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Live Penn State Wrestling Updates From Final X

Tracking the Nittany Lions' results at the Final X national wrestling event.
Mark Wogenrich|
Penn State Nittany Lions wrestler Marcus Blaze competes at the NCAA Wrestling Championship at Rocket Arena.
Penn State Nittany Lions wrestler Marcus Blaze competes at the NCAA Wrestling Championship at Rocket Arena. | Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Final X 2026 is here. USA Wrestling's annual main event is underway at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. And Penn State wrestling will be a major player.

Four current or former Nittany Lions are competing in best-of-three freestyle series for trip to the 2026 Senior World Wrestling Championships. They will wrestle in some of the event's most anticipated matches as part of the daylong celebration of freestyle wrestling. The winners qualify for the October world championships in Kazakhstan

Marcus Blaze is one win from making his first Senior World team after defeating Oklahoma State's Jax Forrest, while Luke Lilledahl needs a comeback vs. Spencer Lee to advance. We're tracking all the Penn State results here, so follow along throughout the day. Until there, here's what you should know about the action. Looking for streaming information? Check out our Final X guide.

Spencer Lee dominates Luke Lilledahl in opener

At 57 kg, Spencer Lee wrestled with a sizable wrap on his right elbow and the memory of a 5-4 loss to Luke Lilledahl at the U.S. Open. Lee, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist from Iowa, rebounded to dominate Round 1 at Final X. Lilledahl scored a pair of takedowns in the second period of a 7-1 decision that had Lilledahl reeling.

Lilledahl, the defending NCAA champion at 125 pounds, appeared intent on keeping the bout close after trailing just 1-0 at the break. But Lee forced a step-out during a shot-clock violation to curb Lilledahl's advantage and then scored two decisive takedowns for the win. Lilledahl needs to hit reset before Round 2.

Marcus Blaze scores tense Round 1 win over Jax Forrest

Blaze, the rising-star Penn State freshman who placed fourth at NCAAs, took a 1-0 lead over Oklahoma State's Jax Forrest, who won their weight class of 133 pounds. Blaze nearly scored a takedown with 20 seconds in the second period, instead getting a step-out point to defeat Forrest on criteria in a 2-2 bout at 61 kg.

Blaze and Forrest certainly could go to a deciding third match, as the margin in this one was razor thin. Forrest scored two points after Blaze was put on the shot clock and could not score. But Blaze got one back on a shot-clock violation, then made his major move late in the third.

Blaze and Forrest did not wrestle at the 2026 U.S. Open, which Blaze took in what he called a"bittersweet" victory, primarily because it soon followed his fourth-place finish at NCAAs. The two will wrestle Round 2 when the next session begins at 5 p.m.

Kyle Dake falls in thriller to Zahid Valencia

Dake and Valencia are wrestling the 86 kg series at Final X for the second straight season. Dake, the NLWC wrestler who was swept last year, thought he had scored a takedown with 11 seconds left to make the score 3-3. But David Taylor stood in his way.

The Oklahoma State coach, sitting in Valencia's corner, won his takedown challenge, and Dake was awarded just one point for the step-out. Valencia won a tight decision 3-2 in Round 1. Dake, looking to make his sixth Senior World team, needs a win in Round 2 to keep the series going.

Kyle Snyder handles Stephen Buchanan

Competing for the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, Snyder scored a first-period takedown via a single-leg shot and was in control of his opener against Buchanan in a 5-2 decision at 97 kg. Snyder, a four-time world champion, looks to make his 12th world team.

Levi Haines takes assertive lead vs. Chance Marsteller

Penn State wrestlers have a reputation for being skilled scorers late in periods. Haines brought that trait with him to freestyle wrestling in a commanding 6-1 decision over Marsteller at 79 kg. Haines attacked with 10 seconds left in the opening period, surprising Marsteller with a takedown and a 2-1 lead. Marsteller appeared confused and might have thought he had scored.

Haines added two more takedown in the second period to take a 1-0 series lead. A two-time NCAA champ at Penn State, Haines returns to freestyle after winning a silver medal at worlds in 2025.

Zain Retherford wins Final X opener

Retherford hit the opening salvo in his 70 kg series vs. 2025 NCAA champion Ridge Lovett of Nebraska, turing a first-period takedown into a 2-1 decision. Retherford gave up a point on a passivity call in the first but hit a crisp shot for the bout's only takedown in that opening period.

Retherford then held off Lovett in the second period, getting out of a tough spot midway through, to take a 1-0 series win. A three-time NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner at Penn State, Retherford resumed his freestyle career after being forced to withdraw from the 2024 Olympics due to concussion symptoms. The 2023 world champ looked strong and methodical in Round 1 vs. Lovett.

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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

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