I cannot find a better way to describe him so I will keep saying it. Spencer Lee is… Spencer Lee. What an amazing regular season that Lee has had. Lee is 15-0 and the stats are impressive. Lee scored bonus points in 14 of 15 wins in the regular season and outscored his opponents 183-13. Those two stats have got to be Iowa Wrestling records. The only win this season for Lee that was not by bonus was an 8-1 decision over Jack Medley of Michigan.
Lee will be looking for his first Big Ten title this weekend. Even though he is a two-time defending NCAA National champion, Lee has yet to win a Big Ten title by placing third as a freshman and second last year. I expect a very motivated Spencer Lee this weekend out at Rutgers and a lot of bonus points.
From an overall standpoint, 125 has the least amount of nationally ranked wrestlers in the top eight of any weight heading into Big Tens. The only other highly ranked wrestler in the Big Ten is Devin Schroder of Purdue who is ranked #6 by the most recent D-I Coaches Ranking.
Lee won by a 17-0 tech fall over Schroder in 2:55 in the dual meet at Purdue on January 12. Lee had a takedown in the first eleven seconds and racked up fourteen points from tilts and a point for stalling for the quick win. There really isn’t anything I can add to that.
Additional impressive wins this season for Lee included a 17-2 tech fall over then #7 Alex Mackall of Iowa State and a 12-3 major decision over #4 Nick Piccininni of Oklahoma State.
I am sure most would have Lee as the best bet to win a Big Ten title of anybody in the conference.
Big Ten Conference Tournament: March 7-8
Big Ten Automatic Bids for NCAA National Tournament at 125 lbs. – 8
Spencer Lee
NCAA D-I Coaches Ranking: #1
Record: 15-0
Falls: 3
Tech Falls: 8
Major Decisions: 2
Decisions: 1
Forfeits: 1
125 lbs. NCAA D-I Coaches Ranking and results of matches wrestled:
1.Spencer Lee – Iowa
6. Devin Schroder – Purdue
Spencer Lee over Devin Schroder (Purdue) Tech Fall 17-0 2:55
10.Michael DeAugustino – Northwestern
11. Patrick McKee – Minnesota
Spencer Lee received a forfeit against Minnesota.
17. Nic Aguilar – Rutgers
21. Justin Cardini – Illinois
22. Jack Medley – Michigan
Spencer Lee over Jack Medley (Michigan) Dec 8-1
25. Liam Cronin – Indiana
Spencer Lee over Liam Cronin (Indiana) Fall 0:54 (Midlands)
Spencer Lee over Liam Cronin (Indiana) Tech Fall 15-0
27. Eric Barnett – Wisconsin
Barnett did not wrestle in the Iowa-Wisconsin meet.
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
