Nine berths on 2025 U.S. Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team set during exciting #FinalX action in Newark. PJ Duke shocks Yianni Diakomihalis, Senior medalists Spencer Lee, Kyle Snyder, Zahid Valencia among men’s championshttps://t.co/ff0Z65tQhD
— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) June 15, 2025
Nine berths on 2025 U.S. Senior Men’s Freestyle World Team set during exciting Final X action in Newark
Duke shocks Diakomihalis, Senior medalists Lee, Snyder, Valencia among men’s freestyle Final X champions
NEWARK, N.J. – Nine berths on the 2025 U.S. Senior World Team were determined in men’s freestyle at an exciting Final X at the Prudential Center on Saturday.
The biggest story came at 70 kg, where high school sensation PJ Duke defeated 2022 World silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis, two matches to one, to make his first Senior World Team.
PJ DUKE DOES IT!!!
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) June 15, 2025
High Schooler PJ Duke just PINNED World Silver medalist Yianni Diakomihalis to make team USA! pic.twitter.com/XO87RiYTyR
Not only was his victory considered an unexpected upset, but it was done in dramatic fashion in the third and deciding match. Trailing 2-0, Duke took Diakomihalis down to his back and was able to lock him up and secure the pin at 4:07.
Diakomihalis was dominant in the first match, scoring four takedowns and a turn to secure a 10-0 technical fall. However, Duke fought back in the second match for a huge 17-10 win. Diakomihalis led 9-2 in the second match, but Duke hit a pair of four-point moves, followed by turns in par terre, to take a wide-open match and force the third bout.
Duke has signed with Penn State University. Diakomihalis was a four-time NCAA champion for Cornell before turning his full focus on international freestyle. Diakomihalis moved up to 70 kg this season after a number of years at 65 kg. Both wrestlers are natives of upstate New York.
Winners at Final X will compete for the United States at the Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, September 13-21.