Take Down Champ!

Athlete Feature: 4-Time National Champion Cornell Wrestler Yianni Diakomihalis

By Stephen Kerr|Updated on July 6, 2023 (originally published on May 26, 2023)

There isn't much that Cornell University wrestler Yianni Diakomihalis hasn't accomplished in his collegiate career. At the 2023 NCAA National Championships in Tulsa this past March, the 5-foot-6 senior from Rochester, NY became only the fifth four-time national champion in Division I history.

Diakomihalis, whose full name is John Michael Diakomihalis, accomplished his record-breaking feat with a 4-2 victory over Sammy Sasso of Ohio State in the 149-pound weight class. He became the second wrestler in program history to win four national championships, after Kyle Dake captured four titles in four different weight classes from 2009-13.

Diakomihalis finished his impressive Big Red career with a 21-1 record this past season, 115-2 overall during his four years with the program. His .983 winning percentage is a school record, and he earned EIWA and Ivy League Wrestler of the Year honors four times each. He won his first two national championships at 141 pounds before moving up to 149 pounds the last two seasons.

As a junior, Diakomihalis finished a perfect 28-0, including 15 wins over nationally ranked opponents. He capped off his sophomore season with a 47-match win streak that dated back to his freshman year, when he became just the second Cornell rookie to win a national championship.

At Hilton High School in Rochester, Diakomihalis was one of only seven four-time New York state champions, finishing his varsity career by winning a whopping 210 straight matches for a state record.

Diakomihalis's success on the mat extended beyond high school and college. As a two-time member of Team USA's world team, he captured a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships in Belgrade. That victory made him the second medalist in the 65kg/66kg weight class for Team USA since Bill Zadick won gold at the 2006 World Championships.

Now that he has finished his collegiate career, Diakomihalis isn't done competing. He hopes to represent his country once again when Team USA competes at the Olympic Summer Games Paris 2024. His first attempt at making the Olympics was unsuccessful, but with more experience under his belt, it's not a stretch to believe the second time could be the charm.

Know an athlete you want to recognize? Email us at [email protected].