Wrestling Weekend That Was: Spencer Lee wins Pan-Am gold, Iowa dictates pace at Oklahoma State

Spencer Lee dominated the Pan-Ams, the Iowa men’s team capped the regular season with one of its best performances, UNI and Iowa State ended dual competition with wins and Iowa and North Central qualified 15 each for the NCWWC tournament during the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

Spencer Lee wins Pan-Am gold

Spencer Lee returned to international competition Saturday for the Pan-American Championships at Acapulco, Mexico. The tournament was his first international competition since 2016.

Sure, he’s won freestyle events, including the Bill Farrell Memorial Invitational and the U.S. Senior Nationals. This was different for the Cadet and two-time Junior World champion.

“It feels good,” Lee said in an interview with USA Wrestling. “It’s been a long time. It feels like it hasn’t really been (long), to be honest. It kind of went by fast. It’s weird to think I was 17 the last time I competed internationally.”

Lee claimed titles at the Farrel and Senior Nationals. He has looked healthy and strong, rolling over opponents. Lee posted a 3-0 record to capture gold at 125.5 pounds (57 kilograms). The Hawkeye Wrestling Club member trounced opponents from Colombia and Brazil by 10-0 technical superiority. He finished the run with a 12-2 tech over Venezuela’s Pedro Meijas Rodriguez.

Spencer Lee Tech'd His Way To A Pan-Am Gold pic.twitter.com/9Ecgdq9VPI

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) February 26, 2024

Certain aspects are key to success, regardless of the type of wrestling.

“Transitions,” Lee said. “That’s a big thing we’ve been working on, even in college. Wrestling is wrestling. That’s what our coaches say. Same thing. Takedowns and turns. You can do that in any style.”

Iowa’s three-time NCAA champion, four-time All-American, two-time Hodge trophy winner and AAU James E. Sullivan Award recipient battled knee injuries throughout his college career. Lee appears to be improved physically as he prepares for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, April 19-20 at State College, Pa.

“I feel good,” Lee said. “I’m getting healthy. One day at a time, staying healthy. Getting ready to be the best version of myself that I can be.”

Wrestling fans know that version is really, really good.

Iowa had one of its best performances from its entire lineup against Oklahoma State

One final thought about Iowa’s 22-9 win over Oklahoma State in a hostile Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla. The Hawkeyes produced one of their best performances from the entire lineup Sunday. Sure, there is always room to improve. A couple decisions could have been turned into major decisions or sudden victory could have been avoided. The fact is Iowa dictated the pace of most matches. Even in matches Iowa lost, the Hawkeyes were battling at the end at 133, attacking more at 149 and going toe-to-toe with an experienced highly-ranked foe.

Also, Ben Kueter just matter-of-factly beat a No. 11-ranked opponent, 5-1. This is after just about eight weeks training full-time. Kueter has made gains and still has a lot of potential. Sunday showed he can compete with All-America caliber wrestlers.

Iowa has overcome investigation, injury and illness impacts on its lineup. Yet, it enters the postseason after one of its best overall dual performances. This makes a nice springboard into the Big Ten Championships, March 9-10 in College Park, Md.

Iowa State and UNI top Mizzou

Missouri swung through Iowa, competing Friday at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls and Sunday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames. Northern Iowa and Iowa State beat the Tigers soundly. Unfortunately, a chunk of Missouri’s starting lineup was out due to a flu epidemic.

Brian Smith told Flowrestling.com that Missouri wrestled with eight reserves in the 31-6 loss to the Panthers.

The Cyclones dished out another beatdown to the Tigers. Iowa State won, 41-3. The illness that swept through Missouri robbed fans of a rematch of the 2023 NCAA finals between top-ranked Keegan O’Toole and Iowa State’s No. 2 David Carr, who pinned Jeremy Jakowitsch in just 1:42 in his final match at Hilton.

UNI also hosted Wisconsin Sunday in the Panthers’ regular-season finale. UNI closed its 100th season with a 27-11 win over the Badgers. The Panthers beat Wisconsin for the first time since 2020.

Parker Keckeisen posted an 11-3 major decision at 184 over Shane Liegel, a graduate transferred who previously wrestled at Loras. Top-ranked Keckeisen enters the postseason with a 23-0 mark.

Wyatt Voelker won his seventh straight match, improving to 15-4 this season. He beat Wisconsin’s Josh Otto, 12-2, securing his fourth bonus-point victory in his last six matches.

UNI closed the season with an 8-6 dual record and 6-2 conference mark. Iowa State ended 13-2 and 6-1.

Iowa and North Central fully loaded for NCWWC in Cedar Rapids

Remember when Iowa and North Central (Ill.) battled to the very end and were separated by the slimmest of margins in the women’s final at the National Wrestling Coaches Association Multi-Divisional National Duals? Well, the two could duplicate the battle at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships March 8-9 at Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids.

Iowa dominated the regional field hosted by Simpson Friday, qualifying all 15 entrants for the national tournament — Iowa’s first year competing in the event. North Central, the defending national champion, also qualified 15 wrestlers from its regional Sunday in Naperville, Ill.

Both teams have world-level competitors and will battle each other for the top spot.

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