PJ Duke

Peter John Duke (born July 7, 2006) is an American freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at 70 kilograms. 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. Duke wrestles collegiately for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Career

High school Born and raised in New York, Duke started wrestling around four years old. 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. Duke committed to wrestle for the Penn State Nittany Lions in September 2023. 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.

2024 In September, Duke, the U20 US World Team member at 70 kilograms, claimed a bronze medal at the U20 World Championships. 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.

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.

2025 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. Weeks later, he achieved the U20 US World Team Trials crown, and is set to compete at the U20 World Championships in August.

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. 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.

Freestyle record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location

Win 17-4

Novi Sad, Serbia Loss 16-4

Win 16-3

Win 15-3

Win 14-3

Loss 13-3

Zagreb, Croatia Win 13-2

Win 12–2

Newark, New Jersey Win 11–2

Loss 10–2

Win 10–1

Louisville, Kentucky Win 9–1

Win 8–1

Win 7–1

New York City, New York Win 6–1

Win 5–1

Win 4–1

Omaha, Nebraska Win 3–1

Loss 2–1

Win 2–0

Win 1–0