Penn State wrestler PJ Duke has been named the Big Ten Wrestling Freshman of the Week for the week ending December 14, 2025. This is the first weekly honor for Penn State wrestling this season.
Duke earned the recognition after pinning Jared Hill of Wyoming, who was ranked No. 23, during their 157-pound match in Laramie, Wyoming. The pin came at 4:09 in the second period. Duke, a true freshman, took Hill down four times before securing the fall. His victory was one of four pins recorded by Penn State in its 40-7 win over Wyoming.
The team also achieved two technical falls and won the first eight bouts of the dual meet. The event drew a record crowd for Wyoming with an attendance of 4,686 people. With this result, Duke improved his season record to 6-0, including five pins and one win by injury default.
Penn State’s wrestling team remains undefeated at 4-0 overall and has yet to compete in a Big Ten conference match this season. The Nittany Lions are scheduled to travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for the Journeymen Collegiate Duals on Saturday, December 20. They will face North Dakota State at 5 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m. local) and Stanford at 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. local).
Fans can follow updates about Penn State wrestling on X/twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. The Family Clothesline is serving as presenting sponsor for the Nittany Lion wrestling season.