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Penn State wrestling show: Final X recap, thoughts on the Lions' Big Ten opponents for 2025-2026

Greg Pickelby: Greg Pickel06/19/25GregPickel
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Penn State wrestling podcast.

The Penn State wrestling show from Blue-White Illustrated is back with a recap of Final X plus the latest on the Nittany Lions’ 2025-2026 schedule.

Host Thomas Frank Carr and reporter Greg Pickel start this week’s show with a look at how past, present, and future members of head coach Cael Sanderson’s program, plus Nittany Lion Wrestling Club members, performed at the event that sets the U.S. National team. Incoming freshman PJ Duke stole the show in Newark and thus dominates the conversation on this episode. Despite not yet receiving his high school diploma, the New York native is going to World’s as his country’s representative at 70 kilograms after stunning Cornell great Yianni Diakomihalis with a pin to win their best-of-three series 2-1. Duke, who is a four-time state champ, capped it off with a back flip seconds after the referee slapped the mat to end the match.

“I’ve just been trying to prove people wrong the whole time,” Duke told reporters following the match. “I’m sure people are saying, ‘you know, he’s only 18, he’s too young for senior level.’ But that’s what they said here, and that didn’t go too well for them. So, I’m just going to keep working and moving into college on June 28. So, that will be a little change, but definitely a good room to be a part of, is that Penn State room. There’s so many guys here, and nobody else is matching them. So I’m off to a great place, and I think I’m ready for the best in the world.”

After discussing Duke, the hosts cover Penn State’s other World team members: Levi Haines and Kyle Snyder. They then discuss the Lions who lost at Final X and what it means moving forward.

Watch the latest Penn State wrestling show from Blue-White Illustrated below! Or, find it on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.

From there, Carr and Pickel dive into what we know about the next Penn State regular season schedule. The Big Ten announced home and away opponents, without dates and times, on Monday. In case you missed those, here’s who the Lions will face:

Big Ten home: Ohio State, Nebraska, Indiana, and Rutgers 

Big Ten road: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, and Northwestern

From there, the show closes out with a preview of Class of 2026 commit Jayden James’ trip to the U17 Pan-American championships this weekend as a member of Team USA.


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