For most wrestlers, competing against Iowa in Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a defining moment, one that separates the truly elite from the rest. In Friday night’s dual, Penn State true freshman PJ Duke made it clear that he belongs among the nation’s best. 

Facing No. 12 Jordan Williams, Duke controlled the match and earned a 4-2 decision in one of the night’s most-anticipated bouts. Despite Williams’ impressive resume and the pressure to perform in a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye arena, Duke did not shy away from the challenge.  

“I treat every match the same. No matter if it’s in practice or in a match, I just try to be the same person,” Duke said. “That just helps you stay grounded. Marcus [Blaze] and I have been doing this our whole lives, so it’s kind of just normal for us now.” 

Now ranked No. 3 at 157 pounds on Intermat, Duke remains undefeated at 11-0 in his first collegiate season. Despite just being months into his collegiate career, Duke’s performances already read like those of a seasoned veteran. In addition to his win over Williams, he also holds notable victories over No. 11 Logan Rozynski of Lehigh and Daniel Cardenas of Stanford, who was ranked No. 4 at the time of their matchup. 

In his match against Williams, Duke showcased his maturity, adjusting to a defensive opponent and meeting him with patience.  

“I would say I was chasing him a little bit. He was more defensive, and I would say most of the Iowa team was defensive. I just had to be patient,” Duke said. “I knew that an opening would eventually come, and once it did, I took advantage of it and took him down, and that was pretty much the match.”  

While Duke is known for his explosive scoring ability, he understands that not every match will present the same scoring opportunities.  

“Obviously, I like scoring a lot of points. That’s the goal, to tech or pin everyone I wrestle. Obviously, not every match is going to be perfect, and not every match is going to be a tech fall or a pin,” Duke shared. “Even bonus points. It’s hard to get bonus points every match when guys don’t really want to wrestle too much. You know, some matches are going to go a little slower, and you just have to be patient, but I love to score points, so I am always going to try and do that.” 

Carver-Hawkeye Arena is an intimidating stage for even the most accomplished wrestlers. Iowa wrestling is a traditional powerhouse that has built its legacy under icons such as Dan Gable. As the destination for collegiate wrestling, it means a lot for any wrestler who gets the chance to compete on that mat.  

“Warming up in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, that is pretty special. As I was walking out, I was looking around and thinking, ‘wow, this is really happening,’” Duke said. “It’s like something you dream about your entire life. Iowa has a great reputation for fans, and I put on a good show, so it was pretty cool to be a part of that.” 

Reflecting on Josh Barr’s match and the overall success of the team, Duke emphasized the supportive culture that Penn State wrestling fosters. 

“You know, to be at such a good program and have great teammates, it’s something that is indescribable. It is special how close our team is. I would say a lot of teams aren’t like that,” Duke said. “Everyone is successful, and everyone wants one another to get better. Most of the time, when people are successful, they can bring you down, but not here. It’s just amazing what is going on.” 

Each match, Duke continues to prove that he is one of the nation’s best at 157 pounds, but he remains grounded in the work that got him here.  

“I am grateful to be where I am now. I put in a lot of work in the past, so I hold myself to a pretty high standard,” Duke said. “I am definitely proud of myself, but I would say I do deserve to be here.”  

On Friday, Penn State dominated Iowa in a 32-3 blowout, winning nine of ten bouts and outscoring Iowa 66-25. It was Iowa’s largest loss margin in 60 years in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Duke recognized the significance of the historic win, but emphasized using it as another step toward continued improvement. 

“It’s definitely pretty incredible. Just being with this group of guys, being dominant and getting better every day, it’s just so much fun,” Duke said. “I think all of us try not to look at the accolades and the scores, and we just try to look at how we can get better. So, it does mean a lot, and obviously, we are grateful that we did a good job. We are just ready to get better and move forward.” 

Duke and the Nittany Lions are back in action in Rec Hall on Friday, January 23, where they will take on the Indiana Hoosiers. The dual meet is set for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on BTN+.