Sports

Former Eureka Wrestling State Champion Competes on East Coast this Weekend

Matt Lester, currently wrestling for University of Oklahoma, holds the Missouri state high school record for most wins in a season at 56-0.

Matt Lester, a former Eureka High School wrestler, is competing in the NCAA Division I championship wrestling tournament this weekend in Philadelphia, PA. He is competing at the 149-pound weight class.

He is wrestling for the University of Oklahoma, where he and his twin brother, Nick Lester, are both on wrestling scholarships.

The NCAA division I tournament is the most prestigious college wrestling tournament in the country, said Eureka's head wrestling coach Tim Yancey. "Only the top 33 wrestlers in 10 weight classes around the country can compete."

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The NCAA championship event is being held at the Wells Fargo Center, which seats more than 17,000 fans. The championships' attendance record is 97,336 fans through the gates for the DI Championship meet in 2009. Tickets are sold out for this year's competition, according to the NCAA website.

Live streaming of the tournament can be secured online.

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Lester won a match against Ryan Medved, representing Gardner-Webb University, with a 3 to 1 score.

Lester wrestled for from 2006 to 2009. He was a four time, all-state wrestler and a two time state champion. Yancy said Lester also holds the Missouri state high school record for most wins in a season at 56-0.

Next year, the NCAA Division I tournament is scheduled in St. Louis. "Hopefully hometown fans can come and see Matt and Nick wrestle for the ultimate collegiate goal of All-American or National Champion status," said Yancey.


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