In the early going on Day 2 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, there were already two all-Penn State matches.
In the first, Mark Hall took a 12-2 technical fall over Max Dean in the 86 kg consolation bracket. Hall now represents the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center, while Dean stayed in State College after graduation and wrestles for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.
Hall wrestled another match in the consolation semifinals against Mifflin County native Trent Hidlay. Hall looked much smaller than Hidlay, and Hidlay came away witha 9-4 win. Hall took his shoes off after the match, signifying his wrestling career was over. He came off the mat to a standing ovation.
The other was the much anticipated championship series at 65 kg between Nick Lee and Zain Retherford. In a match that had a lot of blood time, Retherford took the first match, 2-1, in a series that could easily go the distance.
Thomas Gilman also wrestled his first match in the best-of-3 championship series at 57 kg. Gilman ran into a buzzsaw in Spencer Lee, and fell in the first match, 6-3. Gilman will need to win two in a row in the night session to qualify for Paris.
PSU wrestling commit Luke Lilledahl also fell in the consolations against Marcus Blaze, 5-1, to finish his tournament.
Mitchell Mesenbrink earned a big 12-1 technical fall over Quincy Monday in consolation action at 74 kg.
The final matches of the best-of-3 championship series will be televised on USA later tonight. All matches can be watched on Peacock.
