Spencer Lee won two straight matches against Thomas Gilman in the All-Hawkeye Best-of Three Finals at 57kg to win the Olympic Team Trials in State College, Pennsylvania.
In the first match Gilman was up 1-0 at the end of the first period. Lee got his offense going in the second period to win the match 6-3. In the second match Lee was up 8-2 when he pinned Gilman in 5:58 to win the 57kg title.
Team USA still has to qualify for the Olympics at 57kg by placing in the top three at 57 kg at the World Olympic Games Qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey on May 11-12. I will keep you posted.
If anything, I believe that going to an Olympic Qualifier will help Lee get more matches and will actually help him prepare for the Olympics.
The Summer Olympics are in Paris, France on August 5-11.
Also in the Hawkeye Wrestling Club Alex Marinelli was 2-2 and did not place at 74kg and Tony Cassioppi did not place at 97kg.
I thought Spencer Lee looked great this weekend. Lee, the #4 seed at 57kg, defeated Nico Megaludis 8-0 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals Lee jumped out to a 9-0 lead over 57kg 2023 World Team member Zane Richards before securing a 13-6 decision.
Congratulations Spencer Lee.
Thomas Gilman has had a great career and he is definitely not done. I have no doubt that Gilman will help Lee prepare for the Olympics. I would think that Gilman would also go on the trip to Turkey and be ready to go should he be needed.
Thomas Gilman won a 57kg World title in 2021, an Olympic Silver in 2021, and a World Silver in 2017 and 2022.
2024 Olympic Team Trials
Challenge MFS 57kg
Champ. Round 1 – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) received a bye
Quarterfinal – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Nico Megaludis (PittWC / TMWC) (Dec 8-0)
Semifinal – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Zane Richards (IRTC / TMWC) (Dec 13-6)
Final MFS 57kg
Round 1 – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Thomas Gilman (NLWC / TMWC) (Dec 6-3)
Round 2 – Spencer Lee (HWC / TMWC) won by fall over Thomas Gilman (NLWC / TMWC) (Fall 5:58)
Challenge MFS 74 KG
Champ. Round 1 – Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Tyler Berger (PRTC / SKWC) (Dec 4-0)
Quarterfinal – Jason Nolf (NLWC / TMWC) won by decision over Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) (Dec 7-2)
Cons. Round 2 – Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) won by decision over Levi Haines (NLWC / TMWC) (Dec 11-7)
Cons. Round 3 – Quincy Monday (NJRTC / TMWC) won by tech fall over Alex Marinelli (HWC / TMWC) (TF 11-0)
Challenge MFS 97kg
Champ. Round 1 – Christian Carroll (CWC / TMWC) won by decision over Anthony Cassioppi (HWC / TMWC) (Dec 6-6)
Cons. Round 1 – Anthony Cassioppi (HWC / TMWC) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 2 – Eric Schultz (NWTC) won by fall over Anthony Cassioppi (HWC / TMWC) (Fall 5:48)
It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.
Go Hawks!
