ALBANY - When Greg Diakomihalis wrapped up his high school wrestling days after five seasons, the Hilton senior was on top of the state Saturday night with the label of history-maker.
This was expected, a prediction made a long time ago, as he followed his older brother Yianni Diakomihalis through Section V and during offseasons, around the United States.
But there was still joy for Greg Diakomihalis, as he won his fifth state championship after an 8-2 win over Massapequa junior Chase Liardi in the Division I 120-pound final inside Albany's Times-Union Center.
When the historic match ended, the laid-back Diakomihalis walked slowly to the opposite corner for the sportsmanship handshake, then toward his coaches, who shook his right hand and patted him on his shoulders.
That was a quiet end to a comeback season. Back in March, Diakomihalis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Diakomihalis later was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler in Division I at the state championships.
"The idea of being a five-timer, I don't know if that's why, but all weekend I'm usually I'm terrified before I wrestle. Usually before state semis, I'm near tears but before all of my matches but this weekend I was super happy," Diakomihalis said. "I've been in a super good mood.
"I'm just so blessed to be here, and I'd like to thank my parents, my coaches, my practice partners just for everything."
No other wrestler from a school in Section V has won as many state titles, not even his 20-year old brother, who is a two-time NCAA Division I national champion at Cornell University.
"One thing about Greg being my little brother, is that he accomplishes so many great things they kind of get overshadowed by what I'm doing because I was there first," Yianni Diakomihalis said. "It's not anyone's fault, it's just kind of how it is being a younger brother.
"This is something he has. I mean, I won four, he won five, and you know, I'm really happy for him. I just wanted today to be as much as it can be. It was something that was long-awaited, I know it weighed on him a lot. It's a lot of pressure on a kid, so I'm really happy that it worked out for him."
Greg and Yianni Diakomihalis will be teammates again, just like in high school.
"When I was younger it used to be bother me more (having to follow Yianni)," Greg Diakomihalis said. "I think it caused some problems between me and my brother, I think there was a little bit of jealousy there when I was younger.
'But I got over that stuff, because at the end of the day it doesn't matter. He's my brother, I will never be upset about anything he does or anything I'm not doing that he did."
Greg Diakomihalis' record in New York State Public High School Athletic Association/Section V-sanctioned matches is 219-2. After his recovery from his knee injury, Diakomihalis made his season-debut the first weekend of January.
A medical waiver granted by Section V made Diakomihalis eligible to wrestle in the postseason and make his way to the state championship finals where he improved his season record to 27-0. He held a 6-1 lead in points over Liardi at the end of the first period.
"Once I put him to his back there at the end of the first, I was like, 'Alright'," Diakomihalis said, "Once he picked top (position to start one of the final two periods) I was like, 'I know I won't get turned.' Even if he rides me (the entire period), I'm still up 6-1."
JAMESJ@Gannett.com
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Hilton's Greg Diakomihalis sets Section V record with fifth state wrestling title - Democrat & Chronicle
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