Levi Haines

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

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.

Career

High school Born and raised in Arendtsville, Pennsylvania, Haines started wrestling at an early age and went on to attend Biglerville High School. 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. In freestyle, he was the 2021 U17 US World Team member at 71 kilograms, placing seventh at the U17 World Championships.

Pennsylvania State University

2022–2023 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.

2023–2024 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.

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. He fell to teammate Alex Facundo, as well as multiple-time All-American Alex Marinelli, failing to place.

2024–2025 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.

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. Haines then claimed the U23 Pan American title at 79 kilograms in April.

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. 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.

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. He was able to claim the silver medal after falling to Georgios Kougioumtsidis from Greece by a one-point difference.

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.

2025–2026 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.

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

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.

Freestyle record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location

Win 26–6

Newark, New Jersey Win 25–6

Win 24–6

Coralville, Iowa Win 23–6

Win 22–6

Win 21–6

Win 20–6

Novi Sad, Serbia Win 19–6

Win 18–6

Win 17–6

Loss 16–6

Zagreb, Croatia Win 16–5

Win 15–5

Win 14–5

Win 13–5

Loss 12–5

Budapest, Hungary Win 12–4

Win 11–4

Newark, New Jersey Win 10–4

Win 9–4

Louisville, Kentucky Win 8–4

Win 7–4

Queretaro, Mexico Win

Win 6–4

Win 5–4

Loss 4–4

Omaha, Nebraska Win 4–3

Win 3–3

Win 2–3

Loss 1–3

Win 1–2

Loss 0–2

State College, Pennsylvania Loss 0–1