Iowa's Lee honored again; named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week

Paul Schofield
Friday, March 23, 2018 3:09 p.m. | Friday, March 23, 2018 3:09 p.m.

Sean Stipp | Tribune-Review

Spencer Lee of Iowa celebrates by hugging his girlfriend after beating Nick Suriano of Rutgers in their 125-pound championship match during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 17, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Lee, a graduate of Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, won the match 5-0.

Sean Stipp | Tribune-Review

Spencer Lee of Iowa takes down Nick Suriano of Rutgers in their 125-pound championship match during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on March 17, 2018, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Lee, a graduate of Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, won the match 5-0.

Iowa freshman Spencer Lee might have been shunned at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship by not being named the Outstanding Wrestler by the college coaches, but the 2017 Franklin Regional graduate picked up his second of the week by other organizations.

Lee received the Hammer Award by The Amateur Wrestling News and then the USA Wrestling named him Athlete of the Week.

Lee won the 125-pound title at the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland on March 17.

He rolled through the championship bracket, scoring more team points than any of the 330 competitors in the tournament. His 27 team points came from two technical falls, two pins, and a 5-1 decision in the NCAA finals against previously undefeated Nick Suriano of Rutgers.

Lee is the first Hawkeye to win a national title as a true freshman since Lincoln McIlravy in 1993.

He joined the Hawkeyes' lineup on Jan. 5 and finished his freshman season with a 22-2 overall record.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.

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