Akron wrestling star wins gold
Posted July 31st, 2007 by Nate Ulrich
Wrestling star Harry Lester continues to prove that he’s one of the most dominant athletes to come out of the Beacon Journal’s coverage area.
Lester, an Akron native and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy graduate, won a gold medal in his first Pan American Games on July 24, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lester, a four-time Ohio high school state champion at CVCA from 1998 to 2001, lifted Anyelo Mota of the Dominican Republic in the air and slammed him onto his back for a first-period fall in the finals of 145.5-pound weight class in the Greco-Roman style.
It has been a good summer for Lester.
On June 10, Lester earned a spot on the U.S. World Team for the third consecutive year by winning a title at 145.5 pounds in the Greco-Roman style at the U.S. World Team Trials in Las Vegas. Lester, who won a World bronze medal in 2006, will get another shot at gold at the World Championships, which will be Sept. 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
If you know wrestling, you know that Lester is a favorite to win gold in the 2008 Olympics. What do you think of his recent success? Do you think he’s one of the most dominant area athletes to come our of the Akron area in the past 10 years? I do. If he wins a gold medal in 2008 and LeBron James doesn’t win a title by then, is it fair to say he could pass James in the category of dominant local athletes?
July 31st, 2007 at 11:16 pm
Do any of the readers even care about wrestling? Doesn’t it kind of rank right up there with bowling?
August 1st, 2007 at 6:35 am
Bowling? Ask anyone who has ever wrestled in High School or even youth, they will tell you that it is the most physically demanding sport there is!!
Football practice would be a walk in the park compared to a wrestling practice.
Unless you know the sport, it sounds like you don’t, you really need to do some research before comparing the 2 sports. you will find that it is a lot more popular than published, which really is an injustice to the sport.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:47 pm
To answer your question Stosh, a lot of readers do care about wrestling. Northeast Ohio is famous for a few things, including excellent high school football and … you guessed it — high school wrestling. So yes, the sport does have a significant following.
But you guys still haven’t answered my original question that I asked in my post about Harry Lester. Where does he rank among area athletes?
August 1st, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I think since wrestling is an individual sport and you don’t have teammates to pick you up when you’re not on your game, it has to be one of the greatest accomplishments one can achieve. So, based on that, I would rank Harry at least equal to LeBron. The fact that a bunch of little kids don’t wrestle in their living rooms at night pretending that they are Harry Lester has nothing to do with how great an athlete someone is. Also, considering that there are many Stosh’s out there who think that all wrestling is fake, makes it even more difficult for wrestlers to get the recognition they deserve. It’s not easy playing a sport that people don’t understand. To stay with it like Harry has makes it even that much more admirable.
August 3rd, 2007 at 10:21 am
TRUST ME I NO WHAT ITS LIKE ITS A GREAT SPORT AND I WOULD RATHER READ ABOUT WRESTLING THAN THE CAVS OR THE INDIANS ANY DAY
August 4th, 2007 at 9:00 am
As someone who has followed Harry from his high school days, he truly is a awesome athlete. To watch him perform on the mat is more thrilling for me than watching LeBron, for what he does, he does alone with grace, finese, and class. I am always greatful when you keep us informed about Harry’s accomplishments, and am looking forward to the Olympics. As you probably tell, I am a mom of a wrestler, and can’t begin to imagine how hard he has had to work and the sacrifies he has made. He truly is amazing. There is nothing fake or acting about what he does, it comes from unbelievable hard work, dedication, and talent. We salute you Harry and will be praying for Gold for you in 2008. Harry may never make millions or get his name on T-shirts, but to those who know his sport, he is a legend.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I have 3 kids who participate in the following: baseball, football, softball, basketball, soccer and wrestling. Of all of those, wrestling has to be the favorite to both watch and read about. My son, as a varsity athlete, does not believe there is a comparison between the grueling physical demands between wrestling and any other sport. I love reading the accomplishments of any of the athletes in the area. I will definitely be following Harry in the future. And by the way, Stosh, if an area bowler was making a splash in the profession and bringing positive attention to a school’s program, I would follow and support them as well.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
As a former student at CVCA, watching Harry wrestle was almost as captivating as having a conversation with him. He was always one of the kindest, funniest, and most unassuming people I’ve ever met. You would never hear him say how good he is at something. I think that makes his accomplishments even more impressive.
November 19th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Met Harry yesterday at a Youth Tournament. He was kind and supportive of the kids there including my son. He is not only one of the best athletes in the country but also a gentlemen who isn’t in need of flash, media attention, and possies. Wrestling is one of the most demanding sports in existence (if not the most demanding; maybe boxing). Harry told me yesterday he trains 6 days a week, 6-7 hours a day. This is the real stuff, not the bullshi- you see on tv. Harry is a maniac and his athletism is in sink with his strength. Those of you who haven’t wrestled don’t understand. One period of the sport drains your body to the point of exhaust. You have to be strong everywhere; quick as lightening, and think ahead strategically. Most just don’t understand. The conditioning before a match is insane. Its a shame the media doesn’t sell it better for the benefit of folks like Harry who dedicate their careers to it. Its really a shame he can’t earn even 1% of what LeBron does. Harry works harder then LeBron and certainly is better at wrestling then LeBron is at basketball. It’s okay Harry; you don’t need the big house and diamonds to make a statement; you do it on the mat. Stick to your values and family; things that really count.