Lester, Rau earn titles at Phase II World Team Trials in Greco-Roman

Justin Lester looks for points in his finals win over Pat Smith. John Sachs photo.

FARGO, N.D. – It’s been nearly seven years since Justin “Harry” Lester won his last World medal. 

But the two-time World bronze medalist is ready to make a run at World gold this year.

Lester downed University World silver medalist Pat Smith in two straight matches to win the Phase II World Team Trials in Greco-Roman on Tuesday afternoon at the Fargo Dome. 

Lester beat Smith 9-0 and 2-1 to win the title at 71 kg/156 lbs.

Lester, 30, made his seventh U.S. World Team in Greco. 

“I feel great – I love this new weight class,” Lester said. “I’ll be ready to go at Worlds. I’m going to try and get up on that podium again.”

2014 University World Team member Joe Rau swept Olympian Ben Provisor to make the World Team at 80 kg/176 lbs. 

Rau, 23, earned wins of 1-0 and 1-0 to prevail in the finals. He made his first U.S. World Team on the Senior level.

“This is a dream come true,” said Rau, who dropped down a weight class for this event. “There have been some ups and downs, but this means so much to me and gives me a huge boost. I want to keep gaining experience and win a World medal.” 

Lester and Rau advance to September’s World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. They join the six other Americans in the Olympic Greco weight classes who won the World Team Trials earlier this year in Madison, Wis.

The Phase II World Team Trials are being held in the non-Olympic weight classes in each style.

Phase II World Team Trials

Greco-Roman

Fargo Dome, Fargo, N.D.


Finals results


71 kg/156 lbs.

Justin Lester (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) def. Pat Smith (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 2 matches to 0

Lester tech. fall over Smith, 9-0

Lester dec. Smith, 2-1


80 kg/176 lbs.

Joe Rau, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) def. Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2 matches to 0

Rau dec. Provisor, 1-0

Rau dec. Provisor, 1-0