Penn State wrestling star Luke Lilledahl is one match away from winning a national championship.
With an 8-3 win over No. 5 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State), Lilledahl will be competing against No. 10 Marc-Anthony McGowan for the national championship at 125.
125 is the one weight where Penn State isn’t used to having a national finalist.
The last one to accomplish that feat before Friday night was Nico Megaludis, who accomplished that feat and then won the national championship in 2016. Penn State has had national champs at every other weight since.
Soon after that, the so-called “Suriano curse” began.
After Megaludis’ college career ended, touted freshman Nick Suriano came to Penn State, and suffered a broken ankle at the Big Ten Championships.
For almost a decade after that, Penn State hadn’t had an All-American at 125.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Lilledahl changed that last season, and now, is one win away from putting the curse to bed for good.
To do that, he’ll have to beat one of the tournament’s top underdogs, who made it to the finals despite not seeding in the top nine.
Lilledahl finished third last season as a true freshman, regrouping after losing to Lehigh’s Sheldon Seymour in the quarterfinals.
He came into this season as a man on a mission.
Lilledahl’s achievement is historic, hit hardly unexpected. He came into the tournament undefeated and as the No. 1 seed, having just won the Big Ten championship less than two weeks prior.
“Lightnin Luke” was one of eight semifinalists for Penn State. NSN’s Kyle Golik is there for all the action.
