MARQUETTE - The United States Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University will be represented by five former Greco-Roman wrestlers and one former women's weightlifter when the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games officially get under way on Friday with the opening ceremonies.
Weightlifter Sarah Robles will be the first to compete on Friday, Aug. 3 at 10:30 a.m. EDT with the five Greco-Roman wrestlers hitting the mats on Aug. 5-7. Wrestling begins at 8 a.m. EDT with the repechage rounds and medal matches scheduled for 12:45 p.m. EDT each day.
Also representing the USOEC in London is former boxing coach Al Mitchell as the technical adviser for the USA men's and women's boxing teams. Former USOEC women's boxer Mikaela Mayer will also be in London, serving as a training partner for Team USA.
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Sarah Robles
Sport: Women’s weightlifting
Weight class: 75 kg
Olympic appearance: First
Competition date: Friday, Aug. 3
Hometown: Jacinto, Calif.
Age: 23
Notes: Attended the USOEC and NMU from 2008-09. ... Robles and fellow former USOEC weightlifter Jessica Gallagher run a blog called, “Pretty Strong,” which is described as “A blog about strong women by strong women.” The web
address is prettystrong.blogspot.com and being updated from London.
Chas Betts
Sport: Greco-Roman wrestling
Weight class: 84 kg
Olympic appearance: First
Competition date: Monday, Aug. 6
Hometown: St. Michael, Minn.
Age: 26
Notes: Graduated from USOEC and NMU in 2010 with a degree in electronic imaging. ... When he’s not wrestling, Betts works as a freelance motion designer. His portfolio can be seen at www.chasbetts.com. ... In 2011, he married his high school sweetheart, Kristi, who was also an NMU cheerleader.
Ellis Coleman
Sport: Greco-Roman wrestling
Weight class: 60 kg
Olympic appearance: First
Competition date: Monday, Aug. 6
Hometown: Oak Park, Ill.
Age: 20
Notes: Wrestled at USOEC in 2009 and now trains in Colorado Springs, Colo. ... Known for his “Flying Squirrel” maneuver, which was caught on tape during the 2011 Junior World Championships and posted to YouTube, where it went viral. ... Defeated former wrestling clinic coach Joe Betterman to win U.S. Olympic Trials.
Justin Lestor
Sport: Greco-Roman Wrestling
Weight class: 66 kg
Olympic appearance: First
Competition date: Tuesday, Aug. 7
Hometown: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Age: 28
Notes: Graduated from USOEC and NMU in 2007 with a degree in history. ... Walked away twice from the sport in 2008 following a loss in the Olympic trials and again in 2009. ... He returned in 2011 to win the U.S. Trials and U.S. Open and reach the semifinals of the World Championship.
Spenser Mango
Sport: Greco-Roman wrestling
Weight class: 55 kg
Olympic appearance: Second
Competition date: Sunday, Aug. 5
Hometown: St. Louis
Age: 26
Notes: Graduated from the USOEC and NMU in 2010 with a degree in physical education/coaching. ... Finished eighth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, losing in the quarterfinals. ... Currently wrestles in the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program. He enlisted in the Army in 2010 and is a sergeant.
Ben Provisor
Sport: Greco-Roman wrestling
Weight class: 74 kg
Olympic appearance: First
Competition date: Sunday, Aug. 5
Hometown: Stevens Point, Wis.
Age: 22
Notes: Wrestled at USOEC from 2009-10. ... Provisor currently trains in Colorado Springs, Colo. ... Won the 2011 U.S. Open in Cleveland. ... Coached by former Stevens Point Area High School and USOEC coach Dennis Hall — a 10-time U.S. National Champ, the 1995 World Champ and 1996 Olympic silver medalist.
For a complete schedule of events, including a broadcast schedule, see Saturday's special Olympics section in The Mining Journal.
For bios on each of the Olympians, click the athlete's image.
