World Team member Lester will go for bronze on Tuesday evening at 2005 World University Games
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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
08/16/2005
Izmir, Turkey - Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/Northern Michigan Univ./Gator WC) will compete for a bronze medal at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. at the 2005 World University Games on Tuesday evening in the Ozel Yamanlar High School Sports Hall. Lester was defeated in the semifinals by 2002 World Cup gold medalist Selcuk Cebi of Turkey (0-7, 3-1, 1-3). In the first period, neither wrestler scored in the first minute. Lester locked first, but Cebi broke his lock and forced Lester out of bounds twice for a 2-0 lead. Cebi then added a three-point throw in his 30-second clinch period to seal the period. Lester battled back in the second period, forcing Cebi out of bounds early, and then scoring one exposure point in his 30-second clinch period. Cebi was unable to score in the clinch, sending the match to a third period. In the final stanza, Lester again scored first, this time with a takedown. However, he was not able to come away with points in his 30-second clinch period, tying the score at 1-1. With 12 seconds remaining in the match, Cebi turned Lester with a gut wrench for the win. For the bronze medal, Lester will face the winner of a repechage match between 2005 Junior Asian Championships bronze medalist Ashkat Dilmukhamedov of Kazakhstan and Lukasz Tarnecki of Poland. Lester defeated Sergiy Byelobaba of Ukraine in his first-round bout (6-0, 9-0). In each period, Lester showcased an electrifying series of lifts, including a five-point throw to end the match. In the quarterfinals, Lester topped Yury Kaliasneu of Belarus (5-3, 4-0). In the first period, Lester scored first when he forced Kaliasneu out of bounds. Kaliasneu tied the score in a scramble in which Lester scored one point and Kaliasneu two. A turn for Kaliasneu gave him a 3-2 lead going into the clinch. Lester then dominated, not getting turned when he was on bottom and scoring two points in par terre. In the second period, Lester used a three point throw in his 30-second clinch to take a 3-0 lead. Kaliasneu was cautioned for using his legs, the third for Kaliasneu, ending the match. Spenser Mango (Flourissant, Mo./Northern Michigan Univ./Gator WC) posted a 1-1 record at 55 kg/121 lbs. Mango downed Hamit Shavaev of Russia (0-3, 5-0, 1-1) in his first bout. Mango clinched first in all three periods, receiving cautions for not scoring in the first and third. In the second period, he used a five-point throw to stay alive, but in the third, he did not allow Shavaev to score on him either, tying the score at 1-1 and giving Mango the tiebreaking criteria. In the quarterfinal round, Mango dropped a tight decision to Yuri Koval of Ukraine (5-0, 3-2). Koval placed seventh in this year's European Championships. Neither wrestler scored in the first minute of either period. In the first period clinch, Mango was unable to score first in his 30-second clinch. Koval then took advantage, using a three-point throw out of bounds to win the first period. In the second period, Mango fell behind 2-0 in the clinch period after Koval scored twice on gut wrenches. Mango then escaped Koval's hold and used a front headlock to roll Koval, tying the score at 2-2. But in his 30-second clinch, Mango was unable to score, giving the victory to Koval. Russ Davie (Colorado Springs, Colo./Cleveland State Univ./New York AC) lost in the first round at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. to Georgi Jobava of Georgia (3-0, 2-1). In the first period, Jobava scored a two-point gut wrench at the end of his 30-second clinch to take a 2-0 lead. Davie was unable to score in his 30 seconds. In the second period, Jobava scored a reversal to take a 1-0 lead in Davie's 30-second clinch, and a caution against Davie for not scoring gave Jobava a comfortable 2-0 advantage. Neither Mango or Davie will have an opportunity to wrestle for a bronze medal as the opponent they lost to did not earn a trip to the finals. Repechage and medal matches will begin at 5:00 p.m. local time in Turkey. TheMat.com will provide complete coverage and results.