John Fuller/TheMat.com
A couple of years ago, one of the top high school recruits in the country left Iowa State after only one year to pursue a career in Greco-Roman wrestling. Harry Lester transferred to Northern Michigan Univ. and enrolled in the U.S. Olympic Education Center program.
Many doubted that decision, but Lester quieted those doubters in Las Vegas after winning a Greco-Roman national title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. In the process, Lester became the first USOEC wrestler ever to win a U.S. Nationals title.
TheMat.com sat down with Lester and talked to him about winning the title, him leaving Iowa State and how he will prepare for the World Team Trials.
TheMat.com: As the fourth seed, you had a pretty tough road to win your U.S. Nationals title, which included a win over last year’s Olympian, Oscar Wood. How big of a step was it for you to get all the way through that bracket and end up on top?
Lester: It was a pretty big step for my confidence, especially going into the tournament seeded fourth. Being a low seed and beating the higher seeds was something I had to do and I did it. I was on cloud nine, maybe not at first, but definitely after the tournament.
TheMat.com: You are the first wrestler from the USOEC to ever win a national title. Now that one of you has done it, do you expect more national titles out of your teammates in the near future?
Lester: Yes, especially out of guys like Adam Wheeler and Joe Betterman. I look to see those guys winning national titles within the next couple of years. And if I keep training with those guys, then me too.
TheMat.com: Talk about your development at the USOEC. How has that program helped you to become a national champion?
Lester: When I first went there, I couldn’t do a back step. Working with Ivan Ivanov and the guys has been great. There is so much emphasis put into every single move. I had nothing to do but get better. I developed my skills all around. Ivan has spent extra time with me as well.
TheMat.com: For the World Team Trials, you will return to Ames, which is where you actually started your college wrestling career. Will there be any emotion in returning there?
Lester: It’s nothing like what people would think. It will be fun to wrestle in Hilton. When I was there, I saw all the dual meets there and I always wanted to be on the floor competing, so it will be fun to finally get to do that.
TheMat.com: Do you have any regrets about leaving Iowa State when you did?
Lester: Maybe team-wise, they could have used me, maybe not. Where my heart was, it was best for me to leave, and that goes for the Iowa State team also.
TheMat.com: Under the new rules, par terre has pretty much been eliminated from Greco-Roman. Has this hurt you at all being that you relied on explosive moves in the past?
Lester: Not at all. If they change the rules, then they changed the rules. You just have to adapt to them and that’s what I’ve done. It just shows the better wrestler when you’re doing that. To me, it’s just about adjusting to whatever they put out there.
TheMat.com: With sitting out one day now, how will you prepare differently for this year’s Trials as opposed to past Trials events?
Lester: To be honest, I don’t know. I’m going to talk it over with a lot of the coaches and guys who have been through it. I’ve never been in this situation, so I’m going to have ask the older guys and seek their advice.
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