Biglerville 100 match winner and Penn State great Levi Haines secured USA gold in the Senior World Champions with a decisive 4-3 win over Iranian Mohammad Nokhodi. This match secured the overall USA Team title, as well as Haines’ individual gold at 79kg (174lb). Haines is the reigning NCAA 174lb champion. Barring NCAA rules, Haines will look to go back-to-back at 174.
Haines fought through a quick OB (out of bounds) point in the first period. As he kept the Iranian’s head steady through all the hand play, Haines finally got through with a shot at the 4-minute mark of the 2 nd period and gained a full mount (2-0). First takedown of the match was immediately flipped with a Nokhodi flip-of-the-hips for a two-point advantage against Haines (3-2). The remaining time of the stanza was filled with a lot of hand fighting and wrist ties; two master minds playing chess on the wrestling mat.
As period 3 commenced, Haines defended with a quick shot from Nokhodi and continued to play the patient game, down 3-2 in the match. Levi shot and got the vital 2 points needed to take the lead at the 2-minute mark.
All that was left was to play defense, and Haines did exactly that. With excellent hand fighting and low-leg shot defense, he was able to maintain his 4-3 score and secure the overall USA Gold medal for the 2026 World Championships.
