PJ Duke
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| Full name | Peter John Duke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | July 7, 2006 Slate Hill, New York, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 70 kg (150 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Wrestling | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Events | Freestyle and Folkstyle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Titan Mercury Wrestling Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Kevin Gallagher | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Peter John Duke (born July 7, 2006) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 70 kilograms.[1] In freestyle, he was the 2025 US World Team member at the senior level, 2025 U23 World bronze medalist, 2025 U20 World champion, and was a U20 World bronze medalist in 2024.[2] Duke wrestles collegiately for the Penn State Nittany Lions.[3]
Career
[edit]High school
[edit]Born and raised in New York, Duke started wrestling around four years old.[4] Claiming his first NYSPHSAA state title while in seventh grade and wrestling for Carmel High School, he subsequently transferred to Minisink Valley High School and became a four-time state champion, graduating in 2025.[5] Duke committed to wrestle for the Penn State Nittany Lions in September 2023.[6] A multiple-time high school US National champion in folkstyle and freestyle, he was named the top-ranked pound-for-pound high school wrestler in the country in 2025.[7]
2024
[edit]In September, Duke, the U20 US World Team member at 70 kilograms, claimed a bronze medal at the U20 World Championships.[8] Days later, the high school senior made his senior level freestyle debut at the US World Team Trials, where he placed third and defeated multiple NCAA Division I All-Americans, though fell to Pan American champion Alec Pantaleo.[9]
In November, Duke claimed the gold medal at the Bill Farrell Memorial International, defeating two All-Americans and a Pan American medalist to do so.[10]
2025
[edit]In May, Duke qualified for Final X after placing first at the US World Team Trials Challenge tournament, defeating 2025 NCAA Division I National champions Antrell Taylor and Ridge Lovett, as well as multiple-time All-American Bryce Andonian.[11] Weeks later, he achieved the U20 US World Team Trials crown, and is set to compete at the U20 World Championships in August.[12]
In June, Duke faced World silver medalist and four-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis in a best-of-three series at Final X, for the US World Team spot.[13] After a technical fall loss in the first round, Duke forced a third match with a 17–10 win in the second round, and closed the series out with a fall in the third one, becoming the US World Team member at 18 years old.[14]
Freestyle record
[edit]
References
[edit]- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Lilledahl, Ryder to wrestle for men's freestyle gold, Bassett, Duke, Rademacher for bronze at U20 World Championships". www.themat.com. September 6, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ↑ Smeltzer, Joe (June 15, 2025). "The Kid is Alright: Penn State Wrestling Commit PJ Duke Shocks The World". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Minisink Valley's PJ Duke wrestling for another state championship". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ Bodani, Frank. "Penn State wrestling at Final X: See who can make U.S. team for 2025 world championships". York Daily Record. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ Siroty, Michael (September 26, 2023). "Class Of 2025 Star PJ Duke Commits To Penn State Wrestling". Onward State. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ Bodani, Frank. "Potential Penn State wrestling star PJ Duke wins junior Hodge Trophy. What does it mean?". York Daily Record. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Blaze, Duke, Lockett, Rademacher headline men's freestyle champions at U20 World Team Trials". www.themat.com. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ Smeltzer, Joe (September 16, 2024). "Penn State Wrestling: How Former, Current PSU Wrestlers Fared at World Team Trials". Nittany Sports Now. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Snyder among eight U.S. men's freestyle champions at Bill Farrell Memorial, Duke named OW". www.themat.com. November 10, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Penn State Signee PJ Duke Defeats NCAA Champ Antrell Taylor at World Trials". pennstate.rivals.com. May 16, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Ladarion Lockett, PJ Duke and Marcus Blaze Lead High School Stars onto U20 World Wrestling Team". High School On SI. June 1, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ "Penn State Signee P.J. Duke Clinches Final X Berth at World Team Trials". pennstate.rivals.com. May 17, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
- ↑ "PJ Duke Shocks Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X: High School Phenom Punches Ticket to Senior World Championships". High School On SI. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.