Lee wrestling Venzeuela’s Jaresmit Weffer in the Pan Am Championships semifinals. Photo by Jackie Branca

Two-time World University Champion, Stephany Lee is heading to the finals of the Pan American Championships for a fourth time after defeating Venezuela’s Jaresmit Weffer at 72 kg. Lee who has won the tournament three times will face Cuba’s 2011 Pan Am Games champion Lisset Echevarria in the finals.

“I wrestled alright, I guess I could have done a lot better bending my knees and moving my feet. I felt like I was dragging a little this afternoon.” said Lee after her semi-final match.

With the U.S. Olympic Team Trials quickly approaching, in April, Lee is focusing on keeping her skills sharp. The Pan American Championships, held in Colorado Springs, Colo. this year, is a prime event for Lee to fine-tune her technique.

“These events are very important to make sure I don’t slip into old habits and changing things up and working on new things,” Lee sad. “I’m using these competitions as training. Training through the Schultz event and through the Pan Ams, and just putting in the work to keep getting better.”

After not training as much as she would have wanted last season due to injury, Lee is focused on training hard and being fully prepared for the U.S. Olympic Trials and ultimately for the Olympic Games in London. 

“Now is crunch time and now is where I have to put in my work,” Lee said. “My training is going great and my body feeling good. “I’ve just got to keep getting stronger, faster and staying smart on the mat.”

Lee has made two U.S. World Teams in 2008 and 2010, but will not be satisfied unless she gets a chance to compete in the Olympic Games.

When Lee is on her game, she can be tough to beat. The United States Olympic Training Center resident-athlete knows she wrestles best when she’s having fun and enjoying her time on the mat. 

“You’ve got to have fun. If you don’t have fun it’s just stressful,” Lee said. When you’re stressed it can be torture. But I feel good, more relaxed and enjoying the time I have on the mat because after this year I don’t know how much longer I think about doing this.”

Although Lee is feeling good heading into the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City, Iowa in April, she is cautiously optimistic about her chances of heading to London. Lee fell short of her goal making the Olympic team in 2008 by placing fourth in the Olympic Trials and in 2004, she finished third.

Among those standing in her way is 2008 U.S. Olympian Ali Bernard, who won a World bronze medal last year.

“I have a history with the Olympic Trials with shooting myself in the foot and not being mentally prepared for the Olympic Trials,” Lee said. "I think that is what’s going to be the difference. Mentally, I’m doing things differently by keeping my head more and not losing my temper on the mat and just finding a happy medium and enjoying myself.”