Richie Lewis named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Photo: Richie Lewis (USA) celebrates after winning gold at the U23 World Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Photo by Gerhard Remus.
Richie Lewis (Toms River, N.J./Scarlet Knight WC) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on November 27, 2017.
Over the weekend, Lewis made U.S. wrestling history by becoming the first American to win gold at the newly establish United World Wrestling U23 World Championships. He was the lone U.S. champion at the tournament, claiming top prize at 70 kg/154 lbs. in men’s freestyle.
Lewis, a senior at Rutgers University, won five matches in Bydgoszcz, Poland, capping off his performance with a 3-1 decision over India’s Vinod Kumar in the gold-medal match. He picked up two wins by technical fall, and outscored his opponents by a combined 45-11 total during the competition.
To qualify for the U23 World Team, Lewis ran through the U23 World Team Trials with wins over three past NCAA qualifiers, two of which were NCAA All-Americans. He defeated Tyler Berger, a NCAA All-American for Nebraska, in the best-of-three finals by scores of 6-2 and 7-1.
Lewis returns to the Rutgers lineup with a No. 7 ranking in the NCAA at 157 pounds according to Flowrestling.com. He was a NCAA qualifier in 2016, and finished in fifth place at the 2016 Big Ten Championships. Lewis was sidelined last season due to injury.
Prior to his time at Rutgers, Lewis was a two time NJCAA All-American for Iowa Central, boasting finishes of second and third at the national tournament.
In high school, Lewis was a three-time New Jersey state place winner for Toms River East. His highest finish in the state was third in 2013. He finished his high school career with a 121-22 overall record.
Each week USA Wrestling 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.
To nominate a wrestler for this honor please send the athlete’s name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments and career accolades to USA Wrestling Manager of Communications Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.
Richie Lewis (Toms River, N.J./Scarlet Knight WC) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on November 27, 2017.
Over the weekend, Lewis made U.S. wrestling history by becoming the first American to win gold at the newly establish United World Wrestling U23 World Championships. He was the lone U.S. champion at the tournament, claiming top prize at 70 kg/154 lbs. in men’s freestyle.
Lewis, a senior at Rutgers University, won five matches in Bydgoszcz, Poland, capping off his performance with a 3-1 decision over India’s Vinod Kumar in the gold-medal match. He picked up two wins by technical fall, and outscored his opponents by a combined 45-11 total during the competition.
To qualify for the U23 World Team, Lewis ran through the U23 World Team Trials with wins over three past NCAA qualifiers, two of which were NCAA All-Americans. He defeated Tyler Berger, a NCAA All-American for Nebraska, in the best-of-three finals by scores of 6-2 and 7-1.
Lewis returns to the Rutgers lineup with a No. 7 ranking in the NCAA at 157 pounds according to Flowrestling.com. He was a NCAA qualifier in 2016, and finished in fifth place at the 2016 Big Ten Championships. Lewis was sidelined last season due to injury.
Prior to his time at Rutgers, Lewis was a two time NJCAA All-American for Iowa Central, boasting finishes of second and third at the national tournament.
In high school, Lewis was a three-time New Jersey state place winner for Toms River East. His highest finish in the state was third in 2013. He finished his high school career with a 121-22 overall record.
Each week USA Wrestling 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.
To nominate a wrestler for this honor please send the athlete’s name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments and career accolades to USA Wrestling Manager of Communications Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.
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