Penn State wrestling signee PJ Duke wins Junior Hodge Trophy
As he prepares to compete for a spot on the USA U20 team this weekend before battling to be the U.S. senior team’s 70 kilogram representative at Final X next month, Penn State signee PJ Duke is adding another honor to his already impressive list of accolades. The nation’s No. 1 Class of 2025 recruit and incoming Nittany Lion freshman is this year’s Junior Dan Hodge Trophy winner. It is presented by WIN Magazine, which announced the news on Thursday.
“It is pretty cool,” Duke told WIN. “I worked my whole life for this, and it has always been a dream to be No. 1 in the country.”
A Minisink Valley product and four-time New York state champ, the Slate Hill native is the second new Nittany Lion to win the honor that goes to the nation’s best high school wrestler in as many years. Luke Lilledahl claimed it in 2024 before going on to be an All-American as a true freshman in head coach Cael Sanderson’s lineup at 125 pounds.
The Dan Hodge Trophy is named after the three-time NCAA champ and former Oklahoma star. This year’s college version went to Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson over Penn State stars Carter Starocci and Mitchell Mesenbrink. Duke is the third Nittany Lion to win the junior version, joining Lilledahl and Mark Hall, who earned it in 2016.
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“This is amazing,” Duke’s high school coach at Minisink Valley, Kevin Gallagher, told WIN. “You don’t get a bigger honor. I couldn’t be happier for PJ. He is a gifted athlete, but also the hardest worker I’ve ever seen. It was a pleasure to have him all these years.
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“He is a great teammate and leader, he is the kid that is jumping up and down for a freshman wrestler who gets a big win. He helps in practice. PJ is just such a humble, well-liked kid.”
Duke will compete in the U20 70 kilogram finals this weekend in Ohio. With a win in the best-of-three championship match, he will earn Team USA’s spot in that age group’s weight class. Then, on June 14, he’ll take on Cornell legend Yianni Diakomihalis for the Team USA Senior World team 70 kilogram spot at Final X.
“I’ve always went up an age level and weight division even when I was younger,” Duke told WIN. “I’ve adapted to it and become comfortable. I work really hard. So, I trust my training. I am comfortable wrestling college guys because I train at RTCs and wrestle college guys in practice. I know I am training just as hard or harder.”
“When I was younger, I’d be traveling hours to get matches. My dad got annoyed if I would just pin everyone quickly, so he started making rules. I would need at least three takedowns or to score 10 points before a pin. He taught me to always adapt, score points and build my lead, which stuck with me now.”
Once he arrives at Penn State, Duke projects to start his time in State College at 157 pounds.
