Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541990
4 6 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P eter John Duke, who goes by PJ, thought back to a trip he took 10 years ago from his Slate Hill, N.Y., home to Penn State's Rec Hall to watch his favorite sport. And now, thousands of Nittany Lion wrestling fans get to watch Duke, who became tremendously proficient at that sport over the years, resulting in him being the nation's top wrestling recruit for the 2025 class. Duke said it had been a dream of his to compete in Rec Hall. He made his de- but there on Dec. 7, defeating Lehigh's Logan Rozynski by injury default while leading 14-3, part of a 36-3 Penn State victory over the Mountain Hawks. "I remember I was 9 years old going to Rec Hall for a dual and I was just think- ing, 'Oh my gosh, this is amazing seeing the guys I grew up watching like [Jason] Nolf and [Bo] Nickal,'" Duke said. "And I was thinking, 'I want to do that.' I'm just so blessed." If you're the nation's most sought-af- ter recruit, there are ample reasons be- hind it. Duke had, and still has, plenty. Throughout his high school career and into his first semester at Penn State, where he is the team's 157-pound starter, Duke has compiled big numbers and multiple medals: • He was 152-1 at Minisink Valley High School, becoming only the 11th wrestler to win four state champion- ships in New York, earning Super 32, Fargo and Ironman titles along the way. • He won the 2025 Junior Hodge Tro- phy, a high school version of the col- WRESTLING EARLY RISER Freshman PJ Duke makes an immediate impact for the Nittany Lions J I M CA R L S O N | B L U E W H I T E C O N T R I B U T O R After growing up dreaming of being a Penn State wrestler, Duke began his college career with five consecutive wins, four of them coming by fall. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS