The U20 World Team Trials are scheduled for this weekend, and as usual, Penn State wrestling is well-represented.
Penn State currently has eight current wrestlers/commits registered, and it’s expected that Marcus Blaze, the No. 1 overall Class of 2025 recruit, will join in as well.
But even with Blaze competing, the guy who gets the most attention might be PJ Duke.
Duke, who is still in high school, recently competed at the Senior World Team Trials. He not only held his own but he beat everybody— including two reigning national champions— en route to punching his Final X ticket.
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Here’s a look at Penn State wrestling’s eight registries thus far.
NATE DESMOND
Competing at 57 KG, Desmond most recently competed at the U.S. Open, where he fell in the quarterfinals.
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Desmond’s career has been hindered somewhat by injury, but he still ended the 2025 ranking cycle as the No. 39 overall recruit in America. When Desmond was healthy, there weren’t many better in the high school ranks. He won state championships in each of his first three seasons. But this past season amounted to just 10 matches due to injury, and Desmond wasn’t healthy for the postseason.
Now, he’s ready to go.
SAM HERRING
Competing at 61 KG, Herring was one win away from a U.S. Open Championship but fell to Arizona State commit Kyler Larkin. Herring now has a chance to take on Larkin in a best-of-three series, which he will have to qualify for through the WTT challenge.
Herring ranks No. 24 on Mat Scouts’ Class of 2026 Big Board. Herring, who wrestles with Jax Forrest and Bo Bassett at Bishop McCourt, finished his high school career 89-17.
JAYDEN JAMES
James, the No. 3 overall ‘26 recruit per the Big Board, was the U17 U.S. Open Champion last month. Now, he’s competing at U20.
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Penn State missed on the top two recruits in Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) and Bo Bassett (Iowa).
But in James, the program landed what it hopes will be a future star. James, who wrestles at Delbarton High School in New Jersey, is coming off a state championship at the 150-pound weight class. So, yeah, he’s pretty good.
JOE SEALEY
Like James, Sealey’s competing at 74 KG. Unlike James, Sealey already has a year of college wrestling experience under his belt. Due to competing at 157, where Penn State had eventual third-place national finisher Tyler Kasak, we didn’t get to see much of Sealey last season. This summer, he’ll have more of a chance to show what he can do on the freestyle circuit.
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Photo by Tony Rotundo: Khaled Dassan and PJ Duke
It’s be a heck of a spring for Duke so far. He won the U20 U.S. Open title at 70 KG, and weeks later, had his magical run at the World Team Trials. Regardless of what he does at U20s, Duke will compete for a spot on a senior world team at Final X June 14 against four-time national champ Yianni Diakomihalis.
But Duke would be much happier if he wins his best-of-three series (opponent TBD) and goes into Newark on that note.
WILL HENCKEL
Henckel took home the U.S. Open Championship at 79 KG. Henckel got to the finals with four tech falls and a pin, earning a bout with top-seeded Brock Mantanona. Henckel, seeded second, won a thrilling bout 12-8. Then, there were the Mirasola Twins.
THE MIRASOLA TWINS
At 92 KG, Connor Mirasola, who just wrapped up his freshman season at Penn State, won the whole thing.
He rolled through the bracket, getting three tech fall wins before going against Oklahoma State’s Cody Merrill in the championship round.
Mirasola brought it home with a 5-1 win.
At 125, brother Cole brought it home as well.
He won his first three matches via tech fall and then took on the No. 1 seed, Iowa commit Michael Mocco.
Mocco, the No. 15 prospect in the Class of 2026, gave Mirasola a fight but ultimately fell 9-6.
Therefore, Mirasola advanced to the finals where he met Oklahoma State commit Dreshaun Ross, who’s ranked No. 3 in the 2026 Class.
Mirasola upset Ross 7-5 to bring home Gold.
This year’s U20 World Team Trials are scheduled for May 30-June 1 in Geneva, Ohio.
