Not that anybody needs more evidence that Penn State wrestling is good, but it takes one hell of an operation to take up half of the starting spots in the U20 World Championships.
The starters at 61 KG, 70 KG, 79 KG, 92 KG and 125 KG are all a part of the Penn State wrestling programs.
These five are a mix of generational talents fresh out of high school, slightly older wrestlers who have cut their teeth at the college level and one 2025 signee who, because of some of his classmates, is overlooked despite putting together a fantastic college career
Here are the five who have made their way to Bulgaria.
MARCUS BLAZE
Each Penn State wrestling Class of 2025 signee is talented but two are thought to be generational. Blaze is one of them.
The Perrysburg, Ohio star won his fourth state championship earlier this year and did so jumping up from 138 to 150 pounds. This versatility is part of why many feel Blaze has a shot to start for Penn State right away. In college, Blaze projects to compete at either 133 and 141.
Blaze took Bronze at U20 Worlds last year and won a U17 title in 2023.
PJ DUKE
Nobody in the Penn State wrestling program has had a better summer than Duke. In May, he beat two reigning NCAA champions in the same day.
In June, he punched his ticket to the Senior World Team with two wins over Cornell legend and four-time NCAA champ Yianni Diakomihalis at the World Team Trials.
Duke is the No. 2 recruit in the country from the Class of 2025 and the No. 2 recruit in Penn State’s class.
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Duke competed at U20 Worlds last year and took Bronze.
WILL HENCKEL
Henckel has already put together quite the wrestling resume. This past February, he won his second national prep championship and placed for the fourth time. In the years he didn’t win, he finished second and third, respectively. He’s also a two-time Beast of the East champion, with features wrestlers from more than 20 states. This season, he beat Ryan Burton, also from New Jersey, in the finals. At this year’s national prep championships, Henckel went 5-0 with four pins and a tech fall. In the finals, he pinned Brown commit Maximums Norman.
Henckel got here by winning the U.S. Team trials and also took gold at the U20 Pan American Championships and was twice runner-up the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals.
Henckel is the No. 23 overall recruit in the Class of 2025. In most classes, he would be the top dog. But this is Penn State wrestling we’re talking about.
CONNOR MIRASOLA
Now, we’re getting into the current Penn State wrestlers. Mirasola didn’t get much of a chance to compete during his true freshman season due to national runner-up Josh Barr starting at 197. Unfortunately for Mirasola, Barr is back, so it will be tough for him to crack the starting lineup. But if there’s a path, a big World Championship performance would go a long way.
Like Henckel, Mirasola got here by winning at the team trials, and also like Henckel, he won Gold at the Pan-American Games. This is Mirasola’s second U20 World Championships. He finished fifth last season.
COLE MIRASOLA
Yes, they are related. Both brothers also won Gold at Pan-Americans and at the team trials. Cole Mirasola is expected to be Penn State’s starting heavyweight this season, succeeding five-time All-American and 2024 national champ Greg Kerkvliet. A big performance at world’s would set a tone.
The U20/Junior World Championships are set to begin Sunday, Aug. 17, and run for a week. The event will be streamed on FloWrestling.
