Penn State Wrestling and the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club were well-represented at this year’s Senior World Championships in Kazakhstan.
So far, at least one NLWC member will walk away with a title.
Kyle Snyder is one of the greatest American wrestlers ever, and added to his legacy by winning his fifth world title, plus an Olympic Gold Medal in 2016.
Snyder, competing at 97 KG, finished the job by beating Japan’s Arash Yoshida 4-4 on criteria.
Snyder isn’t the only Kyle who trains with NLWC, is an American wrestling legend and has a chance to win a world title.
At 35 years old, Kyle Dake is still going strong.
“Dake earned a berth in the men’s freestyle 86 kg gold medal match with a 6-3 win over two-time U20 World champion and current European champion Ibragim Kadiev of Russia,” USA Wrestling writes. “The win reversed an 11-4 result in Kadiev’s favor at the Muhamet Malo Ranking Series in March. He will aim for a fifth World title against 2025 World bronze medalist Arsenii Dzhioev of Azerbaijan.”
One doesn’t have to be named “Kyle” to show out at World’s for NLWC.
Current Penn State sophomore Marcus Blaze has a chance to win a Bronze Medal at 61 KG.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.He gave former Worlds silver medalist Ahmad Mohammadnezhadjavan (Iran) all he could handle before falling 3-2, but still has a chance for Bronze, for which he’ll compete early Saturday morning. He needs one win for the right to wrestle for Bronze.
Going back to the veterans, Zain Retherford is also competing for the chance to win a Bronze Medal, with Retherford going at 70 KG. The two-time Hodge Trophy winner made it to the semifinals before falling 3-2 to three-time World medalist Ernazar Akmataliev (Kyrgyzstan).
Lastly, former (maybe current?) Penn State wrestle Levi Haines will start his tournament Saturday morning.
Cael Sanderson On Levi Haines Fifth-Year Status: “He’s Preparing”
Haines is the No. 3 seed at 79 KG and will open his tournament against Mohammed Amine Bouazouni (Morocco) after 1 a.m. ET. If Haines wins, he’ll likely face Ismail Khaniev (Russia).
Haines took silver at Senior Worlds last season, so the only way for him to do better is if he wins the whole thing.
Blaze, (maybe) Haines and this year’s Penn State wrestling team begin their 2026-27 season Thursday, Nov. 12 against Bloomsburg at Rec Hall. The dual meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
