Binghamton University Athletics

A native of Rodman, N.Y., Justin Lister wrestled at Binghamton from 2007-12. He earned his bachelor's degree in human development in 2012. 

A three-time NCAA Division I qualifier, three-time conference champion, All-American and winner of 105 career matches, Lister made his mark with his penchant for pins and center stage performance. 

He came to campus in 2007 and began to show his potential with 10 dual-meet wins the following year. In 2008-09, he placed fourth at the Penn State Open and went 21-13 with 12 bonus-point wins as a redshirt freshman.

Lister's breakout year was in 2009-10, when he introduced himself to several high-ranking wrestlers on a national stage. His lead-up included tournament titles at the Cornell Body Bar Invitational, and New York State and Colonial Athletic Association championships. His crown at the CAA Championship helped lift the Bearcats to their first team conference title in program history. 

Two weeks later in Omaha, Lister did the unthinkable by advancing to the 157-pound national semifinals as an unranked wrestler. He opened by knocking off the 11th-seed from Oklahoma State, 3-0 and then beat his North Carolina opponent 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals. There, Lister put the No. 3 seed from Virginia Tech into a first-period cradle and ended the bout after just 1:18, clinching All-America honors in the process. After a semifinal loss in primetime ESPN coverage sent him to the consolation bracket, Lister pulled off more magic. Facing the No. 4 seed, Penn State's Cyler Sanderson, Lister again secured a cradle and the sellout Qwest Center crowd was drawn to another pin by the tournament's suddenly most-known, unseeded wrestler. On the strength of four tournament wins, Lister wound up taking fourth place, the highest podium place of any prior Bearcat. The NCAA finish also gave Lister BU Athlete of the Year and CAA Wrestler of the Year honors.

His final two collegiate seasons resulted in two more NCAA tournament berths, two more CAA championships and a combined 30-9 dual match record. As a senior in the middle of BU's formidable lineup, Lister went 15-3 in duals and totaled 15 overall pins. He was part of a five-man BU NCAA qualifier group that amassed 18 wins and a 14th place national finish - highest in program history.

Lister was awarded the Jake Pitler Award for career achievement and leadership. He is one of just four wrestlers to reach the century win milestone and his 38 career pins ranks second all-time.