It may not be a surprise after he captured the Super 32 Challenge title in a loaded field. But on Wednesday, it became official. Hilton’s Yianni Diakomihalis is the top ranked wrestler in the country at 106 pounds (according to FloWrestling).
Diakomihalis defeated the now-#2 grappler, Gage Curry of Pennsylvania, in the championship match in Greensboro, North Carolina and also beat current #3, Tyler Warner of Ohio, by a 14-3 score in the semifinals at the Super 32. He’ll look to capture his second consecutive New York state crown in 2013-14 after winning gold at 99 pounds as an eighth grader last year.
Diakomihalis is one of 10 Empire State wrestlers in the rankings, including six others in the top 10 at their respective weights. Here’s the list of New Yorkers:
Yianni Diakomihalis (Hilton, Freshman, Section 5) – 1st at 106
Nick Piccininni (Ward Melville, Junior, Section 11) – 6th at 120
Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (Cheektowaga, Senior, Section 6) – 5th at 138
Tristan Rifanburg (Norwich, Junior, Section 4) – 20th at 138
Louis Hernandez (Mepham, Senior, Section 8 ) – 6th at 152
Corey Rasheed (Longwood, Senior, Section 11) – 8th at 160
Burke Paddock (Warsaw, Senior, Section 5) – 9th at 160
Christian Dietrich (Greene, Sophomore, Section 4) – 14th at 182
Rich Sisti (Monsignor Farrell, Senior, CHSAA) – 15th at 220
James O’Hagan (Seaford, Senior, Section 8 ) – 8th at 285