Diakomihalis Wins US Open, Honis Earns Second
SOURCE: cornellbigred.com
April 28, 2019

 


ITHACA, N.Y. -- Just weeks after winning his second NCAA title, Yianni Diakomihalis sent shockwaves through international wrestling with a win at 65kg at the 2019 Marine Corps US Open in Las Vegas, Nev. With it, the sophomore is two wins from making the Senior World Team at an Olympic weight.

His run through the field was even more impressive when you consider he defeated 2016 Olympic fifth-place finisher Frank Molinaro in the quarters, 2018 U Open Champ Jordan Oliver and 2017 World Teamer Zain Retherford. Combined, the trio won six NCAA championships. Diakomihalis earned a spot at Final X Rutgers on June 8 where he will wrestle an opponent to be determined. Diakomihalis will wrestle a best-of-three series with a spot on the U.S. Senior World Team on the line. The 2019 World Wrestling Championship will be held Sept. 14-22 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Ben Honis was the runner-up at 97kg, dropping a 5-0 contest in the finals to Kyven Gadson. He still earns a spot in the World Team Trials, where he will have a chance to make Final X by winning the challenge tournament, then getting a second crack at Gadson in a best-of-three series. Honis defeated No. 2 seed Ty Walz 11-3 in the semifinals and also topped No. 6 Wynn Michalak (8-5) in the quarters.

Other Cornell finishers in senior freestyle included Vitali Arujau in fourth and Frank Perrelli in seventh at 57kg and Max Dean in eighth at 86kg. Both Arujau and Perrelli qualified for the World Team Trials with their performances. Andrew Berreyesa and Jon Jay Chavez each wrestled at 82kg in Greco, advancing to the quarterfinals. Brendan Furman made the blood round in junior freestyle at 125kg.


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