In a remarkable display of skill and composure, 18-year-old PJ Duke punched his ticket to Final X by winning the 70 kg weight class at the 2025 USA Wrestling Senior World Team Trials in Louisville, Kentucky. The Penn State signee defeated two NCAA champions and a three-time All-American in a breakout performance that solidified his place among the nation’s elite.
Taking Out the Best
Duke’s path to Final X was anything but easy. In the quarterfinals, he faced Antrell Taylor, the reigning NCAA champion at 157 pounds from Nebraska. Duke trailed early but rallied with a decisive four-point move in the final minute to seal a 9-6 victory.
In the semifinals, Duke squared off with Ridge Lovett, the 2024 NCAA champion at 149 pounds. A tense, tactical match ended in Duke’s favor, 3-2, after a successful challenge overturned a late takedown call.
He capped off his run with a composed 4-1 decision over Bryce Andonian, a three-time All-American from Virginia Tech, in the finals, securing his spot at Final X.
Showdown with Yianni Diakomihalis Looms
Duke will now prepare for a best-of-three series against Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X, set for June 14 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Diakomihalis, a four-time NCAA champion and World silver medalist, qualified for Final X by winning the U.S. Open.
The winner of the Final X series will earn the right to represent the United States at the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
From Minisink Valley to Happy Valley
Duke, a four-time New York state champion from Minisink Valley High School, was ranked as the No. 2 overall recruit in the Class of 2025. Now committed to Penn State, Duke’s rapid ascent suggests he could make an immediate impact on a Nittany Lion roster already loaded with talent.
At just 18 years old, Duke is poised to become one of the faces of American wrestling, both on the NCAA stage and the international circuit.
