Green fends off Nolf and Diakomihalis takes out Oliver in 2019 US Open Men's Freestyle semifinals

 James Green takes down Jason Nolf for four points. Photo by Austin Bernard.

Las Vegas, NV While the Senior Men’s Freestyle Semifinals were exciting and excellent across the board, there were two matches in particular that captivated and electrified the arena, Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Jordan Oliver and James Green vs. Jason Nolf. Both featured compelling story lines, seasoned freestyle veterans squaring off against up-and-coming college superstars.

The 65 kg match between Yianni Diakomihalis and Jordan Oliver was also a battle between teammates. Jordan Oliver has been training at Cornell with the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club for nearly a year and a half. Sometimes wrestlers familiar with their opponents’ styles wrestle hesitant, low-scoring matches. This wasn’t the case for this match.

The beginning was a back-and-forth affair. Yianni struck first forcing a step-out. Oliver answered with a slick single-leg takedown. Yianni scored another step-out to tie it up.  Oliver converted on a single leg to take a 4-2 lead. After another Oliver single-leg attempt, Yianni forced a scramble, and earned his own takedown to even the score heading into the break. The second period started with more of the same, Oliver in on a single, leg and Yianni scrambling out to earn a takedown of his own to take a 6-4 lead. Oliver scored another step-out to cut the lead to 6-5. It would be the last point he scored. Yianni took a single leg shot which he transitioned into a double which he transitioned straight into a leg lace to push his lead to 10-5. With 40 seconds left in the match Yianni fired off and converted on a double leg takedown once again transitioning into a leg lace, earning two turns and ending the match 16-5.

After the match Yianni briefly spoke about his relationship with Jordan.

“Jordan is my friend. It sucks I have to wrestle him, but it is what it is and you do what have to do. This is step one. I have to win the Open just so I can make the team so I can be a World Champ. This is big but not what I’m here for.”

Diakomihalis said.

In Nolf vs. Green, Nolf scored a takedown off an ankle pick to start the match. Green responded with a big double leg takedown for four on the edge of the mat. Nolf scored another two on a cross body ankle pick to even the score at four. With three seconds left in the period, Nolf earned another takedown to take a six-to-four lead into the break. The second period was a defensive gridlock with neither wrestle able to score. With ten seconds left in the match Green was able to convert on a double leg takedown to take a 6-6 lead on criteria. He fended off Nolf for the remaining few seconds and advanced to the finals. Green attributed his ability to score points in high pressure situations due to his training with one of the most clutch wrestlers in the world, Jordan Burroughs.

“I wrestle with Jordan every day. I saw him at Pan Ams chase down (Franklin) Gomez. He does that to me every day. I have to keep that in mind no matter how much time is left. I can always get one. I don’t want to win like that, on criteria, but Nolf is great, and he’s getting better. I know he’s hungry. He’s going to make me better. He’s going to make a World Champ. Right now it’s my time.”

Green said.

Some other compelling matches included Thomas Gilman winning by disqualification over long-time rival Nathan Tomasello at 57 kg. Gilman was leading 8-0, when Tomasello was hit for his second caution-and-two, resulting in automatic disqualification. At 86 kg Pat Downey overcame a 7-0 deficit to defeat Myles Martin, 9-7, and at 97 kg. Ben Honis defeated 2017 U23 World bronze medalist Ty Walz 11-3. The finals will take place tomorrow April, 27, at 2:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.

Finals matchups
57 kg: Thomas Gilman (TMWC) vs. Daton Fix (TMWC)
61 kg: Nico Megaludis (TMWC) vs. Cody Brewer (TMWC)
65 kg: Yianni Diakomihalis (TMWC) vs. Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC)
70 kg: James Green (Sunkist Kids) vs. Ryan Deakin (TMWC)
74 kg: Isaiah Martinez (TMWC) vs. Tommy Gantt (TMWC)
79 kg: Alex Dieringer (TMWC) vs. Chance Marsteller (TMWC)
86 kg: Nick Heflin (TMWC) vs. Pat Downey (TMWC)
92 kg: Hayden Zilmmer (GWC) vs. Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion WC)
97 kg: Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids) vs. Benjamin Honis (TMWC)
125 kg: Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen WC) vs. Anthony Nelson (GWC)

Semifinals results

57 kg
Thomas Gilman (TMWC) df. Nathan Tomasello (TMWC), win by disqualification
Daton Fix (TMWC) dec. Darian Cruz (NYAC/LVWC), 2-0 

61 kg
Nico Megaludis (TMWC) dec. Cory Clark (TMWC), 10-1
Cody Brewer (TMWC) TF Joey Palmer (Unattached), 11-0 

65 kg
Yianni Diakomihalis (TMWC) TF Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids), 16-5
Zain Retherford (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Jaydin Eierman (TMWC), 11-3 

70 kg
James Green (Sunkist Kids) dec. Jason Nolf (Nittany Lion WC), 6-6
Ryan Deakin (TMWC) dec. Alec Pantaleo (Michigan), 8-4

74 kg
Isaiah Martinez (TMWC) TF Brian Murphy (NYAC/NJRTC), 13-0
Tommy Gantt (TMWC) dec. Anthony Valencia (ASU), 11-5 

79 kg
Alex Dieringer (TMWC) TF Geno Morelli (Nittany Lion WC), 10-0
Chance Marsteller (TMWC) TF Stacey Davis (TMWC), 10-0  

86 kg
Nick Heflin (TMWC) dec. Sammy Brooks (NYAC/Hawkeye WC), 5-3
Pat Downey (TMWC) dec. Myles Martin (TMWC), 9-7 

92 kg
Hayden Zillmer (GWC) dec. Kollin Moore (tOSU), 12-7
Bo Nickal (Nittany Lion WC) TF Mike Macchiavello (TMWC), 14-4 

97 kg
Kyven Gadson (Sunkist Kids) dec. Michael Boykin (TMWC/Wolfpack WC), 10-0
Benjamin Honis (TMWC) dec. Ty Walz (TMWC), 11-3 

125 kg
Adam Coon (NYAC/Cliff Keen WC) dec. Derek White (TMWC), 6-0
Anthony Nelson (GWC) dec. Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids), 3-1