Justin Lester (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) has been named TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week for Sept. 6-12.

Each week, TheMat.com 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.

Lester placed fifth at the World Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. on Monday in Istanbul, Turkey.

Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist, wrestled well on a loaded side of the bracket at his first World-level event at 66 kilos since 2007.

Lester won his first four matches to qualify the U.S. for the 2012 Olympics in his weight class by virtue of his top-six finish.

Lester earned a huge quarterfinal win over Olympic and World silver medalist Kanatbek Begaliev of Kyrgyzstan to clinch the top-six finish.

Lester fell to 2009 World silver medalist Manuchar Tskhadaia of Georgia in the semifinals before dropping a 1-0, 1-0 decision to Cuba’s Pedro Herrera in the bronze-medal match.

Lester returned to competition this year after missing nearly all of last season after joining the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program.

Note: To nominate a wrestler for TheMat.com Wrestler of the Week, send the athlete's name, accomplishments for the week and career accomplishments to Craig Sesker at csesker@usawrestling.org