Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547542
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 6 47 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Lilledahl has had close wins over Provo, Ventresca, Volk and Bouzakis, and has lost to McCrone. He said after he won his first NCAA ti- tle in March that staying patient in close bouts was a key to his success. "Not getting flustered by guys that are trying to keep the exchanges low and keep the scoring low [is important]," he said. "Just having the ability to stay patient and stay poised in those tight matches is a big skill. That was just one of the things that going into [the 2025- 26 season] I knew I was going to have to maybe sharpen a bit, and I did that." 'Time To Get Started' Lilledahl made an early proclamation in March for this season that the first weight class just might have a copyright symbol on it. "Obviously, I wanted to win the nation- als," he said in Cleveland, "but I wanted to [make it clear] that 125 is my weight class for the next two years. And I feel like I've done that. Next year, it's just about going out and widening the gap against these guys who are keeping it close." While he'll be looking to ring up points at a high-powered pace this season, Lilledahl knows he'll need a separate strategy against those who deliberately try to keep a match close. "I've got to be better at moving guys around, getting them to react more … keep moving forward," Lilledahl said in October. "I think if I just do those things, then everything will open up. It's not getting almost into my own head if I'm not able to score or if guys are good at doing that, because I know that they're going to do that. "We have our first dual in [mid-No- vember], so it's time to get started." ■ Lilledahl defeated Princeton's Marc-Anthony McGowan 2-1 in the NCAA Tournament final at 125 pounds last March, claiming his first national championship to cap a 25-0 sophomore season. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS "I don't really care what the critics have to say because I'm going to keep getting better and I'm going to keep enjoying the sport." L I L L E D A H L