NCAA Wrestling Weekend That Was: Examining Spencer Lee’s legacy and more from Tulsa

The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Tulsa, Okla., was filled with greatness, intensity and surprise. Everything we have come to expect from the biggest wrestling event in the world. Here is the Wrestling Weekend That Was, NCAA edition.

Spencer Lee’s legacy

Iowa’s Spencer Lee earned his fourth All-America honor at the NCAA tournament, giving him five All-America honors when added to the National Wrestling Coaches Association award in 2020. The conclusion to a stellar career wasn’t what Lee, the Hawkeye program and fans hoped and expected.

Purdue’s Matt Ramos shocked the college wrestling world (yes, cliché and all) by pulling the biggest modern national tournament upset with a semifinal win.

Cornell University’s Yianni Diakomihalis, a friend of Lee’s, who won his fourth NCAA title Saturday, said he didn’t know what to think of the outcome.

“He's been one of those guys that's been very dominant, probably more dominant than I've been,” Diakomihalis said of Lee. “You gotta feel for him a little bit, right? I'm kind of in a similar position. The whole arena is waiting for you to lose. Maybe they're not cheering against you, but secretly in the back of their head, it gets a little louder when the other guy is going to score. It's tough. It's tough having that for Spencer, and you can't help but feel for him a little bit. It's tough to have that taken from you.”

Lee’s loss stung, along the lines of Lincoln McIlravy/Steve Marianetti, Jason Kelber/Terry Brands and Dan Gable/Larry Owings. It doesn’t overshadow a career that included 98 career wins, three Big Ten Wrestler of the Year awards, three conference titles, two Hodge trophies and the AAU James E. Sullivan award, while consistently battling knee injuries, which may have impacted his final season as well. It would be short-sighted to hang everything on his last performance, or him not wrestling the final day for whatever reason. One that may, or may not, be revealed later.

Lee isn’t, and shouldn’t, be defined by any win or loss. He helped return Iowa to the top of college wrestling. Lee produced many memorable moments at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, igniting the crowd and producing bonus points that propelled Iowa to dual wins, including one over Iowa State this year, coming back from two knee surgeries less than a year earlier.

He attracted wrestlers to come to the program. Lee was someone who won over fans from all over, including those who hate Iowa for being, well, Iowa. He was a catalyst in recreating camaraderie, fun and unity in the program.

Lee was also a constant promoter of Iowa athletics. He was seen at many events, attending football, field hockey and baseball games to name a few. Lee seemed to love everything about being a Hawkeye and made it a mission to support anyone he could.

Lee also was approachable and generous with his time. He often signed for lines of young fans that looked up to the three-time NCAA champion. This endeared him to many that gained the respect of fans from all programs. Lee lived up to the goal his dad, Larry, challenged him with when he was younger — to be a better person than a wrestler. The latter wouldn’t matter without the former. He did both.

Murin and Warner had fun

Max Murin and Jacob Warner both ended their careers with All-America honors. It was fitting that they bowed out on the awards stand together.

The duo were good friends. Warner would often dance at the team bench when “Ice, Ice Baby” played to introduce Murin from the tunnel.

The sixth-year seniors entertained media with stories about working out as older wrestlers. The had pool workouts in front of other Hawkeye teams. Warner laughed about Murin’s lack of swimming ability.

“Max swam with just one arm. He refused to bring his right arm out of the water,” Warner said. “I thought he was going to drown.”

Max laughed and said, “They started calling me Nemo (the Disney movie fish with one regular-sized fin and an undersized fin) because of it.”

Both made runs through challenging consolation rounds. Murin (149) was able to break through after three disappointing blood-round losses and placed sixth. Murin was a warrior in black and gold.

“I want them to remember I gave my all,” Murin said. “Just fought every second with toughness and hard work.”

Warner, a finalist last year, entered as the No. 14 seed and placed fifth at 197. Warner won a mind-boggling five consolation matches, including four elimination bouts to return to the podium. He routinely received criticism from fans. Warner said he knew he wasn’t a fan favorite and he didn’t care. He wanted to be known for his “toughness and grit” and for winning matches in March.

“Out there, I have a very close-knit group and that’s what I care about,” Warner said. “Everything else is just background noise.”

Both will leave big holes in the Hawkeyes lineup next year.

Tanner Sloan will be back

Tanner Sloan shared on social media that he plans to return for one more year at South Dakota State. The two-time state champion from Alburnett had an exceptional year, becoming an NCAA runner-up at 197. The four-time national qualifier earned his first All-America honor and finished the season with a 27-3 record. Two of his three losses were to Missouri’s Rocky Elam in the Big 12 Championships and national finals to champion Nino Bonaccorsi of Pitt.

Sloan, a 2022 U23 World silver medalist, was the No. 7 seed, which was the highest to reach the finals.

“We're trying to build a program in Brookings, and I couldn't ask for a better coaching staff to do that with,” Sloan said after the semifinals. “I'm just really excited for the future of South Dakota State with my final year next year and the years to come.”

Iowa State’s returners

Iowa State flirted with the top 10 and placed 11th, a point behind North Carolina State and two back of ninth-place Virginia Tech.

The Cyclones have a lot of experience that should return for next year, including NCAA champion and two-time finalist David Carr. All-American Younger Bastida is back with two years left. Zach Redding (133) and Casey Swiderski (141) both reached the blood round and Paniro Johnson entered the tournament as the No. 5 seed at 149. All return as well as 2021 and 2022 125-pound national qualifier Kysen Terukina.

Iowa State returns 27 points and seven starters. The Cyclones have the potential to make another big jump next season.

UNI’s NCAA showing

Northern Iowa had just one All-American in 184-pound runner-up Parker Keckeisen, but the Panthers had a decent showing, placing 16th.

UNI opened the tournament with a 7-0 mark. Five wrestlers won at least two matches with Kyle Biscoglia (133) and Austin Yant (165) reaching the blood round. Cael Happel at 141 and heavyweight Tyrell Gordon were just two wins shy of the awards stand.

The Panthers return Keckeisen, a three-time All-American, and could return Happel, Gordon, Colin Realbuto and 2022 NCAA qualifier Lance Runyon. The future remains bright for UNI.

Cornell University’s stamp

Cornell University placed a huge stamp on this year’s NCAA Championships. The Big Red crowned two champions and placed third in the team race, the best since runner-up finishes in 2010 and 2011.

Senior 149-pounder Diakomihalis beat Ohio State’s Sammy Sasso in the finals to become the fifth four-time NCAA champion. He joined Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith (1990-92, 1994), Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson (1999-2002), Cornell’s Kyle Dake (2010-13) and Ohio State’s Logan Stieber (2012-15).

Cornell teammate Viti Arujau wowed the crowd with two high-profile victories to win the 133-pound title, claiming the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler honors. Arujau handled Penn State’s two-time NCAA champion Roman Bravo-Young, 10-4, for the title, scoring two slick takedowns in the first and notching a six-point move in the second.

Arujau advanced to the final with an 11-3 major decision over Oklahoma State’s three-time NCAA finalist and No. 2 seed Daton Fix.

This and that

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