Spencer Lee and Forrest Molinari of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club rolled through tough competition to win titles at Senior Nationals this weekend in Ft. Worth, Texas. It was not that they won their titles, it was how they won their titles by dominating that was impressive.
Spencer Lee made his Senior level debut one to remember. Lee controlled his opponents and made it look easy. After two rounds of 10-0 tech falls, Lee faced Darian Cruz in the Quarterfinals and again scored a 10-0 tech fall. In the semifinals Lee faced former Cadet World medalist Vitali Arujau. After being down 2-0, Lee stormed back for a 14-4 tech fall. In the finals, Lee controlled Nathan Tomasello for an 8-2 win.
Lee is a freestyle wrestler at heart and his expertise in the different ways of scoring were clear to see. To handle that type of competition that easy really stood out. Lee has now qualified for the Olympic Team Trials and will probably be the #3 seed behind Daton Fix and teammate Thomas Gilman.
Molinari made the jump from 65kg to the Olympic weight of 68kg. I would say that it was a good move to go up in weight instead of down a weight. Molinari has never looked better as she destroyed her competition. After an opening round tech fall, Molinari pinned her next four opponents. In the finals, she pinned 2019 World Team member Victoria Francis in just 1:08 and made it look really easy.
Sammy Brooks also qualified for the Olympic Team Trials by placing fifth at 86kg. Brooks avenged an earlier loss to Aaron Brooks with a 10-0 tech fall to punch his ticket to the Trials. Cory Clark sustained an injury that forced him to injury default from the tournament. Jaydin Eierman was 2-2 and Michaela Beck was 3-3 before being eliminated from the tournament. Clark, Eierman and Beck will be able to compete at the Last Chance U.S. Olympic Qualifier in Millersville, PA on March 26-28 to gain a spot in the Olympic Trials.
Hawkeye Wrestling Club members that are qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in State College, PA on April 4-5:
Thomas Gilman – 57kg
Spencer Lee – 57kg
Sammy Brooks – 86kg
Forrest Molinari – 65kg
Alli Ragan – 57kg
Kayla Miracle – 62kg
Results from U.S. Nationals
57kg
Spencer Lee (HWC) over Jacob Moran (Unattached) VSU 10-0
Spencer Lee (HWC) over Shane Kim (Kwik) VSU 10-0
Spencer Lee (HWC) over Darian Cruz (NYAC) VSU 10-0
Spencer Lee (HWC) over Vitali Arujau (TMWC) VSU1 14-4
Spencer Lee (HWC) over Nathan Tomasello (TMWC) VPO1 8-2
*****Spencer Lee qualifies for Olympic Team Trials.
68kg
Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Mahaelani Lewis (Warrior WC) VSU 10-0
Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Kayla Marano VFA
Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Nahlela Magee (Army WCAP) VFA
Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Ashlynn Ortega (NYAC) VFA
Forrest Molinari (HWC) over Victoria Francis (USMC) VFA 1:08
*****Forrest Molinari qualifies for Olympic Team Trials
86kg
Sam Brooks (HWC) over Stacey Davis (TMWC), VSU 11-0
Sam Brooks (HWC) over CJ Brucki (Unattached), VSU 10-0
Aaron Brooks (Nittany Lion WS) over Sam Brooks (HWC) VPO1 15-9
Sam Brooks (HWC) over Drew Foster (Panther WC) VPO1 19-11
Sam Books (HWC) VSU1 Nate Jackson (NYAC) VSU1 20-10
Alex Dieringer (TMWC) over Sam Brooks (HWC) VSU 10-0
5th Place: Sam Brooks (HWC) over Aaron Brooks (Nittany Lion WC) VSU 10-0
*****Sam Brooks qualifies for Olympic Team Trials
57kg
Cory Clark injury default out of the tournament.
65kg
Jaydin Eierman (HWC) over Alo Yousfl VSU 13-0
Nick Lee (Nittany Lion WC) over Jaydin Eierman (HWC) VPO1 10-6
Jaydin Eierman (HWC) over Rob Mathers (Sunkist) VPO1 16-15
Frank Molinaro (TMWC) over Jaydin Eierman (HWC) VPO1 8-2
62kg
Jennifer Page (TMWC) over Michaela Beck (HWC) VSU 11-0
Michaela Beck (HWC) over Victorya Torre (Victory WC) 10-0
Michaela Beck (HWC) over Lauren Mason (Unattached) VSU1 12-2
Michaela Beck (HWC) over Teshla Alo (TMWC) VFO
Alara Boyd (McKendra WC) over Michaela Beck (HWC) VPO 9-0
Desiree Zavala (Unattached) over Michaela Beck (HWC) VIN
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
