Wrestling, the most heavily policed of sports, has always attracted people from law enforcement or the military who can control an arena.

A versatile wrestling official and Army veteran, James G. Diehl is an outstanding example of “The Forces of Order”.

Always enjoying the action of sports, Diehl would go from the football field to the mat at Culpeper High School and finished third in AA states as a heavyweight in 1972.

His country recognized his potential and in short order he was a second lieutenant at the United States Miliary Academy. He began a four-year deployment to Germany in 1977 and developed his knowledge and skill in freestyle and Greco-Roman, winning three championships for the Army team (VII Corps). After returning home, he placed fourth at the AAU Greco-Roman National Championships and qualified for the 1981 World Team Trials.

As a tank battalion officer, Diehl earned a Bronze Star in the Desert Storm campaign. He retired as a colonel in 2005 after serving 29 years. His military background and experience led to a career as a federal defense contractor.

Teammate and classmate Mike Swisher and Ken Berger helped Diehl return to wrestling in 1998 as a folkstyle official. He quickly reached state-tournament level with the Peninsula Wrestling Officials Association. His time in Europe helped him advance quickly as a freestyle and Greco-Roman official, beginning at regional tournaments and advancing to Fargo and the Armed Forces Championships. Diehl is a complete official who recruits new officials, conducts clinics, organizes tournaments, and often serves as the head official at tournaments. He was named Outstanding Official at the 2017 Cadet-Junior National Championships and received the USA Wrestling Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

Diehl married his wife Elaine and the couple raised her two boys, Kase and Patrick, near his birthplace in Poquoson, Virginia.