Lee "leis" greco gold on Hawaii
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Jason Bryant (USA Wrestling)
07/24/2001
Sun, sand, surf and national championships. Hawaii may have to add another page to its tourism guide and add a page for the island state's first wrestling national champion, Travis Lee. Lee, a three time state champion from St. Louis High School in Honolulu, won that first national championship by defeating Illinois' A.J. Lavender by tech fall on Tuesday night at the Junior Greco-Roman National Championships in Fargo, ND. After the match at 123 pound, Lee still hadn't quite come down from cloud nine. "I'm not sure if it's sunk in. I mean, I'm still kind of shocked about the whole thing," said Lee. Lee's problems for his opponents aren't of the same distinction as his problems in actually finding a way to compete in high level tournaments. "Its tough to get to tournaments and get the competition. My parents and I have to find a tournament, then plan it out early. I can only usually attend two tournaments a year. This year it was senior nationals in Delaware and now in Fargo," said Lee. He came away as an All-American at the senior nationals, placing fifth at 119 pounds. "We have to do a lot of traveling in Hawaii to try to get better, I learned a lot at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado earlier this month," said Lee. Cornell will benefit from the services of Lee, as he'll wrestle for the Big Red and coach Rob Koll. What makes Lee's ascension to the top of the podium more remarkable is that he's relatively Greco inexperienced. "Last year's junior nationals were my first major Greco tournament, we really didn't have a state qualifier in Hawaii because the state is so small," said Lee. Lee placed fourth last year. In the corner during his finals match was high school coach Todd LosBanos, a native Hawaiian himself. "Travis has done an awesome job. His work ethic just proved he was able to win it all. He never stops working, he's very relentless," said LosBanos. LosBanos and the Hawaii team traveled to Fargo early, as early as a 10 hour trip from the islands can get you, to do some sight-seeing and get some practice in. "We went to see Mount Rushmore and then trained with Missouri's national team for about four days, and that helped hone Travis' skills," said LosBanos. Lee's victory may have a great effect as an individual accomplishment, but what it will do for the state of Hawaii is likely greater than Lee could imagine. "I wanted to win it for the state," said Lee. "It means a lot as a coach to have someone wrestle for you of that caliber and make it to the top. Travis has done a lot for the state because of his wrestling," said LosBanos. LosBanos hopes Lee's accomplishments can kick start more kids to wrestle in Hawaii. "It's going to encourage youngsters to come out and wrestle. He won a national title, why can't I. The state is lacking kids to get involved, and they see what he has accomplished, and that really will open a lot of doors for the other kids in the state," said LosBanos. Lee stood proudly on top of the podium, with the traditional Hawaiian lei around his neck. Aloha.