Lester steps up in Fargo to promote Living the Dream Medal Fund
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by Gary Abbott
Two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester returned to the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D. last week and helped promote the Living The Dream Medal Fund.
Lester, who is a member of the 2009 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team, took the center stage prior to the Junior Greco-Roman gold-medal finals to encourage those in attendance to support this exciting new program.
USA Wrestling created this new program to substantially increase the financial rewards for U.S. wrestlers who win Olympic and World medals during the next four-year Olympic cycle.
Lester enjoyed the opportunity to tell the story of this new program, although he does not have a lot of experience with this type of public speaking.
"I was more nervous than if I'd been wrestling," said Lester. "Being on a mat is a place I'm obviously comfortable with, and it was for a great cause!"
The Living the Dream Medal Fund has a simple approach. Any U.S. wrestler who wins a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England will receive a quarter-million dollars ($250,000).
Silver medalists in London will earn $50,000 and bronze medalists in London will receive $25,000. The payout for a World Championships medal in 2009, 2010 and 2011 will be $50,000 for a gold, $25,000 for a silver and $15,000 for a bronze.
Lester made a name for himself in Fargo as an Ohio high school star, winning the Junior Nationals in 2000 and the Cadet Nationals in 1999.
Most of the 2009 U.S. World Team members in all three styles competed at either the Junior Nationals or the Cadet Nationals when they were younger.
Among the World Team members who were champions in Fargo included freestyle wrestlers Danny Felix (Arizona), Trent Paulson (Iowa) and Dustin Schlatter (Ohio), Greco-Roman wrestlers Spenser Mango (Missouri) and Chas Betts (Minnesota) and women wrestlers Deanna Rix (Maine), Tatiana Padilla (California) and Adeline Gray (Colorado).
"This is a great opportunity for wrestling as a whole to come together," said Lester. "Speaking from an athlete who has successfully competed on a World level, it is up to me to make it work as an American in competition with the world. It is up to everyone that loves wrestling and wants more Americans on the medal podiums to get on THE LIST!"
The Fund will be maintained as a restricted and segregated fund by USA Wrestling. It will be overseen by a board that includes representatives of USA Wrestling as well as the group of stewards who have helped establish the Fund and will assist in financially underwriting it. In addition to the support of the stewards, funding will also come from a public fundraising program as well as from existing support from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
USA Wrestling has set up a website for the Living the Dream Medal Fund, where wrestling supporters can make donations to the project. People have been asked to give donations from $5 to $5,000 to the fund.
To make an online donation, click here:
https://www.usawmembership.com/MakeDonation.jsp?programId=501
It really doesn't matter how much you give," said Lester. "Give five dollars, or give what you can. It shows you are a part of the effort!"
For the current list of Living the Dream Medal Fund donors, click here:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=20465
Lester, who is a member of the 2009 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team, took the center stage prior to the Junior Greco-Roman gold-medal finals to encourage those in attendance to support this exciting new program.
USA Wrestling created this new program to substantially increase the financial rewards for U.S. wrestlers who win Olympic and World medals during the next four-year Olympic cycle.
Lester enjoyed the opportunity to tell the story of this new program, although he does not have a lot of experience with this type of public speaking.
"I was more nervous than if I'd been wrestling," said Lester. "Being on a mat is a place I'm obviously comfortable with, and it was for a great cause!"
The Living the Dream Medal Fund has a simple approach. Any U.S. wrestler who wins a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England will receive a quarter-million dollars ($250,000).
Silver medalists in London will earn $50,000 and bronze medalists in London will receive $25,000. The payout for a World Championships medal in 2009, 2010 and 2011 will be $50,000 for a gold, $25,000 for a silver and $15,000 for a bronze.
Lester made a name for himself in Fargo as an Ohio high school star, winning the Junior Nationals in 2000 and the Cadet Nationals in 1999.
Most of the 2009 U.S. World Team members in all three styles competed at either the Junior Nationals or the Cadet Nationals when they were younger.
Among the World Team members who were champions in Fargo included freestyle wrestlers Danny Felix (Arizona), Trent Paulson (Iowa) and Dustin Schlatter (Ohio), Greco-Roman wrestlers Spenser Mango (Missouri) and Chas Betts (Minnesota) and women wrestlers Deanna Rix (Maine), Tatiana Padilla (California) and Adeline Gray (Colorado).
"This is a great opportunity for wrestling as a whole to come together," said Lester. "Speaking from an athlete who has successfully competed on a World level, it is up to me to make it work as an American in competition with the world. It is up to everyone that loves wrestling and wants more Americans on the medal podiums to get on THE LIST!"
The Fund will be maintained as a restricted and segregated fund by USA Wrestling. It will be overseen by a board that includes representatives of USA Wrestling as well as the group of stewards who have helped establish the Fund and will assist in financially underwriting it. In addition to the support of the stewards, funding will also come from a public fundraising program as well as from existing support from USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
USA Wrestling has set up a website for the Living the Dream Medal Fund, where wrestling supporters can make donations to the project. People have been asked to give donations from $5 to $5,000 to the fund.
To make an online donation, click here:
https://www.usawmembership.com/MakeDonation.jsp?programId=501
It really doesn't matter how much you give," said Lester. "Give five dollars, or give what you can. It shows you are a part of the effort!"
For the current list of Living the Dream Medal Fund donors, click here:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=20465
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