SOURCE: www.teamusa.org

May 07, 2019

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The sport of wrestling was the big winner during the 10th Beat the Streets competition, with a sold-out crowd of 5,000 fans supporting many of the best wrestlers in the nation and world at the Hulu Theater in the world-famous Madison Square Garden.

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The biggest battle happened at 65 kg, when two-time NCAA champion and two-time Cadet World champion Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell edged 2018 World silver medalist and two-time Asian champion Bajrang Punia of India, 10-8.

Tied 2-2 at the break, Diakomihalis was up 8-4 in the second period, and came out of a wild scramble late to win 10-8. Diakomihalis was a 2019 U.S. Open champion a few weeks ago in his first full-season competing at the Senior level.

When asked about beating the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the world in Bajrang, Diakomihalis was honest about what that means.

"It don't mean anything. I did not win a World title in that match. It just shows me that I am ready to win a World tournament. It's good to know," said Diakomihalis.