Penn State Wrestling Takes Center Stage at Final X
Penn State wrestling will dominate the U.S. World Team qualifier known as Final X, with the most anticipated match pitting two Nittany Lions legends for the first time. David Taylor and Aaron Brooks will wrestle each other at Final X to represent the U.S. at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Taylor and Brooks, who have combined for six NCAA titles at Penn State, will meet in the 86kg freestyle division for a unique duel between former and current Lions.
Taylor and Brooks, both three-time NCAA champions, train at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club but have not wrestled each other on the national stage. Their first meeting will highlight the freestyle Final X lineup, scheduled for June 10 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Taylor, a two-time world champ and Penn State's first Olympic champion, is favored in the best-of-three series but faces a formidable contender in Brooks, who has been unstoppable in 2023.
In April, just over a month after winning the NCAA title at 184 pounds, Brooks claimed the 86kg freestyle title at the U.S. Open to earn a Final X matchup with Taylor. Brooks delivered one of the top tournament performances in Las Vegas, going 5-0 with a huge rally in the final. Brooks trailed two-time NCAA champ Zahid Valencia 6-0 before scoring 10 unanswered points for the victory. Brooks has some experience on the international stage, having won an under-17 world title in 2017 and a silver medal at the under-20 worlds in 2018. Brooks is eligible to return to Penn State next season and pursue a fourth NCAA title,
Taylor, meanwhile, ranks among the biggest stars in USA Wrestling. In 2021, Taylor defeated Penn State legend Bo Nickal in the best-of-three Championship Series to earn the 86kg freestyle spot at the Tokyo Olympics. Taylor went on to become Penn State's first Olympic wrestling champion and last year won his second world title at 86kg. To win a third, Taylor must defeat a wrestler who might be Penn State's next international star.
Penn State wrestling and the NLWC will be everywhere at Final X. Nick Lee, a two-time NCAA champ at Penn State, seeks his first trip to worlds at 65kg, where he'll meet returning world silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis. Zain Retherford, a three-time NCAA champ and two-time Hodge Trophy winner, takes on U.S. Open champ Tyler Berger. Retherford is the favorite, having placed second at worlds last year and winning gold at the Pan-American Championships. At 74kg, three-time NCAA champ Jason Nolf wrestles Kyle Dake in an all-NLWC bout. Nolf seeks revenge for his loss to Dake at Final X last year. And NLWC wrestler Thomas Gilman pursues his second world title at 57kg.
How to Watch the 2023 Final X
Final X will be held June 10 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., in conjunction with the annual Beat the Streets fundraiser. Tickets for Final X are available through Tickemaster. FloWrestling will stream the event live.
Final X will determine the wrestlers who will represent the U.S. at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.
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