Luke Lilledahl
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| Full name | Luke Joseph Lilledahl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 1, 2005 Weldon Spring, Missouri, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 57 kg (126 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Nittany Lion Wrestling Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Cael Sanderson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Luke Joseph Lilledahl (born August 1, 2005) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 57 kilograms. In freestyle, he is a US National champion, as well as a two-time age-group World champion, once in U20 and once in U17.[1]
Competing out of Pennsylvania State University, Lilledahl is an NCAA Division I All-American in folkstyle.[2]
Career
[edit]High school
[edit]2020–2024
[edit]Born and raised in Missouri, Lilledahl went on to attend Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, where he became a 2021 MSHSAA state champion as a freshman.[3] After becoming a U17 World medalist, he moved to Wyoming Seminary, where he graduated in 2024.[4] During his time in high school in Pennsylvania, he became a three-time Pennsylvania Independent Schools Wrestling Tournament champion, a two-time National Prep champion, a U17 World champion and a U20 World medalist.[5] He committed to wrestle at Pennsylvania State University in April 2023.[6]
Still in high school, Lilledahl placed third at the 2023 Bill Farrell Memorial International in his senior level debut in November, only falling to three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee.[7]
A month later, he went on to qualify for the 2024 US Olympic Trials, with a fifth-place finish at the US National Championships in December 2023.[8] In April 2024, Lilledahl went 2–2 at the US Olympic Team Trials.[9]
Pennsylvania State University
[edit]2024–2025
[edit]After winning the U20 US World Team Trials in June, Lilledahl went on to become the U20 World champion at 57 kilograms in September 2024 before his freshman season at Penn State.[10]
Competing as a true freshman at 125 pounds, Lilledahl claimed the Black Knight Open title and went 13–2 in dual action for the Nittany Lions during regular season.[11] He then claimed the Big Ten Conference title, before securing a third-place finish and All-American status at the NCAA National tournament.[12]
Back to freestyle, Lilledahl claimed the gold medal at the U23 Pan American Championships in April 2025.[13] Weeks later, he became the US National champion at 57 kilograms, claiming four wins over fellow Americans.[14] As the winner of the tournament, Lilledahl qualified for Final X, where he faced returning Olympic finalist Spencer Lee for the US World Team spot in June.[15] He lost two bouts in a row to claim runner-up honors.[16]
Freestyle record
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Luke Lilledahl - 2024-25 Wrestling". Penn State - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "Meet the 2025 DI men's NCAA wrestling All-Americans | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ "St. Charles Native, Luke Lilledahl, Wins U20 World Gold to Cap Monumental Day for U.S. Men's Freestyle - MissouriWrestling.com". September 9, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Finn, Mike (May 31, 2024). "Lilledahl of Wyoming Sem named Junior Hodge Trophy winner". WIN Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "Shapiro becomes U20 World Champion as U.S. goes five-for-five on freestyle medals". www.themat.com. August 15, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ Spey, Andrew (April 10, 2023). "#2 Luke Lilledahl Commits To Penn State". FloWrestling. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ "2024 U.S. U20 Men's freestyle World Team Bios". www.themat.com. September 2, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "Olympic Trials Preview: Three World medalists headline talented and wide-open 57 kg men's bracket". www.themat.com. April 9, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "Lilledahl, Blaze lead experienced men's freestyle team at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. August 28, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
- ^ "Lilledahl scores U20 World gold to punctuate monumental day for U.S. men's freestyle". www.themat.com. September 7, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Bray, David (November 24, 2024). "Penn State Wrestling Results At The 2024 Black Knight Invitational". FloWrestling. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Smeltzer, Joe (March 22, 2025). "Penn State Wrestling: Lilledahl, Davis Put Team Near History | NSN". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. earns eight golds in men's freestyle, wins team title at U23 Pan American Championships". www.themat.com. April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
- ^ Kozak, Jon (April 27, 2025). "2025 US Open Wrestling Results - Senior-Level". FloWrestling. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
- ^ "Lee, Lilledahl to meet at 57 kg in men's freestyle at 2025 Final X in Newark, N.J." www.themat.com. May 6, 2025. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- ^ McKown, Eli. "Final X: Spencer Lee, Real Woods, David Carr and several Iowa women make Senior World team". Hawk Central. Retrieved June 15, 2025.