Top-3 In the World: Diakomihalis Earns Bronze at the 2024 U17 Championships

YOU NEVER DOUBT A DIAKOMIHALIS!!!

Thrust into the U.S. Under-17 World Freestyle line-up on late notice (August 2nd) after 2024 U.S. Open Champion, 𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙪𝙣 𝙍𝙤𝙨𝙨 (two-time Iowa State Champion; 3x Fargo National Champion/2023 16U Double titlist) was forced to withdraw due to injuries, New York Wrestling News' #4 overall rising senior prospect [Elijah Diakomihalis] maximized his opportunity in Amman, Jordan, as he will be returning to his Hilton community as the owner of a 92kg UWW U17 World FS Bronze medal!!!

Taking the long road back to the podium after suffering a painstakingly hard fought loss in the R16 to the eventual Champion in the bracket/2023 U17 World Bronze medalist, 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢, of Georgia, the 3x NYSPHSAA DI medalist/2x finalist/Defending titlist for the Cadets battled his way back to top-3 status when he posted a 2-0 record on Sunday to cap off a strong 3-1 overall showing in his international debut!!!

Setting the tone for the kind of special day it was going to be, both for himself and for the U.S. squad as a whole, "Lij" punched his ticket to the bronze bout when he needed just 1:23 to earn a 10-0 technical fall in his repechage match-up with Kyrgyzstan's 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐤𝐡 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐳𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐯....

His output coming in bunches, the Empire Stater got on the board when he countered a double-leg attempt by launching his opponent head-over-feet with a chest wrap approximately :40 into the opening stanza to grab the 4-0 lead...

In the last 45 seconds of the period, he converted the takedown and then tacked on a pair of complementary gut-wrenches...

His medal round contest versus 2024 European U17 Bronze Medalist, 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐞𝐢 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐧𝐨𝐮 (AIN), proved to be slightly more competitive; but in the end, Diakomihalis had all of the answers to the challenge, as he'd deliver a much needed dub in the form of an 8-3 decision over the Independent/Neutral Athlete....

His attacks on-point for the full four minute duration of the showdown, Diakomihalis carried a 4-2 edge into the intermission after spinning behind and then forcing his opposition off the mat for a 1pt stepout, as well as a caution +1 for fleeing :24 into the 1st period....Shortly after a restart, he'd utilize a head-wheel finish off of a single-leg to garner the takedown...

Wasting little time in getting back on the offensive in the 2nd, the Section V picked up right where he left off, as dove in on a single before doubling-off for his second TD of the match just :09 into action to go up 6-2!!

However, the highlight for the American occured with just over 90 ticks to go, as he'd evade a shot attempt from Khadunou and then once behind him, lifted and hurled him for a 2pt throw to round out his production!!!

Now the second member of his famed/illustrious family to claim Cadet/U17 hardware of any color (older brother, Yianni, was of course a 2x Champion in 2015 and 2016 in the the 58 and 63kg classes), Elijah's clutch performance also extended New York's streak of U17 medalists to four consecutive years...He joined the likes of fellow recent bronze medalists---Angie Dill (2021; 43kg Women) & Zack Ryder (2022 & 2023; 80kg Men's FS)!!!

As a Red, White, and Blue machine, Team USA would lock up the team title for the second time in the past three years (also won it in 2022) by going 3-1 in medal matches that were contested (note: 60kg rep, Jordyn Raney had to forfeit his 3rd-place match after sustaining an injury in the semis)...

Sammy Sanchez (California) & Domenic Munaretto (Illinois) went back-to-to-back in striking gold at 45 and 51kg respectively!!!

All in all, between yesterday and today, six of the 10-man Stars + Stripes contingent secured medals, as Michael Mocco (110kg; Florida) took gold on Saturday, while Henry Aslikyan (California) and Keanu Dillard (Pennsylvania) were each bronze recipients among the 48 and 55kg fields!!

Just missing the podium this week with individual 5ths in the Men's FS discipline were: [Jordyn] Raney, Melvin Miller (71kg), & Emmitt Sherlock (80kg)!!!

(WRITER'S UPDATE: It has since been learned that Elijah Diakomihalis pulled off this remarkable achievement while competing with a tear of the labrum that will force him to miss the entirety of his swan song campaign in 2024-2025!!!)‍

‍DIAKOMIHALIS DAY #1 RECAP (FB Post)