Penn State, Iowa Wrestlers Secure Multiple USA World Team Spots

The 2025 Final X wrestling competition held in Newark, New Jersey, determined the U.S. representatives for the Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia. Penn State wrestlers PJ Duke and Levi Haines secured starting positions on Team USA for the first time, with Duke notably pinning former Cornell wrestler Yianni Diakomihalis in a decisive third match to claim the 70 kg spot. Veteran Kyle Snyder also earned a team spot, while other Penn State wrestlers such as Mitchell Mesenbrink, Josh Barr, Luke Lilledahl, and Kyle Dake finished as runners-up. The men's team also features prominent wrestlers from Iowa and Iowa State, including Spencer Lee, Real Woods, and Zahid Valencia, who notably swept Kyle Dake in their series. The women's team includes several athletes with ties to Iowa, highlighting a balanced roster blending youth and experience. Overall, the USA Wrestling World Team enters the championships with momentum and high expectations following a mix of dominant performances and surprising upsets at Final X.