Iowa’s Spencer Lee, Real Woods claim Big Ten wrestling titles to help Hawkeyes to runner-up team finish

Spencer Lee has stockpiled numerous awards and plenty of hardware during his University of Iowa wrestling career.

He added another golden token to his medal haul.

Lee became the Hawkeyes’ 19th three-time conference champion, winning the 125-pound title at the Big Ten Conference Wrestling Championships on Sunday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. He was joined atop the awards stand by teammate Real Woods, helping Iowa to 134 1/2 points and a runner-up team finish to top-ranked Penn State’s 147.

Lee (17-0) won his 55th straight match, topping Nebraska’s Liam Cronin, 8-2. The streak ranks as the eighth-longest in program history. Lee scored two first-period takedowns and added another in the third with a riding-time point. He outscored his three foes by a combined 45-4.

“I have a lot to work on,” Lee said in his post-match interview on Big Ten Network. “Excited to get back to the room.”

The two-time Hodge trophy and AAU James E. Sullivan Award winner became Iowa’s first three-time champion since Doug Schwab and T.J. Williams (1999-2001).

“I really think I’m only a two-timer, if you want my honest opinion, because I don’t really count the COVID year,” Lee said about the 2020 postseason. “We didn’t wrestle the national tournament. The year is void to me, so I don’t really count myself as a three-timer.”

Lee will have a chance to become the fifth four-time NCAA champion in less than two weeks in Tulsa, Okla. He would join Oklahoma State’s Pat Smith, Iowa State’s Cael Sanderson, Cornell University’s Kyle Dake and Ohio State’s Logan Stieber.

“It would be incredible to be the first Iowa Hawkeye four-time national champ,” Lee said. “Absolutely incredible and I’m looking forward to put my mark on the sport.”

Woods (16-0) used a first-period takedown and held on to beat Nebraska’s Brock Hardy, 2-1, for the 141-pound title. The Stanford graduate transfer extended his win streak to a career-best 16 matches.

“A lot of pride in what I did,” Woods said. “Planned to come out on top coming into this tournament and I did, but also a lot to learn from. I’m excited for the next two weeks to develop what I need to develop. The small improvements that I need to make in time to put on a show.”

Not only did Woods have to scramble to fend off a late scoring attempt, but he had to overcome being denied two sets of nearfall points that kept the match tight. He demonstrated poise and still found a way to win.

“I take pride in staying composed in all scenarios,” Woods said. “I think that is something I’ve developed as a life lesson, in general.

“So, in those matches where the intensity and emotions are high and it’s a little chaotic, I take pride in staying composed and being focused on what I can control.”

Iowa’s champions were joined in the finals by sophomore 165-pounder Patrick Kennedy. The third-seeded Kennedy (19-3) dropped a 9-6 decision to Wisconsin’s Dean Hamiti.

The Hawkeyes qualified all 10 wrestlers to the NCAA tournament. They all placed seventh or better, including third-place finishes from 149-pound senior Max Murin and heavyweight Tony Cassioppi. NCAA finalist Jacob Warner (197) and 174-pounder Nelson Brands were fifth for Iowa.

“We have a lot to work on as a team,” Lee said. “We’re still grinding, getting out there. It’s always a tough tournament. We have to keep putting one step forward and keep improving.”

Minnesota’s Michael Blockhus, a former Crestwood and New Hampton state champion and transfer from Northern Iowa, earned a runner-up finish at 149. He fell 7-5 in sudden victory to Ohio State’s top-seeded Sammy Sasso.