U.S. NATIONALS: World bronze medalist Harry Lester downs Olympian Jake Deitchler in Greco-Roman semis
Share:
by Craig Sesker
Harry Lester takes control against Jake Deitchler in the semifinals of the U.S. Nationals. Photo by Larry Slater.
LAS VEGAS - The Harry Lester from 2006 and 2007 is back.
He's powerful, explosive and destroying everyone that steps on the mat against him in Greco-Roman wrestling.
That was evident when Lester dominated 2008 Olympian Jake Deitchler 5-0, 5-1 in the 74 kg/163 lbs. semifinals of the U.S. Nationals on Friday morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Lester, a World bronze medalist in 2006 and 2007, easily took care of Deitchler in a rematch of last year's Olympic Trials. Deitchler stunned Lester in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials en route to making the U.S. Olympic Team straight out of high school.
"Everybody was making a big deal out of us wrestling again, but I really just looked at it as another match," Lester said. "Anytime I lose to somebody, of course I want another shot at them. I lost to him last year, but that was last year. I don't hold any grudges because it's not going to make me any better."
Both wrestlers have now moved up a weight class to 74 kg/163 lbs. Lester came out firing, scoring three quick points on a body lock and adding a two-point gut wrench to roll to the first-period win.
The top-seeded Lester came out strong in the second period as he caught the fourth-seeded Deitchler for three quick points with another body lock.
The 19-year-old Deitchler, who now plans to wrestle collegiately at Minnesota, fought back with a one-point pushout before Lester added another two-point gut-wrench in the final 30 seconds.
"I just followed my game plan," Lester said. "I knew I had to stay in good position and be aggressive when I needed to. That's what I did."
Lester will face close friend and training partner Jake Fisher of the U.S. Olympic Education Center in the finals. Lester beat Fisher earlier this year in the semifinals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Lester was in Fisher's corner coaching him earlier in the day.
"We'll probably warm up together before the finals," Lester said. "Then we'll go out there and battle and get after it when we step on the mat. Then after we wrestle, we'll go hang out together tonight."
The 5-foot-7 Lester is still adjusting to jumping up 17.5 pounds after previously competing at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. He won the Dave Schultz event in February after moving up to 74 kilos.
"I still feel a little small," Lester said. "But I feel like I can go with anybody, no matter what weight I'm at. I know I'm going to be competitive in whatever weight class I'm in. I still cut a little bit of weight, but it's nothing like what I did before. It makes a big difference when I can eat full meals right up until the days before weigh-ins. It takes a little bit of pressure off. I don't have to worry about my weight and I can just concentrate on wrestling."
The champions in each weight class earn No. 1 seeds for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The top seven finishers in each weight class qualify for the World Team Trials.
The U.S. Nationals finals are set for 6 p.m. Friday.
2008 Olympians Spenser Mango, T.C. Dantzler and Dremiel Byers also landed spots in the finals.
Mango bumped up a weight class and reached the finals at 60 kg/132. He will meet past World Team member and former USOEC teammate Joe Betterman in the finals.
Dantzler, who also has bumped up a weight, will face Aaron Sieracki in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Byers, a past World champion and World bronze medalist, will meet Brandon Rupp in the finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Byers is seeking his eighth U.S. Nationals title.
Past World bronze medalist Lindsey Durlacher was upset by Jermaine Hodge in the semifinals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Hodge will face past U.S. Nationals champion and World University gold medalist Sam Hazewinkel in the finals.
The tournament concludes with the men's freestyle competition on Saturday.
U.S. NATIONALS GRECO-ROMAN - FINALS MATCHUPS
55 kg/121 lbs.
Sam Hazewinkel (Springboro, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) vs. Jermaine Hodge (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) vs. Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. Mark Rial (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Harry Lester (Marquette, Mich./New York AC) vs. Jake Fisher (Platte City, Mo./New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Aaron Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Brad Ahearn (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. R.C. Johnson (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
LAS VEGAS - The Harry Lester from 2006 and 2007 is back.
He's powerful, explosive and destroying everyone that steps on the mat against him in Greco-Roman wrestling.
That was evident when Lester dominated 2008 Olympian Jake Deitchler 5-0, 5-1 in the 74 kg/163 lbs. semifinals of the U.S. Nationals on Friday morning at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Lester, a World bronze medalist in 2006 and 2007, easily took care of Deitchler in a rematch of last year's Olympic Trials. Deitchler stunned Lester in the semifinals of the Olympic Trials en route to making the U.S. Olympic Team straight out of high school.
"Everybody was making a big deal out of us wrestling again, but I really just looked at it as another match," Lester said. "Anytime I lose to somebody, of course I want another shot at them. I lost to him last year, but that was last year. I don't hold any grudges because it's not going to make me any better."
Both wrestlers have now moved up a weight class to 74 kg/163 lbs. Lester came out firing, scoring three quick points on a body lock and adding a two-point gut wrench to roll to the first-period win.
The top-seeded Lester came out strong in the second period as he caught the fourth-seeded Deitchler for three quick points with another body lock.
The 19-year-old Deitchler, who now plans to wrestle collegiately at Minnesota, fought back with a one-point pushout before Lester added another two-point gut-wrench in the final 30 seconds.
"I just followed my game plan," Lester said. "I knew I had to stay in good position and be aggressive when I needed to. That's what I did."
Lester will face close friend and training partner Jake Fisher of the U.S. Olympic Education Center in the finals. Lester beat Fisher earlier this year in the semifinals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International.
Lester was in Fisher's corner coaching him earlier in the day.
"We'll probably warm up together before the finals," Lester said. "Then we'll go out there and battle and get after it when we step on the mat. Then after we wrestle, we'll go hang out together tonight."
The 5-foot-7 Lester is still adjusting to jumping up 17.5 pounds after previously competing at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. He won the Dave Schultz event in February after moving up to 74 kilos.
"I still feel a little small," Lester said. "But I feel like I can go with anybody, no matter what weight I'm at. I know I'm going to be competitive in whatever weight class I'm in. I still cut a little bit of weight, but it's nothing like what I did before. It makes a big difference when I can eat full meals right up until the days before weigh-ins. It takes a little bit of pressure off. I don't have to worry about my weight and I can just concentrate on wrestling."
The champions in each weight class earn No. 1 seeds for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The top seven finishers in each weight class qualify for the World Team Trials.
The U.S. Nationals finals are set for 6 p.m. Friday.
2008 Olympians Spenser Mango, T.C. Dantzler and Dremiel Byers also landed spots in the finals.
Mango bumped up a weight class and reached the finals at 60 kg/132. He will meet past World Team member and former USOEC teammate Joe Betterman in the finals.
Dantzler, who also has bumped up a weight, will face Aaron Sieracki in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Byers, a past World champion and World bronze medalist, will meet Brandon Rupp in the finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Byers is seeking his eighth U.S. Nationals title.
Past World bronze medalist Lindsey Durlacher was upset by Jermaine Hodge in the semifinals at 55 kg/121 lbs. Hodge will face past U.S. Nationals champion and World University gold medalist Sam Hazewinkel in the finals.
The tournament concludes with the men's freestyle competition on Saturday.
U.S. NATIONALS GRECO-ROMAN - FINALS MATCHUPS
55 kg/121 lbs.
Sam Hazewinkel (Springboro, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) vs. Jermaine Hodge (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs.
Joe Betterman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) vs. Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. Mark Rial (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs.
Harry Lester (Marquette, Mich./New York AC) vs. Jake Fisher (Platte City, Mo./New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs.
Aaron Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Brad Ahearn (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. R.C. Johnson (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) vs. Brandon Rupp (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
Read More#
Successful 2025 Greg Strobel Leadership Academy fundraiser will benefit future and current National Team members and leaders
U.S. Open Senior Greco-Roman Preview: Eight past Olympians, age-group World medalists among top entries
2025 CLAW U.S. Open, with 4,400 entries already, to light up Las Vegas, April 23-27; Still time to register in all 14 tournaments
Spencer Lee accepts 2025 Final X berth at 57 kg in men’s freestyle
