Vito Arujau and Yianni Diakomihalis both won NCAA titles in March. Now, both are also Pan American Championship gold medalists.
Arujau cruised through the event, outscoring his opponents 46-4, on his way to the top of the podium at 61 kg. He recorded technical falls in all four matches.
Diakomihalis breezed through his first two bouts, earning a 10-0 tech fall against Pedragas of Peru and then an 11-0 win over Lopez of Panama. In the semis, he faced Argentinian Olympian Detribats in front of his home country crowd. In a back and forth match, Diakomihalis trailed 7-7 on criteria when he earned a stepout with less than 10 seconds to go to take the lead in a bout he won by a point.
In the finals, he wrestled two-time World medalist and Cuban Olympian Valdes Tobier. The two were tied at 1 (with Valdes Tobier ahead on criteria) with 30 seconds remaining, when Diakomihalis recorded a clutch takedown. He went on to prevail, 4-1.
Team USA won 9 of the 10 gold medals in men's freestyle. Cornellians won three of those golds, with Kyle Dake '13 taking the title at 74 kg in dominant fashion.