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Levi Haines

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Levi Haines
Personal information
Full nameLevi David Haines
Born (2004-08-05) August 5, 2004 (age 22)
Arendtsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Sport
Country United States
SportWrestling
Weight class
79 kg (174 lb)
Events
Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamPenn State
ClubNittany Lion Wrestling Club
Coached byCael Sanderson
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Silver medal – second place2025 Zagreb79 kg
Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place2026 Coralville79 kg
World U23 Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 Novi Sad79 kg
U23 Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 Queretaro79 kg
Men's collegiate wrestling
NCAA Division I Championships
Gold medal – first place2024 Kansas City157 lb
Gold medal – first place2026 Cleveland174 lb
Silver medal – second place2023 Tulsa157 lb
Bronze medal – third place2025 Philadelphia174 lb
Big Ten Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Ann Arbor157 lb
Gold medal – first place2024 College Park157 lb
Gold medal – first place2025 Evanston174 lb
Gold medal – first place2026 State College174 lb

Levi David Haines (born August 5, 2004) is an American freestyle and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 79 kilograms.[1] In freestyle, he was the silver medalist at the 2025 World Championships and the gold medalist at the 2025 U23 World Championships.[2]

During his collegiate career, Haines became a two-time NCAA Division I National champion, four-time All-American and four-time Big Ten Conference champion out of Pennsylvania State University.[3][4]

Career

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High school

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Born and raised in Arendtsville, Pennsylvania, Haines started wrestling at an early age and went on to attend Biglerville High School.[5] After earning a PIAA Class AA state title as a junior, which followed after two years as runner-up, Haines committed to wrestle for the Penn State Nittany Lions and decided to forgo his senior year of high school wrestling in order to compete in college open tournaments, claiming titles at the Edinboro Open and Franklin & Marshall Open.[6] In freestyle, he was the 2021 U17 US World Team member at 71 kilograms, placing seventh at the U17 World Championships.[7]

Pennsylvania State University

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2022–2023

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Forgoing a redshirt season, Haines went 25–2 as a true freshman, claimed the Big Ten Conference title, and placed second at the NCAA Division I National Championships at 157 pounds.[8]

2023–2024

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As a sophomore, Haines improved to 23–0 on the season, repeated as the Big Ten Conference champion, and claimed his first NCAA title after reaching his second straight finale at 157 pounds.[9]

Haines then made his senior level debut at 74 kilograms at the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials in April, having qualified by winning the NCAA title.[10] He fell to teammate Alex Facundo, as well as multiple-time All-American Alex Marinelli, failing to place.[11]

2024–2025

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In September 2024, Haines competed at the US World Team Trials up at 79 kilograms, where he went 4–2, earned a notable victory over U23 and U20 World champion Keegan O'Toole, and only fell to seven-time World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs and U20 World champion David Carr.[12]

Back to folkstyle, Haines went up two weight classes to 174 pounds, racked up a 25–2 record, claimed his third Big Ten title, and placed third at the NCAA tournament, becoming a three-time All-American.[13] Haines then claimed the U23 Pan American title at 79 kilograms in April.[14]

In May, Haines competed at the US World Team Trials Challenge tournament and notably defeated NCAA champion Dean Hamiti to earn a spot at Final X and challenge Evan Wick for the US World Team spot in June.[15] In a best-of-three series, Haines was able to outwrestle Wick in two straight bouts to earn the right to represent the United States at the World Championships.[16]

In September, Haines made his World Championship debut and notably knocked off 2023 World champion Akhmed Usmanov from Russia, Military World champion Olonbayaryn Süldkhüü from Mongolia and Asian finalist Khidir Saipudinov from Bahrain on his way to the finals.[17] He was able to claim the silver medal after falling to Georgios Kougioumtsidis from Greece by a one-point difference.[18]

After accepting the spot on the team for the U23 World Championships as a Final X winner, Haines claimed his first World title after cruising to a gold medal with victories over Iran, Bulgaria, Russia and Turkey.[19]

2025–2026

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Back for his final year of collegiate wrestling, Haines went 26–0 during the season, won his second NCAA title and fourth Big Ten title, both over Christopher Minto of Nebraska.[20]

In May, Haines claimed the gold medal at the Pan American Championships, with wins over Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada and Colombia.[21]

In June, Haines beat fellow Pan American champion Chance Marsteller twice in a row to claim a best-of-three series at Final X, making the US World Team for a second straight time.[22]

Freestyle record

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References

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  1. ↑ "Levi Haines - 2024-25 Wrestling". Penn State - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Three Penn State Wrestlers Win Titles at U23 Pan American Championships". Penn State Nittany Lions On SI. April 13, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  3. ↑ Carlson, Jim (March 22, 2026). "Penn State wrestlers Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink share honor of being 2-time NCAA champs". pennlive. Retrieved July 1, 2026.
  4. ↑ "PENN STATE WRESTLING CLINCHES 2025 NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP". Penn State - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Amateur Wrestling News Rookie of the Year Awards: Levi Haines of Penn State (athlete), Derek Moore of California Baptist (coach)". www.themat.com. May 2, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Amateur Wrestling News Rookie of the Year Awards: Levi Haines of Penn State (athlete), Derek Moore of California Baptist (coach)". www.themat.com. May 2, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  7. ↑ Goodwin, Cody. "Southeast Polk wrestler Nate Jesuroga takes third at Cadet freestyle world championships". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ Smeltzer, Joe (March 7, 2023). "Penn State Wrestling Sensation Levi Haines Talks Big Win | NSN". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  9. ↑ Allibone, Matt. "He didn't win an NCAA title as a freshman. But Penn State's Levi Haines has bright future". York Daily Record. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  10. ↑ Collegian, Zavier Gussett | The Daily (April 18, 2024). "David Taylor, Levi Haines reflect on long-standing relationship ahead of Olympic Trials". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  11. ↑ Smeltzer, Joe (April 19, 2024). "Penn State Wrestling: Alex Facundo Shuts out Levi Haines". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  12. ↑ Bray, David (September 15, 2024). "2024 World Team Trials Wrestling Results And Brackets". FloWrestling. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  13. ↑ Smeltzer, Joe (March 9, 2025). "3-Peat: Levi Haines Does it Again". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  14. ↑ Cazares, Cooper (April 14, 2025). "Three Penn State Wrestlers Receive Gold Medals At U23 Pan American Championships". Onward State. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  15. ↑ Kozak, Jon (June 5, 2025). "Levi Haines vs Evan Wick - 2025 Final X Wrestling Preview & Prediction". FloWrestling. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  16. ↑ Kendziora, Thomas. "Biglerville's Haines earns spot on US wrestling world team for first time". York Dispatch. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Penn State Wrestling's Levi Haines Makes Dramatic Run to Senior Worlds Final". Penn State Nittany Lions On SI. September 14, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Valiev outsmarts Sidakov again to reach 2025 World Championships final". uww.org. September 14, 2025. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Nittany Lion Wrestlers Roar to Four Medals U23 World Championships". Penn State - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  20. ↑ Golik, Kyle (March 22, 2026). "Levi Haines Caps Storied Penn State Career With Second NCAA Title". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved March 23, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Levi Haines Wins 2026 Pan American Wrestling Championship at 79 kg". Penn State - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  22. ↑ Bodani, Frank. "How Penn State wrestling's Levi Haines beat Chance Marsteller at Final X". York Daily Record. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
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