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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Harry Lester added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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First and foremost I want to thank God for all that he has done for me. I am truly blessed to be from the great state of Ohio. I wouldn't want to be from anywhere else. Since I have started wrestling, I have been blessed to be around people that have been very generous, caring, and loving, and to me that is a characteristic of people from Ohio. My goal throughout my career has been to be the best that I could be while enjoying and loving the sport. At the same time, I wanted to make wrestling entertaining and joyous for others, I hope I have made it that way for Ohio fans. I have received many emails and texts asking me to reconsider my retirement from wrestling and I am thankful that so many people care enough to write me, but this is my response to the emails and texts. I love wrestling and I love the wrestling community, but competing isn't the same for me anymore. The fire isn't burning as much as it should be. I have tried to find a way to overcome my feelings, but it just isn't there anymore to compete. I plan to stay involved with wrestling by coaching and passing on my knowledge in any way possible. I think it would be selfish of me not to. I will contribute to the growth of Ohio wrestling in any way I can. Once again, thank you for all the support and prayers.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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Harry, we welcome you back home to Ohio. ----U r right, when the fires no longer burn as brightly its time to leave.
hopefully see you at the IRONMAN, December 5 & 6 at Walsh Jesuit. You might have been the only Ironman 4xer, but u broke an ankle in football, as i recall, one year. Now David Taylor tries to become the first Ironman 4Xer. We all hope to see u here.
btw, Team Ohio still looking for high caliber coaches for the Fargo teams.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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Harry: You have been not only one of this state's greatest wrestlers but one of its best role models. That will be your legacy and it's more important than any medals you could earn.
Hank
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Dan Cosimi added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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Harry:
You had an awesome career on the mat and I have no doubt you'll do great things as a coach. I hope to see you back in northeast Ohio!
P.S. - We'd love to have you join us on the website staff here if you have an interest in writing about wrestling. My email address is dcosimi@ohiowrestling.net
P.P.S. - Kirtland High School is looking for a wrestling coach who won a medal at the World Championships... (I didn't quite get that far!)
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Harry Lester added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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Bob, well let's something up for fargo and i'll be there, but I don't do 20 hour bus rides anymore. I also want to help out at jr. duals if ohio is sending a team.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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Harry,
yeh i agree,
i never have done 20 hour bus rides myself
, thats for the young of heart--- & body which aint me.
Ohio would be priveleged to have you help with the Jr national camp i am sure, even if you didnt get to fargo.
Camp is at st Eds, and Bill Barger will hold the Cadet camp at Walsh Jesuit,
both start in about 4 weeks.
i especially think the Junior kids would benefit from a wrestler of your stature, we have some real studs on our Junior team.
The Junior kids respond better to an established coach, translation u got to get thier ATTENTION,
u got to get their respect, ha, ha !!!! Contact Greg Urbas at gurbas@sehs.net if u r interested.
contact Ohio USA Wrestling vice-chairman Leo Saniuk
at ljsan@adelphia.net
I am sure he would love to hear from you.
Can call me anytime at 216-941-7956 or ohiobobp@aol.com, but of course i am not in the chain of command myself, i merely try to help out with info. Send me your contact info.
Ohio has not had a Junior duals team the last 2 years, Disney duals is wiping Jr duals out of the picture, for right now anyway.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Pat Costilow added to this discussion on June 17, 2008
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Harry,
I was a freshman at University School your senior year of HS. I can remember we dualed you guys. I was working the clock, and a friend of mine (also a freshman) had the misfortune of drawing you. I didn't know much about wrestling at the time, but that performance (I think you teched him with only takedowns) was one of those times where the levels of skill, speed, and fluidity transcended knowledge of the sport.
Congratulations of a such a successful career, and we will all miss watching you compete.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Rex Holman added to this discussion on June 18, 2008
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Harry-
Congratulations on a tremendous career. You are one of Ohio's and tUSA's finest wrestlers as well as ambassador to the sport.
A couple things to consider. You have been training at an extremely high intensity level for quite awhile. It is natural for the burning desire to be reduced to a small flame after training at a sprinter's pace for such a long time. Please give yourself some time to discern whether you have been pursuing wrestling at a pace that is unhealthy (in order to reach a goal) or whether you truly are ready to move on to the next chapter of your life.
The Olympics/Olympic trials are the most emotional time of an amateur athlete's existence. It is the proverbial fork in the road for most athletes.
You won't reach your physical peak until your late 20s/early 30s. I look at T.C. Dantzler and Dremiel Byers as great examples of this phenomena.
Should you decide to move on, you will be moving past the athlete lifestyle and many of the relationships that are part of your current foundation.
There is a mental transition that athletes make as they evolve with age. A big part of that is enjoying the dance rather than putting great pressure on oneself to win.
Many athletes find a way to enjoy the dance and win at the highest level as they age.
I don't know if I am off base in offering up some advice, but you are an unusual talent that finds yourself at a crossroads and probably feel like you have to make a decision based upon your current assessment.
Once you walk away, the dream is usually done.
Good luck in whatever you do.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on June 18, 2008
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Rex,
great advice from someone who knows, please share it with Tommy R, too, i am sure he is pondering things right now.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on June 18, 2008
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Rex Holman added to this discussion on June 25, 2008
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Having talked to Tommy before the trials, I figured this was his last year of competition. From the interview, it sounds like he is ready to work towards some other goals/objectives.
Tommy is a professional athlete without the money and endorsements. Tommy will continue to develop as a wrestler as he continues to grow his technical expertise in order to help others. In effect, his knowledge of wrestling will grow. He has a unique experience in wrestling and definitely will have the physical tools, and experience/knowledge to make the team in 2012. It will come down to whether he wants to make the sacrifice of time and energy that it takes to prepare for the events. Evenso, there are no guarantees unless you are talking about death and taxes.
As a competitor and coach, you are always around competition and you find yourself hungering for that level of intensity that only competition provides. Tommy's talent and drive is not going away. It appears that he is going to rechannel it into coaching and family. It does not happen overnight and is a process to go from athlete to coach. As I recall, Tommy was ready to forgo the Olympic dream two years ago if he was named tOSU wrestling coach, which leads me to believe that coaching is more of a calling for Tommy rather than an alternative to competing.
Tommy is 26. He has put an extreme amount of time and energy into his wrestling. He feels the socio-/biologic urge to move on with one's life. It happens to most wrestlers that pursue it with that level of intensity and the realization of the cost-benefit analysis of not achieving your goal. It hurts and you have not improved your station in life. You almost have to be a little naive to continue pursuing the dream well past college.
Harry Lester is younger than Tommy and has achieved so much on the world's stage already. Their situations are a little different although they are both feeling the same urges to move beyond their respective circumstance.
Ultimately, it will be determined by their predominant goals at that point in their life.
If they were to take a couple years off from competition. They would need to give themselves enough time to develop into their top form.
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Discussion Topic: Thank you to all!
Rex Holman added to this discussion on June 25, 2008
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Also, their goals at that time may be contrary to the other and can cause great emotional strain.
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