Retherford vs. Diakomihalis wrestle-off to decide 65 kg World Team spot on Labor Day

Photos by Tony Rotundo/Wrestlers are Warriors

Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The wrestling world has been holding its’ breath since Cornell University’s Head Coach Rob Koll announced that his wrestler, Yianni Diakomihalis (Rochester, N.Y./Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes RTC) would be appealing the decision made in match two of a best-of-three series at Final X: Rutgers against Zain Retherford (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC).

The ruling on the mat resulted in a 6-6 victory for Retherford and the 65 kg Senior World Team spot. However, independent arbitrator Matthew Mitten nullified match two due to the allowance of an improper challenge by Retherford’s corner. Now, nearly three months later, the men’s freestyle World Team will be solidified, and the United States’ 65 kg representative will be determined.

Both wrestlers competing are prodigious talents with laundry lists of accomplishments.

Retherford is one of the most dominant wrestlers in NCAA history. A three-time National champion and two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner at Penn State, Retherford was known in college for his brutal top game. However, the Pennsylvania hammer also has heavy hands and a blistering pace on his feet, which allowed him to secure the 2017 World Team spot with a season of college eligibility still remaining. His freestyle success is no surprise given that Retherford is a 2012 Cadet World champion.

With a 1-0 lead in the series, Retherford only needs one win to lock up the spot.

Defeating Retherford in two-straight matches will require a near herculean effort. However, there is no doubt Diakomihalis will be game. Known as one of the most cerebral wrestlers on the planet, Diakomihalis’s scrambling and flexibility has awed many a gymnasium.

Maybe an even more important attribute is Diakomihalis’s supreme confidence in his ability to score when needed. Going into his Junior season, he is two-for-two in NCAA title attempts. This includes a tournament where he knocked off the two-time defending National Champion with a torn ACL as a true freshman. On the international level, Diakomihalis is a 2015 and 2016 Cadet World champion. He also owns a 2019 Beat the Streets victory over the current No. 1 wrestler in the world Bajrang Punia of India, 10-8.

Adding to the drama is this duo’s history. Currently, Diakomihalis owns a 2-1 lead in their total series. He defeated Retherford, 6-4, in the finals of the U.S. Open and in the first round of the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul, Turkey, 9-5. However, Retherford proved he has the ability to deliver when the stakes are the highest, taking the first match at Final X: Rutgers, 10-4.

The exciting conclusion to this saga will take place on Labor Day, September 2, at 3 p.m. ET. The wrestle-off will be held in The Marts Center at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The 2000 seat venue will be packed as tickets sold out within hours.

The wrestle-off can be streamed live on Flowrestling.