St. Charles, Missouri’s own Luke Lilledahl has etched his name into wrestling history, becoming the first American male to claim World titles at the U17, U20, and U23 levels in men’s freestyle. Competing at the U23 World Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia, the Penn State standout secured gold at 57 kg with a dominant 4-0 victory over Japan’s Yuta Kikuchi in the final.
Lilledahl, a product of Missouri’s wrestling scene, showcased his technical prowess throughout the match. He forced Kikuchi onto the shot clock twice in the first half, building a 2-0 lead. In the closing minute, Lilledahl sealed the win with a single-leg takedown that carried both wrestlers off the mat, adding two more points for the shutout victory. This triumph marks his third age-group World gold and his fifth appearance in a World final, solidifying his status as one of the nation’s top lightweight prospects.
As a St. Charles native, Lilledahl first made waves in Missouri high school wrestling. As a freshman at Christian Brothers College (CBC) High School in 2021, he captured the state championship title, demonstrating the elite talent that would propel him to national and international stardom. Following that impressive debut season in Missouri at CBC, who was recruited by Head Coach Cornell Robinson, Lilledahl followed Coach Robinson to Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, a powerhouse prep school at the time, who hired Robinson as Head Coach. There, he continued to dominate, earning accolades such as two-time Junior Hodge Trophy winner, two-time Ironman Champion, and two-time Super 32 Champion.
Now a true freshman for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Lilledahl has seamlessly transitioned to collegiate and senior-level competition. His freestyle resume is equally impressive: a five-time national finalist and four-time national champion in freestyle, along with Greco-Roman achievements including two national finals appearances and one title. Earlier in his career, he qualified for the 2021 Cadet Freestyle World Team at 48 kg, and more recently, he earned All-American honors at the NCAA Championships as Penn State’s first true freshman to do so since 2016. In July 2025, Lilledahl added another gold to his collection at the Budapest Ranking Series, defeating Islam Bazarganov in the final.
Lilledahl’s U23 success contributed to a strong showing for Team USA, which tied Iran for the top spot in the team rankings with 102 points each. His Penn State teammates also shone brightly: Levi Haines claimed gold at 79 kg with an 11-1 technical fall over Türkiye’s Ibrahim Yaprak, while PJ Duke secured bronze at 70 kg via a dramatic pin against Armenia’s Davit Margaryan. The Nittany Lion Wrestling Club’s performance underscores the program’s depth and dominance on the global stage.
For Missouri wrestling fans, Lilledahl’s achievements are a point of pride, reminding us of the talent brewing in our backyard. From his state title at CBC to becoming a three-time World Champion and five-time World medalist (with three golds and two silvers), Lilledahl’s journey inspires young athletes across the Show-Me State. As he continues his collegiate career at Penn State, expect more lightning strikes from this Missouri native.
The U23 World Championships streamed live on FloWrestling.com, with brackets and results available on UWW Arena.
