By Oliver Astone

Some of the biggest and baddest young stars have lit the mats on fire at the Journeymen World Classic over the years. As we prepare for more star-studded clashes this weekend in Lake Placid, NY, let's take a look at some of the biggest moments in tournament history.

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2018 Journeymen/Cliff Keen World Classic and Duals
May 19-20 | Lake Placid, NY

1. Mikey Labriola takes out Russian national champ

At the 2016 JourneyMen World Classic, Mikey Labriola took on 2014 Russian national champion Feliks Dulaev. Although Labriola was a top-five wrestler in the national rankings at the time, it might have seemed like his hands were too full with a Russian national champ. Labriola pulled the upset and sealed the victory by turning an insurance-point takedown into a match-ending leg lace which he used to pin Dulaev late in the second period.

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2. Ian Parker dominates Sheriev

Russian champ Inalbek Sheriev was on a hot streak during the 2016 Journeymen World Classic, first making quick work out of Pennsylvania stud Brian Courtney. Next Sheriev beat the eventual world silver medalist, Vito Arajau. So when Ian Parker came out in the finals against Sheriev and dominated on his way to a tech fall, it was definitely a big statement. After this match, Sheriev went on to his match with Yianni Diakomihalis in which Sheriev walked off the mat. Watch Parker’s domination and Yianni’s breakdown of the controversial end of the match.

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3. Yianni D causes international trouble

He's been turning heads since he stepped on a wrestling mat. His moves have caused so much chatter that he's become a household name. However, during an all-star match Yianni D caused some controversy against a Russian national champ.

3. Yianni vs. Sasso in the finals

You don’t only get fire international matchups at the Journeymen World Classic. Both Sammy Sasso and Yianni Diakomihalis were established household names in the high school landscape, and it was just one of the crazy domestic star matchups featured in the tournament. Sasso couldn’t quite keep up with Yianni in the match, but he was able to get some scores and had a pretty slick counter exposure off of a Yianni cradle attempt.

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4. Vito goes Air France

Vito Arujau may have taken an "L" the year prior to this match, but as you can see from this performance at the 2017 Journeymen World Classic, he was out there looking for revenge. Arujau takes on Marwane Yezza in this match, and early on in the bout, Arujau locks up a body lock and sends Yezza flying with a turbulent landing on the line. After the throw, Arujau is relentless with his leg attacks, including his giant four-point double that ended that match with a tech fall.

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5. McHenry outlasts Kadyseit

World champ Kurt McHenry got all he could handle when he faced off with Yelaman Kadyseit of Kazakhstan. McHenry started off in traditional McNasty fashion, hitting his slick duck-under from elbow control. But McHenry’s duck-under got him into a bit of trouble when Kadyseit countered with a big lat whip that put Kadyseit in the lead. However, McHenry was able to stay cool and get the points he needed to take the lead and then cushioned his lead in the closing moments to come away with the win.

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6. Carson Manville techs Patrick Glory

Carson Manville has been doing big things all season long for Wyoming Seminary as a freshman, but last year, before he was even in high school, Manville teched the country’s top-ranked wrestler as an eighth-grader. Manville was on the radar, especially with having an older brother as talented as Mason Manville, but this was definitely a coming-out party for the young Halo-rocking stud. Manville fell behind early but took the lead with a big arm spin and didn't look back from there.

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7. The return of Yianni

Yianni Diakomihalis missed his senior season and the chance at making history by becoming only the second five-time New York state champion in history after needing surgery on both elbows. So when the multiple-time world champion made his return to the mat, he made sure to do it in style. Yianni made light work out of Shynggys Mukhametkaliyev of Kazakhstan, teching him in the first period. Yianni got to his leg attacks early and continued to score with a deep trap-arm gut after also locking up his opponent's wrist. 

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