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Penn State wrestler Aurelius Dunbar picks transfer destination; where will he compete next?

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•07/10/25•

GregPickel

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The Penn State wrestling mat at Rec Hall.

Former Penn State wrestler Aurelius Dunbar has found a new college home. After going 10-9 almost exclusively in open tournaments (he wrestled one extra match in the 2022-2023 season against Oregon State) over five seasons as a Nittany Lion at 165 pounds, the Greencastle, Pa., native entered the portal seeking a different school to wrestle for during his extra year of eligibility provided by the NCAA’s decision to grant athletes impacted by the COVID year with another season. Now, he has it.

Dunbar will wrestle next at Duke. He announced the news on social media on Wednesday.

Read Dunbar’s full statement below

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity that I had to compete as a Nittany Lion and represent Penn State Athletics—more specifically, a program that is forever solidified in the history books,” Dunbar wrote on Instagram. “While the Big Ten and NCAA titles meant a lot, they pale in comparison to the people that stood beside me—teammates,friends, and coaches. The experiences that I had here I’ll cherish forever. To Coach Cael, Coach Casey, Coach Cody, and Coach Nick Lee—thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and always having my back. If I had to do it all over again I wouldn’t have chosen any other place. I will forever rep Penn State. WE ARE

“With that being said, I believe with time comes change, and it’s time for me to step beyond what I’ve grown so accustomed to even if it means leaving a place I have called home for nearly half a decade. I am leaving with nothing but respect for this program and my former teammates.

“I am honored to announce I will be taking my graduate year to Duke University where I will use my final year of eligibility to compete for the Blue Devils while completing my masters. Ready for what lies ahead, and ready to get to work!”

Note: A new episode of the Penn State wrestling show from BWI is live. Check it out below:

Penn State wrestling transfer tracker

By BWI’s count, eight Nittany Lions hit the portal following the 2024-2025 season. Seven of them have now found landing spots. Here’s the full rundown:

Alex Facundo, 165 pounds: Oklahoma State

Gary Steen, 125/133 pounds: Oklahoma State

Zack Ryder, 184 pounds: Oklahoma State

Kurt McHenry, 125 pounds: Cal Baptist

Aurelius Dunbar, 165 pounds: Duke

David Evans, 149 pounds: Utah Valley

Jack Kelly, 184 pounds: George Mason

AJ Fricchione, 197 pounds: TBD

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