PJ Duke earns USA Wrestling honors for Final X performance

Incoming Penn State wrestling freshman PJ Duke has been the talk of the wrestling world since the new Nittany Lion’s shocking upset over four-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X last weekend. Earning a spot on the Senior National Team at 70 kg, the stunning victory helped Duke pick up Athlete of the Week honors from USA Wrestling.

The path to a title for Duke at Final X was not without drama. He fell to Diakomihalis 10-0 in the first match of the best-of-three series. Then, trailing 9-2 in match two, Duke battled back for a 17-10 win to push the series to a winner-take-all final bout. Duke carried the momentum into the final match, where he threw Diakomihalis on his back and secured the pin at the 4:07 mark.

🏆 PJ Duke has been named the USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by @airforcespecwar.https://t.co/ig7I037QoA

— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) June 19, 2025

Duke will compete in the 2025 Senior World Championships from September 13-21 in Zagreb, Croatia. Turning 19 in July, Duke could become the youngest U.S. men’s freestyle wrestler to compete in the World Championships since 1974. The only way that would not be the case is if Oklahoma State commit Jax Forrest claims the National Team’s final roster spot via his best-of-three series with Vito Arujau next month. 

Duke also qualified for the U20 World Championships from August 17-24 in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

The recent success is only strengthening the calls for Duke to become an instant starter when he joins the Penn State wrestling program this fall. Duke projects to be a 157-pounder, which currently is occupied by two-time All-American Tyler Kasak. Kasak, along with 165-pounder Mitchell Mesenbrink, are only entering their third season with the Nittany Lions. 

Ultimately, the depth that Cael Sanderson has built in Happy Valley is perhaps at an all-time high. Regardless of whether Duke starts as a true freshman or not, the Nittany Lions will be in good hands moving forward. 

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