2015 UWW Cadet World Championships

Yianni D's Journey To Gold

Yianni D's Journey To Gold

Aug 29, 2015 by Kyle Bratke
Yianni D's Journey To Gold
New York native Yianni Diakomihalis became the United States second Cadet World champion this week joining Ronna Heaton. Yianni was dominant and impressive throughout his run to the gold medal.

R32: Yianni Diakomihalis TF Maksat Talkambaev (KGZ) 10-0 Yianna D started the tournament off with a quick first period tech. Diakomihalis wasted no time coming out firing off and scoring multiple quick takedowns, and picking a series of leg laces to end the match early into the first period.




R16: Yianni Diakomihalis WBF Fazil Hasanov (AZE) 0:36 In the round of 16 Yianni faced off with one of the eventual bronze medalist, Fazil Hasanov of Azerbajian. Hasanov got in deep early on Diakomihalis, but like we have seen Yianni do time and time again, Yianni sat the corner, locked up a cradle, and that was all she wrote. In just 36 seconds Yianni D had advanced to the semis.  


Q: 
Yianni Diakomihalis TF Dmytro Mykhniuk (UKR) 10-0 
The quarters brought Yianni to a match up with Dmytro Mykhniuk of Ukraine. Much like his opening round match, Yianni did not need much time. Yianni used multiple low singles to take jump out to a 9-0 lead at the break, and then finished the match off just seconds into the second period with a go behind. Yianni was into the semis, and at least guaranteed a medal match. 

 
S: Yianni Diakomihalis DEC Soslan Guchakov (RUS) 10-5 
The semis brought Yianni is toughest test yet. Soslan Guchakov of Russia. Yianni D even surrended the first takedown before answering, and scoring one of his own to knot the match at two at the break. The second period was filled with flurries and scrambles, all of them won by Yianni. Yianni opened the scoring in the period on a beautiful high crotch to lead 4-2. Guchakov and Yianni then exchanged exposure points before Yianni sealed the deal with a four point throw to punch his ticket to the world finals! 

And then we waited, anxiously for Yianni's finals match: 


Final: Yianni Diakomihalis (USA)  DEC Jintaro Motoyama (JPN) 6-3 In the finals Yianni sqaured off with Jintaro Motoyama of Japan, and just like he had in the semis Yianni surrended the first takedown to his opponent. However, Yianni kept his cool, and ended the period with a beautiful four point takedown to lead at the break 4-2. Yianni then controlled the second period, and countered one of Motoyama's shots and scored a takedown of his own to seal the deal! Yianni Diakomihalis your 58kg Cadet World Champ! 

The wrestling world took to Twitter to react to Yianni winnning gold:



Don't forget our competitors for tomorrow either! Who will be the next one we write about?

46kg - Dylan D'emilio vs. Horst Lehr (GER)
*Lehr finished 10th at the 2015 European Championships

54kg - Daton Fix vs. Vazgen Tevanyan (ARM)
*Tevanyan was the European Champion in 2015

63kg - Jarod Verkleeren vs. Vasilii Diaconu (MDA)

76kg - Joe Grello vs. Ivan Stefanov (BUL)
*Stefanov was a bronze medalist at the 2015 European Championships

100kg - Gable Steveson vs. Georgios Georgiadis (GRE)
*Georgiadis was 10th at the European Championships