say the same. Despite a furious comeback, he dropped his 74-kilogram final to former Iowa State star David Carr, 9-7. It was still an extremely impressive showing from the 17-year-old at the senior level.

The other WTT finals were won by Spencer Lee (57 kilograms), Jax Forrest (61kg), and Mason Parris (125kg).

All told, there will be a Nittany Lion Wrestling Club member in six of the 10 men’s freestyle matches at Final X. It is on Fri., June 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

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Last but not least, Penn State’s Joe Sealey finished third at 74 kilograms by beating former Princeton All-American Quincy Monday 10-5. Heavyweight Cole Mirasola finished fourth after falling to Coby Merrill 13-7 in the 125-kilogram bronze match.

Below, you can see the full men’s freestyle Final X field. You can also find a complete recap of every World Team Trials final.

The Final X field is set with six Penn State connections

05/15/2026 01:37:34 PM

57 kg – Luke Lilledahl (NLWC) vs. Spencer Lee (Iowa RTC)
61 kg – Marcus Blaze (NLWC) vs. Jax Forrest (Cowboy RTC)
65 kg – Real Woods (Cliff Keen WC/) vs. Bo Bassett (Windber, Pa.)
70 kg – Ridge Lovett (Nebraska WTC) vs. Zain Retherford (NLWC)
74 kg – James Green (Nebraska WTC) vs. David Carr (Cyclone RTC)
79 kg – Levi Haines (NLWC) vs. Chance Marsteller (New Jersey RTC)
86 kg – Zahid Valencia (Cowboy RTC) vs. Kyle Dake (NLWC)
92 kg – Trent Hidlay (/Wolfpack WC) vs. Michael Macchiavello (Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC)
97 kg – Kyle Snyder (NLWC) vs. Stephen Buchanan (Hawkeye WC)
125 kg – Wyatt Hendrickson (Cowboy RTC) vs. Mason Parris (Cliff Keen WC)

Mason Parris wins the last final of the day

05/15/2026 01:31:55 PM

Michigan alum Mason Parris was pinned by N.C. State’s Isaac Trumble early in their 125-kilogram final but it was wiped out by the referees following a ruling of “clear strangulation.” Parris ended up winning the match after that 14-11.

Recap:

Parris shoots but Trumble counters and they get two and two out of it. And then Trumble decks Parris. Wow. Parris looked to be out cold. The Michigan corner has thrown a challenge brick for strangulation. Wow. After review, they wipe out the pin and change the initial scoring and clock. So Michigan wins the challenge.

The score now is 2-2 with 5:19 on the clock and they’re back to wrestling. Parris drops in on a single and finishes it for a 4-2 lead and then gets two exposure points for a 6-2. He turns him again for two more and an 8-2. Now a stalemate at 3:56. Trumble drops on a leg but Parris squares him up. Another shot by Trumble by Parris counters drops on a leg and is working to turn behind for a takedown and gets it but Trumble gets two exposure, making it 10-4 at the break. What a nutty first period.

Second period is underway. Parris drops in on a leg but Trumble gets two exposures to make it 10-6. Parris is countering and gets two exposures of his own to make it 12-6 before a stalemate at 2:00. Trumble shoots but Parris counters for a takedown of his own to make it 14-6. Stalemate at 1:23. Parris blocks off a Trumble shot and a stalemate is called at 1:00. Still 14-6 Parris. Trumble shoots off the restart but Parris blocks it off. Trumble is now in on a leg and gets two on a takedown to make it 14-8. Stalemate at :18. Trumble shoots and Parris fends it off but Trumble pushes forward to drive him off the mat to make it 14-9. Trumble shoots and takes down Parris off the restart to 14-11. that’s the final.

Parris over Trumble 14-11

Jayden James falls to David Carr

05/15/2026 01:19:06 PM

Penn State freshman Jayden James lost the 74-kilogram Trials’ final to former Iowa State star David Carr by decision, 9-7. He erased most of a 9-1 defecit but couldn’t finish the comeback. It’s still a tremendous senior-level performance for the 17-year-old incoming Nittany Lion.

Recap:

The match is underway. A stalemate is called 45 seconds in. Carr tries a double leg shot but James fends it off. Rinse repeat and their neutral and scoreless at 4:27 when a stalemate stops the action and puts David Carr on the clock. He shoots immediately and scores for a 2-0 lead. James fends off the turn attempt as they go off the edge and back to standing neutral at 4:12. James is going on the clock at 3:35. He shoots off the restart on a single leg, Carr is trying to fend it off, and they come up standing and James pushes Carr off the mat and into the scorers table for a point. It’s 2-1 Carr over James at 3:15 and James is off the clock. No scoring from there. It’s 2-1 Carr after one.

The second is underway. James was attempting to get a step out but couldn’t. Then Carr ducks and shoots for a takedown and a 4-1 lead. They go off the edge before Carr gets a turn. So it’s 4-1 Carr with 2:23 to go. Now we have another stoppage for the replay system going down. There’s 2:02 on the clock.

They’re back. Carr shoots and gets four, two on the takedown and two on the exposure before they go off the edge. James’ corner challenges the sequence. The call is confirmed. Carr gets a point for James’ corner losing the challenge. So it’s 9-1 Carr now with 1:45 left. Off the restart, James is in on a low single and gets a takedown on the edge to make it 9-3, plus a penalty point on Carr to make it 9-4 with 1:22 left. Carr starts on his belly because of the penalty caution and Carr is cautioned after crawling off the mat which makes it 9-5 and he’ll start on his belly again with 1:11 left. James can’t turn him and a stalemate is called at 1:00. They’re back standing neutral James ducks in and throws Carr off the edge of the mat for two to make it 9-7 with 32 seconds left to wrestle. james snaps down on the head but can’t run behind. Stalemate at :13. Inside trip by james and Carr gets on the leg. Carr fends it off.

Carr beats Jayden James 9-7

Cole Mirasola falls in the third place match

05/15/2026 01:13:51 PM

Penn State heavyweight Cole Mirasola fell 13-7 to Coby Merrill in the 125-kilogram third place match.

David Carr leads Jayden James 2-1 at the break

05/15/2026 01:08:32 PM

The match is underway. A stalemate is called 45 seconds in. Carr tries a double leg shot but James fends it off. Rinse repeat and their neutral and scoreless at 4:27 when a stalemate stops the action and puts David Carr on the clock. He shoots immediately and scores for a 2-0 lead. James fends off the turn attempt as they go off the edge and back to standing neutral at 4:12. James is going on the clock at 3:35. He shoots off the restart on a single leg, Carr is trying to fend it off, and they come up standing and James pushes Carr off the mat and into the scorers table for a point. It’s 2-1 Carr over James at 3:15 and James is off the clock. No scoring from there. It’s 2-1 Carr after one.

Zain Retherford is going to Final X

05/15/2026 01:02:47 PM

Penn State alum Zain Retherford used a push out and passivity point to beat Caleb Henson 2-1 in the 70-kilogram finals. He is now off to Final X, where he’ll face Ridge Lovett.

Recap:

70 kg Zain Retherford vs. Caleb Henson

No scoring in the first minute. Then Retherford is put on the clock. He shoots in on Henson and drives him off the mat for a 1-0 lead while also clearing the clock with 4:33 to go. There’s a stalemate at 4:04. Henson shoots but Retherford fends it off easily. Henson shoots but it leads to a stalemate. The first period is over. Retherford leads Henson 1-0.

The second is underway. Henson tries another shot but it goes nowhere. Stalemate at 2:22. Henson is put on the clock and does shoot but Retherford gets a headlock in and the clock expires. It’s 2-0 Retherford with 1:47 left to wrestle. Henson shots and Retherford fends it off again. That leads to Retherford being put on the clock, though, with 1:15 to go. Henson shoots but Retherford blocks it off. The clock does expire though. It’s 2-1 Retherford with 40 seconds left. Henson shoots and Retherford gets a front headlock in. Stalemate at :20. Quick shot for Henson that Retherford fends off. They break apart at :10. It’s over.

Retherford beats Henson 2-1

Retherford will face Ridge Lovett at Final X.

Zain Retherford leads Caleb Henson at halftime

05/15/2026 12:58:32 PM

No scoring in the first minute. Then Retherford is put on the clock. He shoots in on Henson and drives him off the mat for a 1-0 lead while also clearing the clock with 4:33 to go. There’s a stalemate at 4:04. Henson shoots but Retherford fends it off easily. Henson shoots but it leads to a stalemate. The first period is over. Retherford leads Henson 1-0.

Penn State wrestler Joe Sealey takes third at 74 kilograms

05/15/2026 12:55:51 PM

Penn State’s Joe Sealey takes third at 74 kilograms. He beat Quincy Monday 10-5 in the third place match at the World Team Trials.

Marcus Blaze will face Jax Forrest at Final X

05/15/2026 12:53:34 PM

Forrest beat Ohio State’s Ben Davino 11-1 in the Trials’ 61-kilogram final. It sets up a date at Final X between the Oklahoma State Cowboy and Penn State’s Marcus Blaze.

Jax Forrest-Ben Davino is underway

05/15/2026 12:50:10 PM

61kg final: Ben Davino vs. Jax Forrest

About 30 seconds in, Ben Davino’s head collides with Jax Forrest’s knee. Both need medical time. It looks like they’re checking Davino for a concussion. But, he’s good, and they’re back going.

Forrest counters a Davino shot and scores a takedown for a 2-0 lead. Then he locks in a leg lace for two and only two. Could have been a lot worse. It’s 4-0 Forrest with five minutes to wrestle. After a stalemate at the 4:35 mark, there’s some action but not much before another stoppage. It’s still 4-0 Forrest at the four minute mark. It’s break time. Forrest leads 4-0.

They’re back in action now. Lots of movement off the whistle. Forrest tries a throw by but Davino fends it off and thye break apart. Davino is now in on a great single leg but Forrest gets two out of it for 6-0. Davino gets a reversal to 6-1. Now they’re back neutral with 1:45 to wrestle. Davino shoots and Forrest counter shoot and scores a takedown for an 8-1 lead. Stalemate now at 1:20. Forrest is now in on a head outside sindle and Davino is trying to counter but Forrest gets a takedown and an exposure to win, 11-1.

Forrest TF Davino 11-1

Forrest vs. Blaze at Final X.

Luke Lilledahl will face Spencer Lee at Final X

05/15/2026 12:36:40 PM

Former Iowa Hawkeye Spencer Lee beat Rutgers’ Anthony Knox 13-3 in the Trials’ 57-kilogram final. He will now have a rematch with Luke Lilledahl at Final X. The Nittany Lion beat Lee in the final seconds of their US Open title match back in April.

Spencer Lee-Anthony Knox is underway in the 57-kilogram final

05/15/2026 12:31:00 PM

The first minute features some feeling each other out movement with no scoring. Off a restart, Spencer Lee dives in on a shot and gets a takedown for two and a turn for two to make it 4-0 at the 4:52 mark. Knox is now in on a leg off the restart and he gets a takedown for two but Lee ends up working back for two exposure points and that makes it 6-2 and then two more for an 8-2 lead. Two more exposures make it 10-2 and there is blood time stoppage now.

They are back at it now with four minutes on the clock. Now there’s another stoppage because the FLO guys think the replay system is down with 3:29 on the clock. And now they’re back in action. But just for 29 seconds. Now it’s the break. Lee leads 10-2.

The break is over. Knox gets in on a leg about 20 seconds in and hikes Lee’s leg in the air and forces a step out to make it 10-3 with 2:29 to go. Knox shoots and Lee catches him for two exposures and a 12-3 lead. There is now a minute left to wrestle and the score is the same. Knox is not shooting as if he’s down nine points. He does finally take one with 30 seconds left, and Lee runs him off the mat at the :17 mark. That’s it.

Lee TF Knox, 13-3

Here’s a look at the Final X matchups we already know

05/15/2026 12:22:06 PM

We will be updating this as the afternoon unfolds. The list is courtesy of USA Wrestling. Penn State connections are in bold:

57 kg – Luke Lilledahl (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Senior World Team Trials champion

61 kg – Marcus Blaze (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Senior World Team Trials champion

65 kg – Real Woods (Ann Arbor, Mich./Cliff Keen WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Bo Bassett (Windber, Pa./Titan Mercury WC)

70 kg – Ridge Lovett (Post Falls, Idaho/Nebraska WTC/Training Mercury WC) vs. Senior World Team Trials champion

74 kg – James Green (Lincoln, Neb./Nebraska WTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Senior World Team Trials champion

79 kg – Levi Haines (Bellefonte, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Chance Marsteller (Reading, Pa./New Jersey RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

86 kg – Zahid Valencia (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Kyle Dake (Port Matilda, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC)

92 kg – Trent Hidlay (Raleigh, N.C./Wolfpack WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Michael Macchiavello (Northampton, Pa./Lehigh Valley Wrestling RTC/Titan Mercury WC)

97 kg – Kyle Snyder (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC/Titan Mercury WC) vs. Stephen Buchanan (Coralville, Iowa/Hawkeye WC/Titan Mercury WC)

125 kg – Wyatt Hendrickson (Stillwater, Okla./Cowboy RTC/Air Force WCAP) vs. Senior World Team Trials champion

Men’s freestyle finals preview

05/15/2026 11:45:06 AM

The finals begin at 1 p.m. ET. They start with a 57-kilogram showdown between Spencer Lee and Anthony Knox for the right to face Nittany Lion Luke Lilledahl at Final X. Then, Ohio State’s Ben Davino will take on Oklahoma State freshman phenom Jax Forrest in the 61-kilogram final. The winner gets Penn State standout Marcus Blaze at Final X.

From there, Retherford and then James will take the mat. The finals conclude with a 125-kilogram showdown between Mason Parris and Isaac Trumble for the righ to face Wyatt Hendrickson at Final X.

Two other Nittany Lions will also be on the mat today. At 74 kilograms, Joe Sealey wrestles former Princeton All-American Quincy Monday for third. James beat both of them en route to the finals. Then, at 125 kilograms, Cole Mirasola will battle Coby Merrill for bronze.

The women’s freestyle finals are over

05/15/2026 12:16:07 PM

That means the men’s should start right on time at 1:30 p.m. ET.