Marcus Blaze

Marcus Blaze
Personal information
Full nameMarcus Glenn Blaze
Born (2006-11-23) November 23, 2006 (age 19)
Clinton, Michigan, U.S.
Home townPerrysburg, Ohio, U.S.
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Sport
Country United States
SportWrestling
Events
Freestyle and Folkstyle
ClubNittany Lion Wrestling Club
Perrysburg Wrestling Club (formerly)
Coached byCael Sanderson
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place2026 Astana61 kg
US National Championships
Gold medal – first place2026 Las Vegas61 kg
Bronze medal – third place2025 Las Vegas61 kg
Grand Prix
Gold medal – first place2026 Warsaw61 kg
U20 World Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 Samokov61 kg
Bronze medal – third place2024 Pontevedra61 kg
U17 World Championships
Gold medal – first place2023 Istanbul55 kg
Men's collegiate wrestling
Representing the Penn State Nittany Lions
Big Ten Championships
Silver medal – second place2026 State College133 lb

Marcus Glenn Blaze (born November 23, 2006) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 61 kilograms and 133 pounds. In freestyle, he was the 2025 U20 World champion, upgrading a bronze medal from the 2024 edition, the US World Team Member in 2026 and the U17 World champion in 2023.

Blaze was an NCAA Division I All-American for the Penn State Nittany Lions in 2026, and will be a sophomore for the 2026–2027 season.

Career

High school

2022–2023

Originally from Michigan, Blaze started wrestling at an early age alongside his brother Joey before moving to Perrysburg, Ohio. A four-time OHSAA state champion out of Perrysburg High School, Blaze is one of the top-ranked high school wrestlers in his weight class.

In 2023, he defeated top-ranked in NCAA Division I Matt Ramos during a college open while a high school junior. In the U17 freestyle age group, Blaze claimed a U.S. national championship and a world championship at 55 kilograms in 2023.

2024

Making his senior level debut, Blaze competed at the US Olympic Team Trials at 57 kilograms in April 2024, as a high school junior. After a first-round loss to two-time NCAA champion Nick Suriano, he came back to defeat NCAA champion Nico Megaludis and U20 World finalist Luke Lilledahl before receiving a forfeit to make the third-place match, where he defeated U17 World finalist Jax Forrest to make the US National team.

Back to the age group, now in his first year of U20, Blaze made the US World Team at 61 kilograms in August and earned a bronze medal from the U20 World Championships in September, only losing to eventual 2024 world champion Masanosuke Ono from Japan.

A week after his bronze-medal performance, Blaze went back to the senior level to compete at the US World Team Trials. Storming to the finals, he took out 2018 NCAA champion Seth Gross, 2016 NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett, and 2021 world silver medalist Daton Fix to make the best-of-three. In the finals, he was defeated back to back by reigning world champion Vito Arujau, earning second place.

Then a high school senior, Blaze announced in November that he had committed to wrestle for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

2025

In April, Blaze placed third at the US Open National Championships, notably defeating NCAA champion Nathan Tomasello and three-time All-American Michael McGee, though falling to NCAA champion Seth Gross.

In May, Blaze bumped up to 65 kilograms to compete at the US World Team Trials, where he was victorious in four out of five matches, notably defeating U17 World champion Bo Bassett and falling to two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez. In June, he defeated Brock Hardy in a true-third match at Final X to earn a spot on the US National Team and therefore, the U23 US World Team.

Pennsylvania State University

2025–2026

In October 2025, Blaze competed at the U23 World Championships before folkstyle season kicked off, where he was knocked off in the first round by returning medalist Bilol Sharip Uulu from Kyrgyzstan.

During his freshman season for the Nittany Lions, Blaze went 19–0 at 133 pounds during regular season, though would suffer his first loss in the Big Ten Conference finals to fellow freshman Ben Davino from Ohio State, in a rematch from earlier in the year. At the NCAA tournament, Blaze would go 4–2 to place fourth and become an All-American, notably defeating NCAA runner-up Drake Ayala from Iowa though falling to Davino and Aaron Seidel from Virginia Tech.

Back to freestyle action, Blaze became the US National champion in April 2026 and qualified to Final X, notably knocking off NCAA finalist Ben Davino and NCAA champion Seth Gross. In June, he claimed the US World Team spot by defeating NCAA and U23 World champion Jax Forrest in a best-of-three series, two matches to one. Blaze is now set to represent the United States at the World Championships in October.

Freestyle record

References

  1. ↑ "Despite team's bus being showered with bullets, Greeley Central's Andrew Alirez unflappable, winning Pan Am wrestling title in Brazil". Greeley Tribune. September 1, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Forrest, Joseph highlight men's freestyle champions at Last Chance Olympic Team Trials Qualifier". www.themat.com. April 7, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Meet the 2026 DI men's wrestling All-Americans | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Local sports: Carlson cheer ready to defend state title". Monroe News. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  5. ↑ Buckheit, Billy (February 23, 2024). "National top 25 high school wrestling rankings for every weight class (2/23/2024)". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  6. ↑ Kozak, Jon (November 5, 2023). "High School Junior Marcus Blaze Upsets #1 Matt Ramos At The Clarion Open". FloWrestling. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Perrysburg's Blaze wins world championship in Istanbul". Sent-trib. August 6, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Perrysburg junior wrestler Marcus Blaze set to compete in Olympic Trials". The Blade. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Blaze makes name for himself with 3rd-place finish at Olympic wrestling trials". The Blade. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Lilledahl, Blaze lead experienced men's freestyle team at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. August 28, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Lockett, Barr, Kueter earn silver, Blaze gets bronze, U.S. wins men's freestyle team title at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. September 8, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament Results". Cornell University Athletics. September 15, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Burroughs, Taylor, Arujau, Green make U.S. Senior World Team in men's freestyle". www.themat.com. September 15, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ Kozak, Jon (November 13, 2024). "Marcus Blaze Announces Commitment To Penn State". FloWrestling. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Thomas, Davino among unexpected semifinalists in men's freestyle at CLAW U.S. Open". www.themat.com. April 25, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Penn State Wrestling Commit Marcus Blaze Beats Iowa Commit Bo Bassett at Team Trials". Penn State Nittany Lions On SI. May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Marcus Blaze wins at Final X to make national wrestling team". The Blade. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Nittany Lion Wrestlers Roar to Four Medals U23 World Championships". Penn State - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Penn State wins 2026 Big Ten wrestling tournament title | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  20. ↑ Golik, Kyle (March 21, 2026). "Penn State Freshmen PJ Duke Clinches, Marcus Blaze Falls In Bronze Medal Matches". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ Carlson, Jim (April 26, 2026). "Penn State wrestlers Luke Lilledahl, Marcus Blaze win U.S. Open titles, advance to Final X". pennlive. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  22. ↑ Sheppard, Christopher. "Penn State freshman wrestler qualifies for Team USA". Nittany Lions Wire. Retrieved June 26, 2026.