An open letter to Spencer Lee

We’ve never met, I am just one of your fans. I was at your last wrestling match in Iowa City where you pinned your Oklahoma State opponent in 51 seconds.

Then, to a standing crowd pouring out its appreciation for all you did for the Hawkeyes and as a three time NCAA champion and two time Hodge winner in the NCAA tournament you walked around the mat with your hands forming a heart for your fans.

Spencer, your place in Iowans’ hearts won't change after your defeat at this year's Nationals. Our emotions were the same as your mother's, knowing that you would have normally beaten your opponent 10 straight.

Watching your upset I was reminded of something Jojiro Uetaki, the three time Oklahoma State NCAA champion and two time Olympic champion for Japan, said for the cover story of the NCAA wrestling program in 1966 at Ames. Uetaki was asked about possibly losing. He replied in Oklahoma Cowboy fashion, "Ain't horse that cain't be rode … or man that cain't be throwed." Even Russian wrestling great, Aleksandr Karelin, was eventually beaten.

I was also at Dan Gable's only high school and college defeat in Evanston, Ill, in 1970. Gable and Larry Owings pinned their way to the finals. I shared adjacent lockers in 1966 with Dan at the state tourney. I saw how he psychologically and physically almost put himself in a trance before his matches. Then I saw his concentration broken three times before his final match by ABC by repeating and repeating again an interview just before he stepped on the mat.

He wasn't ready for the start of his match. His loss was crushing and it took 10 minutes of standing ovation from the crowd to get him to acknowledge their appreciation. Dan persevered and worked even harder, if possible. Despite a bad knee and the Soviet Union making him its number one goal of beating, he won the Munich Olympics without a point being scored against him.

But then, Spencer, you know all this.

With all your injuries and surgeries, you have been through much pain and recovery. As you say, "Wrestling ain't for wusses." You have accomplished more in your sport than almost anyone. You are one of the greatest Iowa and American wrestlers of all time. Time will tell how you deal with this defeat. However, you should never think that you somehow let your wife, family, coach, team or fans down. We know that you gave it everything you had. Life doesn't always give us victory; we all lose sometime.

It’s almost a cliche, but how you deal with this defeat will be the real test of your life. Thousands of young men and women wrestlers have idolized you in victory. Whether you go on to further glory or defeat in wrestling or move on with being a great citizen and husband and father in wrestling or another field, continue the grace, tenacity, hard work and dedication you have exhibited on the mat.

The rest of your life is ahead of you and you will always be a champion and a Hawkeye great.

Greg Ganske is a retired plastic surgeon from Des Moines who cared for wrestlers with ear trauma. He represented Iowa in Congress from 1995-2002 He was a member of the informal "wrestling caucus" of the many past wrestlers who served in Congress.