PJ Duke Is Just Getting Started - And He’s Already Dominating
At just 18 years old, PJ Duke is already wrestling like a seasoned veteran - and doing it on one of the biggest stages in college wrestling. The Penn State freshman has racked up accolades that most wrestlers only dream of: four New York state titles, back-to-back U20 world championships in 2024 and 2025, and a spot on the U.S. Senior National Team after taking down a slew of established names at Final X.
But even with all that under his belt, last Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena felt different.
Duke found himself soaking it all in - the electric crowd, the intensity, the magnitude of a Penn State vs. Iowa showdown.
“I was talking with Marcus [Blaze] before the dual,” Duke said. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, it’s crazy.
Like, we’re literally on Penn State’s team. We’re about to wrestle Iowa.’”
That moment of realization didn’t rattle him - if anything, it sharpened his focus. “I think sometimes I do wrestle better under pressure,” he added. “So having all those fans probably does add a little bit of extra pressure, but I try not to let it affect me.”
It didn’t. Duke stayed perfect on the season, grinding out a 4-2 win over Iowa’s Jordan Williams, a Little Rock transfer who forced Duke to stay patient and pick his moment.
“I was kind of chasing him a little bit - he was more defensive,” Duke said. “I just had to be patient.
I knew an opening would eventually come, and once it did, I took advantage of it.”
That patience paid off with a third-period takedown that sealed the match - a reminder that even when Duke isn’t racking up bonus points, he knows how to close.
And let’s be clear: most of the time, Duke is racking up bonus points. Through 11 matches, he’s 11-0 with six pins, a tech fall, and a major decision.
He’s currently ranked No. 2 at 157 pounds by FloWrestling - trailing only Ohio State’s Brandon Cannon, whom Duke is set to face on February 13. Right behind him?
Arizona State’s Kaleb Larkin, West Virginia’s Ty Watters, defending NCAA champ Antrell Taylor from Nebraska (who comes to Rec Hall on January 30), and Oklahoma State’s rising freshman Landon Robideau.
That’s a stacked group, and Duke knows it. But he’s not caught up in the rankings or the hype.
“Not every match is going to be a tech fall or a pin or even bonus points,” he said. “Some matches are gonna go a little slower, but I love to score points, so I’m always gonna try to do that.”
That drive to score - and to improve - is what makes Duke such a dangerous competitor. Whether it’s practice or a packed dual meet, he approaches every moment with the same mindset: stay consistent, stay hungry.
“We’ve been doing this our whole lives, so it’s just kind of regular for us,” he said. “Just being with this group of guys and being dominant and getting better every day is just so much fun. I think all of us try not to look at the accolades and the scores and the matches and stuff - we just look at how we can get better.”
That’s the scary part for the rest of the field. PJ Duke is already among the best in the country - and he’s not satisfied.
He’s not just wrestling for wins. He’s wrestling for growth. And when a guy with his talent, work ethic, and mindset is still focused on getting better, the ceiling is sky high.