Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships

Sunday, June 15, 2025 - 09:00 By United World Wrestling Press

NEWARK, United States (June 14) -- United States determined its Freestyle team in nine weight classes for the World Championships after the Final X which was held Saturday in Newark, New Jersey.

One spot -- 61kg -- will be determined on a later date as Vitali ARUJAU (USA) was allowed a delay in his playoff against Jaxen FORREST (USA) due to an injury.

Despite the 61kg playoff not scheduled for Saturday, there was no lack of surprises at the Final X, a tournament designated to select the final 10 wrestlers for the U.S. team.

The biggest surprised came at 70kg as high school sensation Peter DUKE defeated former world silver medalist John DIAKOMIHALIS in a best-of-three series and make his first senior World Championships team.

The win for Duke came in dramatic fashion as he pinned Diakomihalis the third and final bout of the series. Diakomihalis opened with a big 10-0 technical superiority win over Duke in the first bout. However, Duke bounced back with a big 17-10 win in the second bout. Diakomihalis led 9-2 but Duke hit a pair of four-point moves, followed by turns in par terre to win and force the third bout.

In the third bout, Diakomihalis and Duke were in a scramble and the former tried a split-leg defense but was pushed on his back on the mat and Duke kept him there for the fall.

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"That first match, [I] didn't wrestle my best," Duke said. "It's a feel match. Didn't doubt myself once."

Duke later revealed that he saw an interview in which Diakomihalis said he would "try to mangle" Duke.

"I took that personal," Duke said. "I'm not going to let that slide. He's a good mentor to me, but I work my butt too hard to be mangled."

Apart from Diakomihalis, Kyle DAKE was fell short in his bid to make the team at 86kg, a big jump from 74kg, in which he won bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

Dake fell to Zahid VALENCIA who won two straight matches to make the team. After winning his first bout 5-3, Valencia scored a takedown and leg-lace turn for a 4-0 lead in the first period, and went on to win 4-1. Valencia is a bronze medalist from 2023 World Championships at 92kg.

Paris Olympic silver medalist Spencer LEE made his first-ever World Championships team two-match sweep over world U20 champion Luke LILLEDAHL at 57kg. Lee won the second match 6-0, scoring all of his points in the first period with a takedown, a leg lace and an exposure from the feet. Lee won the first match 7-2, with a key takedown and two gut wrenches in the first period.

At 74kg, age David CARR defeated Mitchell MESSENBRINK in two straight matches. Carr won the first bout 4-3, scoring two takedowns in the second period. He completed the series win with another comeback. Trailing 4-2 in the second period, Carr scored a clutch takedown to tie the match at 4-4 to win by criteria.

Former world U23 champion Wyatt HENDRICKSON the 125kg series in two straight matches over Trent HILLGER. After a 10-0 technical superiority win in the fist bout, Hendrickson was tested in the second but he eventually won 20-14 to wrap up the series over Hillger. Hendrickson made global headlines in March when he won an NCAA title beating 2020 Olympic champion Gable STEVESON in the final.

Trent HIDLAY needed just two bouts at 92kg to defeat Joshua BARR and earn a spot on the team. Hidlay won the first bout 6-1 but the second win proved much difficult to come. All five points were stepout points with Hidlay winning 3-2.

At 65kg, Real WOODS denied Joseph MCKENNA a spot on the world team after posting two straight wins. Both matches had a key four-point move by Woods that made the difference. In the second match, Woods opened the match with a four-pointer, which held up when the match ended 4-4, giving Woods criteria. McKenna challenged, seeking a point on a singlet pull, which was denied, making in 5-4.

Levi HAINES swept his 79kg series in two straight over Evan WICK. In the second match, Haines scored a 6-1 win, with a key takedown and an exposure in the second period for the margin of victory. In the first match, Haines scored an impressive 10-0 first-period technical fall.

Past world and Olympic champion Kyle SNYDER made his 11th straight world/Olympic team for the U.S. after he defeated Hayden ZILLMER. In the deciding second match, Snyder broke a 2-2 tie with two takedowns and a turn in the second period for an 8-2 win.

The 61kg playoff to decide the winner between Arujau and Forrest will be held Monday, July 14 at the Fargodome in Fargo.

RESULTS (Best of three)

57kg
Spencer LEE df. Luke LILLEDAHL, 2-0

Bout 1: Lee df. Lilledahl, 7-2
Bout 2: Lee df. Lilledahl, 6-0

65kg
Real WOODS df. Joseph MCKENNA, 2-0

Bout 1: Woods df. McKenna, 7-3
Bout 2: Woods df. McKenna, 5-4

70kg
Peter DUKE df. John DIAKOMIHALIS, 2-1

Bout 1: Diakomihalis df. Duke, 10-0
Bout 2: Duke df. Diakomihalis, 17-10
Bout 3: Duke df. Diakomihalis, via fall

74kg
David CARR df. Mitchell MESENBRINK, 2-0

Bout 1: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-3
Bout 2: Carr df. Mesenbrink, 4-4

79kg
Levi HAINES df. Evan WICK, 2-0

Bout 1: Haines df. Wick, 10-0
Bout 2: Haines df. Wick, 6-1

86kg
Zahid VALENCIA df. Kyle DAKE, 2-0

Bout 1: Valencia df. Dake, 5-3
Bout 2: Valencia df. Dake, 4-1

92kg
Trent HIDLAY df. Joshua BARR, 2-0

Bout 1: Hidlay df. Barr, 6-1
Bout 2: Hidlay df. Barr, 3-2

97kg
Kyle SNYDER df. Hayden ZILLMER, 2-0

Bout 1: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-0
Bout 2: Snyder df. Zillmer, 8-2

125kg
Wyatt HENDRICKSON df. Trent HILLGER, 2-0

Bout 1: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 10-0
Bout 2: Hendrickson df. Hillger, 20-14

#WrestlePontevedra

Onishi adds U20 world title to growing resume

Thursday, September 5, 2024 - 23:02 By Vinay Siwach

PONTEVEDRA, Spain (September 5) -- Three minutes and 33 seconds on the mat, 40-0 in four bouts and zero points conceded.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) could not have asked for a better debut at the U20 level as she won the 59kg gold medal at the World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain on Thursday.

Ever since her heartbreaking loss in the U17 World Championships final in 2022, Onishi has not looked back and won the U17 and U20 World titles without giving up points. Her title run on Thursday saw her finish the 59kg final against Alexis JANIAK (USA) 10-0 in 43 seconds.

Not that her earlier bouts were any different.

The 18-year-old won her first bout against Elena KUROVA (AIN) 10-0 in a minute, defeated KOMAL (IND) in 34 seconds in the quarterfinals and humbled former U17 world champion Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE) 10-0 in a minute and 16 seconds.

"This was my first win in the U20 category," Onishi said. "I am grateful to my family, friends, and coaches and I wanted to give something back. So I'm honestly really happy that I was able to win.

"I was able to show what I had been practicing, and my challenge this time was to attack aggressively. I was able to accomplish that and win without conceding a point. I'm really satisfied with that."

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) used the leg lace as her go-to attack throughout the tournament. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

Earlier this year, Onishi joined the Nippon Sports Science University, whose current and former wrestlers won a combined five gold medals at the recently concluded Paris Olympics. In the short period she has been there, Onishi has trained majorly with 53kg Olympic champion Akari FUJINAMI (JPN).

"Akari really has nothing but positives for me," she said. "It's been a really short period of time since I entered NSSU, but during that time, I've been able to do various training sessions with them, and it's been an opportunity for me to become stronger."

Before coming to Spain, Onishi made a name for herself in Japan when she defeated two-time Olympic champion Risako KINJO (nee KAWAI) in the Meiji Cup in May. She won the gold medal and earned a playoff against Kinjo for the Non-Olympic World Championships next month.

Onishi led 5-0 at the break in the playoff but Kinjo scored two points going behind for a takedown and adding a 2-point exposure to cut the lead to 6-4. With :15 on the clock, Kinjo got in on a single and managed to lift up the leg and expose Onishi's back with eight seconds left, putting her ahead 6-6 on criteria. But Onishi squirmed back to her feet and with a mighty charge, went for a double-leg takedown that forced Kinjo out just as time expired. The referee gave her 1 for a stepout, but after an agonizing wait for the challenge review, it was nullified as Kinjo's foot was just centimeters from the edge when the clock hit all zeroes.

Sakura ONISHI (JPN) won the 59kg gold medal at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Kadir Caliskan)

While Onishi was disappointed to have not made it to her first senior worlds, she made her loss to Kinjo a driving force for future competitions.

"It was my first experience to wrestle the same person [Kinjo] twice in one day," she said. "I was really disappointed that I couldn't make it at the very end, but on the other hand, it gave me confidence, and I used that energy to reach even higher heights. My desire to win overwhelmingly next time."

The process to be at the next year's senior World Championships begins in December for Onishi. She will be part of the Emperor's Cup and Meiji Cup next year. She will try to win both and earn a spot on the senior team for the World Championships.

As far as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics go, Onishi expressed her desire to be there. But for that, she will have to decide if she wants to cut to 57kg or jump to 62kg. In both weight classes, defending Olympic champions are waiting for her. Tsugumi SAKURAI (JPN) at 57kg and Sakura MOTOKI (JPN) at 62kg will be her biggest challenges.

"I haven't decided on my weight class yet, but I definitely want to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics," she said. "No matter what weight class I'm in, I'm determined to beat the current champion."

Yu ZHANG (CHN) celebrates after winning the 50kg final at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

Onishi was the only gold medalist of the day for Japan. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN) wrestled in the 50kg final against Yu ZHANG (CHN) but lost a close final in the last 10 seconds.

After winning two age-group Asian titles, Zhang dropped the U20 Asian final against Rinka OGAWA (JPN) in June. But she left nothing to chance in Pontevedra, pulling off a suplex in the final 10 seconds to beat Morikawa 7-6 and clinch her first gold medal at any World Championships.

Morikawa was the first to get on board as Zhang spun on her back to give two points to Morikawa. It became 4-2 for Morikawa at the break as Zhang got two points for a counter lift while Morikawa was awarded two for exposure as Zhang's hand opened after she finished the lift.

Zhang for the criteria on 4-4 as she scored a two-point exposure over Morikawa, who answered with an underhook to slam Zhang on the mat and score two points. She had 26 seconds to defend her two-point lead but Zhang used a semi-duckunder to step behind Morikawa and lock her in her arms. She completed the throw for two points and a 6-6 criteria lead. Japan challenged the decision but it only added a point to Zhang's score for the lost challenge.

"I have performed well," Zhang said. "After finishing the tournament, I feel that I am still very happy."

Former U23 world champion Yumeka TANABE (JPN) has been the coach for China's U20 team and Zhang acknowledged her inputs for the match.

"I need to mention that I have a lot to learn from Tanabe," she said. "I hope that after this competition, I can improve myself, find out the problems, and solve them to reach an advanced level."

Zhang's twin sister Jin will wrestle for the 53kg gold medal against Calra JAUME SOLER (ESP), Spain's first-ever World Championships finalist in wrestling.

"I want to tell her that she can confidently and boldly perform to her level tomorrow," she said as advice to her sister Jin. "She can also win a gold medal."

Jyoti BERWAL (IND) celebrates after winning the 76kg gold medal at the U20 World Championships. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

India and the United States also crowned champions to remain in the race to win the team title on Friday.

Jyoti BERWAL (IND) won the 76kg gold medal after beating Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR), 5-0, in the 76kg final. This is the second year in a row that India has won the gold medal in the heaviest weight class.

Berwal won the first point when Orlevych was put on the activity clock and she failed to score. The Indian then added a stepout to lead 2-0. Orlevych was called for passivity in the second period as well and she failed to score giving Berwal another point. A few bad attempts from Orlevych ended in Berwal capitalizing and scoring a two-point takedown to stretch the lead to 5-0.

The gold medal is India's fifth in Women's Wrestling at the U20 World Championships, an impressive number for a country that got its first U20 world champion in Women's Wrestling in 2022.

Berwal, a former 72kg silver medalist at the U23 World Championships, now faces the tough challenge of making it to the senior team. But for that, she will have to win against 2023 U20 world champion Priya MALIK (IND), U23 world champion and Paris Olympian REETIKA (IND) and other up-and-coming youngsters.

"I am satisfied with my wrestling," Berwal said. "Now that I have decided to the Olympic weight class 76kg, there is no turning back and back myself to prove it."

For the United States, Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) took less than a minute to pin Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL) and win the 55kg gold medal for her country.

Byambasuren was trying to get Rodriguez uncomfortable but the American tossed her on the mat and held her back to secure a fall in the final. This was the second fall of the tournament for Rodriguez who won her four bouts without conceding a point.

At 68kg, U20 European champion Alina SHEVCHENKO (AIN) handed Ayse ERKAN (TUR) a 12-2 defeat in the final.

RESULTS

50kg
GOLD: Yu ZHANG (CHN) df. Haruna MORIKAWA (JPN), 7-6

BRONZE: Svenja JUNGO (SUI) df. Laura GANIKYZY (KAZ), 7-4
BRONZE: Aida KERYMOVA (UKR) df. MUSKAN (IND), via fall

55kg
GOLD: Cristelle RODRIGUEZ (USA) df. Khaliun BYAMBASUREN (MGL), via fall

BRONZE: Nargiz SAMADOVA (AZE) df. Karina HONDA (JPN), via fall (8-7)
BRONZE: Tuba DEMIR (TUR) df. Ekaterina CHIKANOVA (AIN), 12-2

59kg
GOLD: Sakura ONISHI (JPN) df. Alexis JANIAK (USA), 10-0

BRONZE: Anna TIELIEGINA (LTU) df. Uladzislava KUDZIN (AIN), via fall
BRONZE: KOMAL (IND) df. Ruzanna MAMMADOVA (AZE), 6-1

68kg
GOLD: Alina SHEVCHENKO (AIN) df. Ayse ERKAN (TUR), via fall (12-2)

BRONZE: Karolina DOMASZUK (POL) df. Emilija JAKOVLJEVIC (SRB), via fall (7-0)
BRONZE: SRISHTI (IND) df. Viktoryia RADZKOVA (AIN), 7-0

76kg
GOLD: Jyoti BERWAL (IND) df. Mariia ORLEVYCH (UKR), 5-0

BRONZE: Naomi SIMON (USA) df. Chisato YOSHIDA (JPN), 9-0
BRONZE: Elmira YASIN (TUR) df. Tuvshinjargal TARAV (MGL), 8-2

Semifinals

53kg
GOLD: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) vs. Jin ZHANG (CHN)

SF 1: Carla JAUME SOLER (ESP) df. JYOTI (IND), 4-3
SF 2: Jin ZHANG (CHN) df. Nethmi AHINSA (SRI), via fall

57kg
GOLD: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) vs. Bertha ROJAS (MEX)

SF 1: Sowaka UCHIDA (JPN) df. Gerda TEREK (HUN), 10-0
SF 2: Bertha ROJAS (MEX) df. Alina FILIPOVYCH (UKR), 8-4

62kg
GOLD: NITIKA (IND) vs. Iryna BONDAR (UKR)

SF 1: NITIKA (IND) df. Nagisa ITO (JPN), 7-3
SF 2: Iryna BONDAR (UKR) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 4-3

65kg
GOLD: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) vs. Beyza AKKUS (TUR)

SF 1: Nana IKEHATA (JPN) df. Zaixue RUI (CHN), 10-0
SF 2: Beyza AKKUS (TUR) df. Margarita SALNAZARIAN (AIN), 10-0

72kg
GOLD: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) vs. Yuqi LIU (CHN)

SF 1: Jasmine ROBINSON (USA) df. Noemi OSVATH NAGY (HUN), via fall
SF 2: Yuqi LIU (CHN) df. Elvira ERSSON (SWE), 10-0

Duke stuns Diakomihalis to make U.S. team for World Championships

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Onishi adds U20 world title to growing resume