Latest news with #FinalX
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Penn State wrestling dynasty: Why Bo Bassett may join PJ Duke, Marcus Blaze, after all
The national champion Penn State wrestling program already is restocking with the country's two top recruits, arriving this summer. It now gets another shot at landing the No. 1 prospect who's a year younger. Advertisement Home-state phenom Bo Bassett − the top-rated recruit in the 2026 class − somewhat surprisingly spurned coach Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions nearly five months ago when he picked the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Johnstown, Pa. senior-to-be chose Iowa the day before his Bishop McCort High teammate Jax Forrest − the nation's No. 2 recruit − picked Oklahoma State. Suddenly, though, Bassett is back on the market. He announced Sunday evening that he was de-committing from Iowa and re-opening his recruiting process. It's uncertain yet when the undefeated high school wrestler (126-0 with one season remaining) will decide again. His new finalists, according to FloWrestling, are Penn State, NCAA runner-up Nebraska and Oklahoma State, coached by Penn State icon David Taylor. Iowa wrestling commit Bo Bassett gives a thumbs up to the crowd during the ÒFloWrestling Night in AmericaÓ event Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. Bassett would bolster a Penn State program that owns the top roster in the sport and is arguably the greatest ongoing sports dynasty in America. PSU has won 12 of the past 14 NCAA Championships, including four straight. He would be joining incoming freshmen PJ Duke and Marcus Blaze, the nation's top two recruits, and Jayden James, the No. 3 prospect in his own 2026 class. Advertisement Bassett's younger brother, Melvin Miller, the nation's top recruit in the 2027 recruiting class, has yet to pick his college destination. His top choices are Penn State, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Pitt, Nebraska, Michigan, Missouri and North Carolina State − but not Iowa. Bassett posted about his move on Facebook: "This wasn't easy, but I believe it's not the right fit for me as a wrestler, a person or for my faith journey. I'm grateful for the opportunity, and I'll never speak a bad word about (Iowa's) program. This is about finding the place God wants me to be. This is a huge decision in my life and it has to be the right one. 'I would like to thank all of the Iowa fans who have supported me. You have been amazing and I am grateful for the support you showed me. I have opened up my recruitment." Advertisement Best in the nation: Potential Penn State wrestling star PJ Duke wins junior Hodge Trophy. What does it mean? No. 1 winning percentage: Penn State wrestling at Final X: Can Mitchell Mesenbrink be the best ever? His PSU salary revealed: Here's how Penn State's Cael Sanderson's salary compares to James Franklin Bassett won a world title at the Cadet World Wrestling Championships and was third at last year's U20 World Championships. He recently won another PIAA title with a 52-0 season at Bishop McCort. Bassett did lose to Penn State's Blaze at the recently freestyle Final X competition in New Jersey. There, Blaze hit a big third-period scoring move to win their 65 kilogram weight class match, 5-1. Advertisement Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState. This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Bo Bassett leaves Iowa. Will he join PJ Duke at Penn State wrestling?
NBC Sports
15-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
P.J. Duke set to be youngest U.S. men's freestyle wrestler at world championships in 50 years
P.J. Duke is set to become the youngest U.S. male freestyle wrestler to compete at a senior world championships in more than 50 years. Duke, an 18-year-old who recently completed a 152-1 high school career, rallied past Yianni Diakomihalis, a four-time NCAA champion and 2022 World silver medalist, in USA Wrestling's Final X to earn the 70kg spot at September's worlds in Croatia. Duke lost the first match by mercy rule (10-0 at the 3:26 mark of the scheduled six minutes) in the best-of-three championship series. He won the next two matches, 17-10 and finally with a pin in the decider at the 4:07 mark. He celebrated with a backflip at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 'That first match, didn't wrestle my best,' Duke said. 'It's a feel match. Didn't doubt myself once.' Duke said he saw an interview where Diakomihalis, who is eight years older, said he would 'try to mangle' Duke. 'I took that personal,' Duke said. 'I'm not going to let that slide. He's a good mentor to me, but I work my butt too hard to be mangled.' Duke has his last day of high school on Monday in Slate Hill, New York, then matriculates at NCAA champion Penn State on June 28 and turns 19 on July 7. He was named the national prep wrestler of the year by WIN Magazine. He would be the youngest U.S. male freestyle wrestler to compete at senior worlds since 1974, when Billy Rosado did so at age 18. John Bowlsby had also finished high school that year and wrestled at worlds. Current rules stipulate that wrestlers have to turn at least 18 in the year of the senior worlds to be eligible to compete. 'I'm sure people will be saying, 'He's only 18. He's too young for senior level,'' Duke said. 'That's what they said here. It didn't go too well for them.' PJ DUKE DOES IT!!! High Schooler PJ Duke just PINNED World Silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis to make team USA! Nick Zaccardi,
NBC Sports
14-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
U.S. wrestling team for World Championships nearly set after Final X
Paris Olympic medalists Helen Maroulis, Kennedy Blades and Spencer Lee headline the U.S. wrestling team for this September's World Championships. Maroulis, Blades and Lee were among the winners at Saturday's Final X — a series of best-of-three finals per weight class — to determine the roster for worlds in Croatia. Maroulis, who in 2016 became the first U.S. woman to win Olympic wrestling gold, swept Amanda Martinez for the 57kg spot. Maroulis, 33, is currently tied with Adeline Gray for the most combined Olympic and world medals for a U.S. female wrestler (10). She is also the lone U.S. female wrestler to win three Olympic medals, also taking bronze in Tokyo and Paris. Blades, a 76kg silver medalist in Paris in her Olympic debut, moved down to 68kg and swept Brooklyn Hays to make her first senior world team at age 21. Lee, the Paris Olympic 57kg silver medalist, is going to his first senior worlds after sweeping Luke Lilledahl. Lee is already a world champion at the U17 and U20 levels. At 86kg, Zahid Valencia swept two-time Olympic 74kg bronze medalist Kyle Dake. It's the first time that Dake, a two-time world champion each at 74kg and 79kg, has been beaten for a world team spot since 2017. Neither of the Americans who won gold in Paris competed at Final X. Sarah Hildebrandt has retired, and Amit Elor missed the event for health reasons. 2025 USA Wrestling Final X Results Women's Freestyle 50kg: Audrey Jimenez def. Erin Golston 10-2, 12-2 53kg: Felicity Taylor def. Brianna Gonzalez 2-1, 6-4 55kg: Cristelle Rodriguez def. Everest Leydecker 12-8, 8-5 57kg; Helen Maroulis def. Amanda Martinez pin, fall 59kg: Jacarra Winchester def. Abigail Nette 4-6, 9-7, 11-0 62kg: Adaugo Nwachukwu def. Kayla Miracle 14-8, 3-4, 8-4 65kg: Macey Kilty def. Aine Drury 10-0, 10-0 68kg: Kennedy Blades def. Brooklyn Hays 10-4, 5-2 72kg: Alexandria Glaude wins by forfeit (Amit Elor withdrew for health reasons) 76kg: Kylie Welker def. Dymond Guilford 2-1, 9-1 Men's Freestyle 57kg: Spencer Lee def. Luke Lilledahl 7-2, 6-0 61kg: Vito Arujau vs. Jax Forrest on July 14 after Arujau received an injury delay. 65kg: Real Woods def. Joey McKenna 7-3, 5-4 70kg: PJ Duke def. Yianni Diakomihalis 0-10, 17-10, fall 74kg: David Carr def. Mitchell Mesenbrink 4-3, 4-4 79kg: Levi Haines def. Evan Wick 10-0, 6-1 86kg: Zahid Valencia def. Kyle Dake 5-3, 4-1 92kg: Trent Hidlay def. Joshua Barr 6-1, 3-2 97kg: Kyle Snyder def. Hayden Zillmer 8-0, 8-2 125kg: Wyatt Hendrickson def. Trent Hillger 10-0, 20-14 Nick Zaccardi,
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wrestler Kyle Snyder pleads guilty to disorderly conduct
Kyle Snyder Wrestler Kyle Snyder pled guilty to disorderly conduct and was fined $250 on Monday after being arrested in a prostitution sting on May 10 in Columbus, Ohio. Snyder, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, remains listed as temporarily suspended for "allegations of misconduct" by SafeSport. Advertisement SafeSport handles allegations of emotional, physical and sexual abuse in Olympic and Paralympic sports. Snyder was first suspended last Wednesday. He has since completed a john school course designed for men arrested for soliciting sex. 'I've learned a lot through this process. It's taught me a lot about myself, and I plan on making much better decisions," Snyder said while taking part virtually in a court hearing Monday. "I learned about why I made the decision that I did, which was because I had too much pride. I learned about the impact that these decisions have on not just my family but the community." In addition to his 2016 Olympic title, Snyder earned bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and placed fifth in Paris last year. Advertisement In April, Snyder qualified for one of two 97kg spots at Final X, the June 14 event that determines the U.S. team for this September's World Championships. USA Wrestling has not announced whether Snyder will keep that spot, should his SafeSport suspension be lifted.
NBC Sports
10-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Olympic wrestling gold medalist Amit Elor to miss world championships team qualifier
Olympic wrestling gold medalist Amit Elor will not compete at an event to determine the 2025 World Championships team on Saturday due to health reasons. 'I recently found out that I was anemic during the World Team Trials (May 16-17), which added up to be too much with my current injuries,' was posted on Elor's social media. 'In the meantime, I'm committed to safely working on strengthening my wrestling. I'm also very excited to contribute to the wrestling community by being more available for camps and clinics ❤️ Wishing the very best to all the wrestlers competing this weekend! No matter what, I'm sure we're going to have an incredible team representing us at the world stage. To my Final X competitor, @glaudealex (Alexandria Glaude) you got this and I'll be cheering for you at worlds!' Last August, Elor became at age 20 the youngest Olympic wrestling gold medalist in American history, extending a five-year, 82-match win streak. After competing at 68kg in Paris, she moved back up to 72kg (a non-Olympic weight) this year and qualified for this Saturday's Final X. Elor was due to face Glaude, 28, for the 72kg spot on the team for this September's World Championships in Croatia. Nick Zaccardi,
