Duane Leslie Named USA Wrestling Athlete Of The Week

Duane Leslie (Newport, Wash./Big Cat Wrestling) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week.

Leslie won two championships this past weekend at the 2026 USA Wrestling Northwest Regional. Leslie won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman 175-pound brackets in the 16U Boys division.

Over his seven matches, he only gave up two points and outscored his opposition 66-2. Each of his seven victories came by technical fall.

In freestyle, only Leslie’s championship match went beyond a minute. In the final, he posted a 10-0 technical fall 1:07 into the match. Leslie only needed 2:51 of mat time to win the 16U freestyle championship.

Leslie bookended his run to the Greco-Roman title with a pair of 8-0 technical falls. In the semifinals, Leslie notched a 10-2 victory.

Leslie’s two titles this weekend come after winning four titles at the WSWA Battle for the Roost. He swept both the 16U and Junior titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle. To start the month of March, Leslie won the Greco-Roman crown at the USA Wrestling U17 Pan American Team Trials.

To nominate a wrestler for this honor, please email the athlete’s name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.