Spencer Lee continues blistering pin streak, sparks Iowa to dominant victory over Nebraska

IOWA CITY — Spencer Lee’s body of work speaks for itself.

He already has made claim to being one of the most accomplished and dominant wrestlers, owning multiple World, national and state titles. The way he manhandles opponents has set him apart from the best competitors.

Lee’s recent stretch has exemplified his superiority.

Iowa’s three-time NCAA champion continued his streak of falls, decking No. 7 Liam Cronin in just 38 seconds and propelling the second-ranked Hawkeyes to a 34-6 trouncing of No. 11 Nebraska in a Big Ten Conference wrestling dual Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The pin was his fifth straight and third over a top-eight opponent.

“I’m just trying to wrestle every match as hard as I can,” said Lee, who moved to 9-0 this season and extended his win streak to 47 straight. “I just happen to be getting pins. I think in the past it’s been tech falls, majors or what not. It’s kind of been like points.

“For me, it’s just wrestling the next position and if things happen, you take what they give you, try to get the positions that favor you and if you end up in positions where you can pin a guy you have to put him away.”

Lee ignited the sold-out Iowa crowd with a shot attempt right off the opening whistle. He patiently waited to finish from his feet when Cronin attempted to dive under and grab Lee’s leg, but Lee squashed him into the mat.

The 125-pound senior put him on his back and was tenacious, keeping Cronin in danger and adjusting to finish the quick fall.

“We have to keep it going,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “He’s solid. They’re quick falls. That’s what we like. Get on the mat, get off the mat.

“I’ve said it for a long time, he’s a ferocious competitor and we love it.”

The short bout was similar to Lee’s first-period pin over Northwestern’s Michael DeAugustino, who was ranked third at the time. Lee was able to flow from position to position. His ability to transition from hold to hold makes him dangerous at all times.

“One thing to another,” Lee said. “That’s how my brain works. As soon as you get a takedown, you’re catching a wrist, you’re chopping him to his stomach, you’re catching a cradle or whatever it may be.

“You’re constantly trying to score points, trying to get into a position that favors you. That’s what good wrestling is in my opinion.”

Brands noted that he didn’t score a traditional control takedown and was still able to adjust into a pinning combination.

“It was a neutral danger zone takedown and then right into nearfall and then however you slip out, you end up in a cradle and you settle,” Brands said. “He chain wrestles,. As he chain wrestlers, you’re finding yourself in deeper, deeper, deeper water.”

The three-time NCAA champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner’s dominance is no surprise, obviously. This was his sixth pin this season and 32nd overall. He also has 29 career technical falls with 14 major decisions total.

Lee has 75 bonus-point victories in his 87 career wins, resulting in an 86.2 bonus-point percentage. He has been even more impressive recently.

The pin was his 10th college fall in less than a minute and the third-fastest of his career. The feats didn’t faze him.

“I don’t keep track,” Lee said. “It doesn’t matter because when it’s over it’s over. On to the next.”

⧉ Related article: Photos: Iowa beats Nebraska in Big Ten wrestling dual, 34-6

Iowa (11-0, 4-0) blitzed Nebraska early, winning the first four matches. Brody Teske returned to the lineup at 133 and posted a 5-2 decision over Kyle Burwich.

Second-ranked Real Woods added another victory over a ranked foe. He surrendered the first takedown and rebounded with two reversals and two nearfall for a 6-4 decision over No. 4 Brock Hardy 141.

Max Murin provided more punch for the Hawkeyes. The 149-pound senior built a 7-1 lead before decking Dayne Morton in 3:47, making it 18-0 in favor of Iowa.

“This is the first time we had what we’re calling our full lineup — Teske, Woods and Lee — and the other seven,” Brands said. “When you’re in tough situations, tough positions, you win those positions — that’s how you blow people out on the mat.”

Iowa won four of the final five bouts, receiving a major decision from Patrick Kennedy at 165, a pin from heavyweight Tony Cassioppi and decisions from 184-pounder Abe Assad and Jacob Warner at 197.

Cassioppi racked up six total takedowns and four nearfall points. He horsed Cale Davidson over to his back, securing enough for a technical fall but continued to get the fall in 6:39.

“Our job is to put on a show,” Lee said. “Cassioppi’s last match, that was awesome. You almost stall a guy out, then you tech him, and then you pin him. That’s how you put on a show. That’s good stuff, I was happy with how he wrestled.”

The Hawkeyes won their 14th straight dual and 14th in a row over Nebraska (6-3, 2-1). Iowa wrestles No. 16 Wisconsin on Sunday at Madison, Wis., beginning at 2 p.m.

AT IOWA CITY

Iowa 34, Nebraska 6

(Individual takedowns in parentheses)

125 pounds – Spencer Lee (I) pinned Liam Cronin, :38 (1,0); 133 – Brody Teske (I) dec. Kyle Burwich, 5-2 (1,1); 141 – Real Woods (I) dec. Brock Hardy, 6-4 (0,2); 149 – Max Murin (I) pinned Dayne Morton, 3:47 (3,0); 157 – Peyton Robb (N) dec. Cobe Siebrecht, 7-2 (2,0); 165 – Patrick Kennedy (I) major dec. Bubba Wilson, 12-4 (5,0); 174 – Mikey Labriola (N) dec. Nelson Brands, 3-2 (1,0); 184 – Abe Assad (I) dec. Lenny Pinto, 6-5 (2,1); 197 – Jacob Warner (I) dec. Silas Allred, 3-2 (0,1); Hwt. – Tony Cassioppi pinned Cale Davidson, 6:39 (6,0).

MEET STATISTICS

Takedowns – Iowa 18, Nebraska 8. Reversals – Iowa 3, Nebraska 1. Escapes – Iowa 11, Nebraska 12. Nearfall points – Iowa 6, Nebraska 0. Penalty points (awarded) – Iowa 2, Nebraska 0. Riding-time points – Iowa 2, Nebraska 1. Total match points – Iowa 63, Nebraska 31. Attendanace – 14,905.