Penn State wrestling lands No. 1 Class of 2025 recruit PJ Duke
Penn State wrestling has landed the nation’s top Class of 2025 recruit. Minisink Valley, N.Y., junior PJ Duke committed to the Lions on Monday during an appearance on the BaschAMania podcast. The Empire State star is the nation’s top-ranked pound-for-pound wrestler in his class by both FloWrestling and MatScouts.
Duke won a New York State title as a freshman at 138 pounds a year ago. An injury cut his sophomore season short, per SI. But, he has numerous tournament trophies to his name and has long been viewed as one of the best prep wrestlers in the country. He will eventually join former Minisink Valley teammate and Penn State wrestling Class of 2024 commit Zack Ryder in State College.
“PJ believes he’ll be a 157-pounder at the next level,” David Bray writes for Flo. “He won Super 32 last fall at 138 lbs but was up to 150 lbs for Ironman less than two months later. “Between October and December of last year, Duke beat #6 Vince Bouzakis, #6 Kollin Rath, #4 LaDarion Lockett, and #2 Will Henckel. Unfortunately, he missed the second half of his season due to an injury that required surgery and is still working through the recovery process.”
Penn State continues to roll in the recruiting realm as expected. Central Mountain standout Dalton Perry is also committed in the Class of 2025 and is a top 30 wrestler nationally. State College’s Asher Cunningham is inside of the top 65 (per MatScouts) and committed in that cycle, as well.
Penn State 2023-2024 schedule notes
Penn State wrestling will meet Oregon State during the 2023-2024 season. The Beavers released their schedule for the year over the weekend. And, the Nittany Lions are on it. Head coach Cael Sanderson’s side will invade Gall Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore., on Fri., Jan 5. A match time is not yet available. Neither is any television or streaming information.
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Penn State has not yet released its full 2023-2024 schedule. That should happen soon. We do already know some details, however.
The Nittany Lions will go to the Journeymen Classic on Nov. 12 in Bethlehem, Pa. This year’s list of teams coming to the individual and not dual meet tournament includes North Carolina State, Arizona State, Lehigh, Purdue, Long Island University, Lock Haven, Harvard, Franklin & Marshall College, Bloomsburg, Pitt-Johnstown, Buffalo, Sacred Hart, Army, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell. The event’s official website will post additional details when available.
Penn State will also be at Army’s Black Knight Invitational on Nov. 19. It hosts Lehigh on Dec. 3, Hofstra on Dec. 10, and then the Beavers on Jan. 5. At least one additional non-conference match should be scheduled before the year begins.
