Cory Lester Finally Meets His Match In Finals of Eric Lewis Invitational at MICDS

John Burroughs wrestling champ Cory Lester finally met his match in the finals of the 19 team Eric Lewis Invitational at MICDS on Saturday.

Lester, a four year Bomber veteran who captured second in the state finals a year ago at 119 pounds finished runner-up to Darrell Pampkin of McCluer North in the 126 weight class yesterday. Until Saturday, Lester was riding the wave of a 42-0 match streak. He simply ran out of high octane gas in the final match. In fact, after a half-dozen rounds, he was pretty much operating on fumes.

There’s no disgrace losing to such a highly-regarded opponent as Pampkin.

Lester, a three-year state medalist was literally born to wrestle, from birth on. His dad Ken, a bond trader who hails from Detroit was a 125 pound wrestler for the University of Michigan some 20 years ago. Father taught son most of his moves as his little league coach growing up.

“We used to wrestle often. I was smart enough to quit about a week earlier than I was sure he was going to beat me. I feigned an injury the next two years,” he dad said with a chuckle.

Lester is known throughout the state of Missouri as one hard-nosed wrestler. He won first place medals this year at the De Smet Holiday Invitational; the Riverview Gardens Invitational; the Moberly Invitational and the John Burroughs meet.

Lester will follow in the footsteps of his dad and wrestle for the Michigan Wolverines next year. Michigan hired all new coaches and just dedicated a $5 million wrestling center. Lester opted for the Wolves over Columbia University and Northwestern. He’s pals with Ladue wide receiver Jehu Chesson who signed to play football for Michigan next year. Lester will start out in the school of literature, science and arts.

Lester, who plays outfield for the Burroughs baseball team loves the wrestling competition. “My strategy is to keep things pretty much under control,” said the senior star.

Until Dean Tiffany arrived at Burroughs 13 years ago, the Bombers wrestling program was almost non existent. Tiffany, who doubles as the school’s athletic trainer has mostly built the wrestling program from scratch. His pride and joy is his 126 pound senior.

“He’s the most successful athlete we’ve coached in this sport in the school’s history. He has 184 career wins over the course of four years, and just a handful of loses,” said Tiffany.

“Mitch Stromsdoerfer was our 147 pound champion, but Lester has become our best,” said Tiffany. That’s clearly the most wins in our school’s history,” he said.

“I have high hopes for Cory. I think he will do very well at the next level,” said his coach.

There’s still a lot more left of the wrestling season. The Bombers will have district, regional and hopefully state championship matches remaining. Cory Lester will dust himself off and get started this week on the next streak.

Eric Lewis Invitational at MICDS Final Results

Team Scores: McCluer North 222, Holt 200, Whitfield 178.5, Summit 168, Ladue 133, St. Charles 110.5, Pacific 106, SLUH 91, Westminster 89, Ritenour 81, Parkway North 80, Hazelwood West 75, De Soto 64, St. Clair 59, MICDS 56, Principia 54, Chaminade 53, Union 50, John Burroughs 37.5.

106-Justin Scott, Holt, tech. fall Antonio Escobar, Ladue, 20-3, 6:00; 113-Lawton Benna, Holt, dec. Aaden Aaden, Summit, 3-2, utb; 120-Brandon Howard, St. Charles, tech. fall Tanner Danielson, Pacific, 18-3, 5:57; 126-Darrell Pampkin, McCluer North, dec. Cory Lester, John Burroughs, 6-1; 132-Chris Wilkes, Whitfield, dec. Curtis Peebles, McCluer North, 3-1; 138-David Evans, Parkway North, pinned Austin Smith, Whitfield, 1:00; 145-Clayton Ream, Holt, tech. fall Austin Repp, Pacific, 18-1, 5:28; 152-Max Wilhelm, Chaminade, dec. Rodney Hahn, Whitfield, 3-2; 160-Ian McIntosh, Summit, dec. Lamar Welch, Ritenour, 5-3; 170-Andy McLaughlin, Whitfield, dec. Luke Bornhop, St. Charles, 10-4; 182-Ethan Sherertz, Whitfield, pinned Gaige Dunnerman, Holt, 1:53; 195-Rudy May, Summit, dec. Dakota Bush, St. Clair, 7-4; 220-Bennett Lewis, Westminster, pinned Darius Lewis, Parkway North, 4:26; 285-Daniel Vaughn, Hazelwood West, dec. Kris Bolton, Summit, 6-4, sv.