To no surprise, Penn State wrestling was well represented at this weekendโs U20 World Team Trials, and five Penn State wrestlers/commits will be representing Team USA at that level.
Marcus Blaze (61 KG), PJ Duke (70 KG), William Henckel (79 KG), Connor Mirasola (92 KG) and Cole Mirasola (125 KG) are going to Bulgaria in August.
None of these five representatives should come as a surprise.
Blaze and Duke are the top two Class of 2025 recruits anywhere in the country, and both picked Penn State wrestling. Henckel isnโt terribly far behind, finishing 23rd on FloWrestlingโs Big Board. The Mirasola brothers were also top-level recruits once upon a time and they each have a year college experience in Americaโs best room under their belt.
Hereโs a breakdown of how each of the five got here.
MARCUS BLAZE
Heโs No. 1 for a reason. Blaze took on Arizona Stateโs Kyler Larkin in the best-of-three finals at 61 KG, and demolished him, winning two matches by a combined 14-1.
PJ DUKE
Duke is right there with Blaze, if not ahead, and again, thereโs a reason for this. The New Yorker took on Oklahoma Stateโs Landon Robideau in the finals and got the job done, winning 7-0 in the first bout and 9-4 in the second.
WILLIAM HENCKEL
Itโs easy to forget about Henckel because of how decorated Blaze and Duke are but Brock Mantanona wonโt be forgetting about him anytime soon. Henckel beat the Michigan wrestler in straight bouts to punch his ticket.
THE MIRASOLAโS
Itโs been quite a late spring for Connor and Cole, who each won U.S. Open titles and then did the same at the World Team Trials. Cole swept Oklahoma State commit Dreshaun Ross to make the U20 World Team at 125 KG. Connor did the same to Bucknellโs Dillon Bechtold.ย
This yearโs U20 World Team Championships are scheduled for Aug. 18-24 in Bulgaria.
