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Penn State commit PJ Duke is on the verge of creating history, becoming the youngest U.S. male freestyle wrestler to wrestle at the senior level in the World Championship. The young wrestler shared his reaction after defeating Yianni Diakomihalis at the Final X.
It was not the first rodeo for the young wrestler and Yianni wasn't the first NCAA champion that Duke defeated. Before his stellar performance at the Final X, Duke dominated against past NCAA champions at the World Team Trials. Duke defeated the reigning NCAA champion, Antrell Taylor, in the quarterfinals. He then faced and defeated another NCAA champion in Ridge Lovett. In the final of the World Team Trials, Duke defeated the three-time All-American from Virginia Tech, Bryce Andonian.
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The Minisink Valley star wrestler took on his childhood hero, Yianni Diakomihalis, at the Final X. He won the best of three championships and earned the spot at the World Championship.
PJ Duke opened up about his victory and said (via Mid Hudson News):
"It feels incredible. I have been working my whole life to make the World Team, and to do it is amazing. This is one of the best days of my life."
Reflecting on his performance in the series, the wrestler said:
"I think the first match I went out a little too hot. I just had to fix some mistakes and get a feel for the match. I have been wrestling a long time, and I could tell in the second period (of the second match) he was gassed and starting to fade. I knew I could beat him."
Yianni Diakomihalis is a four-time NCAA champion for Cornell University and was a Dan Hodge Trophy finalist. PJ lost the first match to Yianni but won the next two, earning a spot in the senior team for the World Championships.
PJ Duke replies to Yianni Diakomihalis's pre-match interview where he said he would 'try to mangle' him
In a pre-match interview, Yianni Diakomihalis had said that he would "try to mangle" PJ Duke, which the young wrestler did not take lightly as the two clashed at Final X, where Duke managed to claim the win. Duke said afterwards (via NBC Sports):
"I took that personal. I’m not going to let that slide. He’s a good mentor to me, but I work my butt too hard to be mangled."
PJ Duke recently finished his high school with a 152-1 record. Duke will be competing in the 70 kg division at the World Championships in Croatia in September.
