Michael Lightner TheMat’s Wrestler of the Week

Lightner named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week
John Fuller/TheMat.com

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Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for the week of April 26-May 2.

Each week, TheMat.com will select an Athlete of the Week, based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level. The announcement will be made each week on Wednesday.

Lightner placed first at the 2005 U.S. Senior National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev. last weekend, capturing the 60 kg/132-pound weight class in men’s freestyle. It was Lightner’s first career freestyle national title.

In the first round, Lightner, the eighth seed, dominated Craig Leong of Team Hawaii, 8-0, 7-0, before coming from behind to defeat 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas of the Sunkist Kids, 0-3, 3-1, 1-0 in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Lightner defeated Tony DeAnda of the New York AC, 1-0, 3-1. In the gold-medal bout, he downed college star Nate Gallick of the Sunkist Kids, 0-1, 3-0, 1-0 for the win.

For his efforts, Lightner was also named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.

“I’ve been through some things the last couple of years, and that’s how I am in my matches. If I five up a period, then that’s fine. I feel like I can overcome adversity. If I’m down, I just stay positive and keep trying to take steps forward and move forward,” Lightner said of coming back from behind in two of his wins.

Lightner has overcome two separate knee injuries that have held him out of various competitions over the last two years.

“It really makes it special. I want to thank my family and the OU guys who work out with me. It’s all worth it. I’ve been down, but I got back up and kept moving forward, doing the best I can,” he added.

Lightner was a 2001 NCAA champion at Oklahoma.