Takedown Report

Spencer Lee wins battle of former Hawkeye lightweights to win 57 kg at U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling

Apr. 20, 2024, 2:49 PM (ET) by Cody Goodwin, Special to TheMat.com

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This was what the fans wanted to see, right?
Spencer Lee. Thomas Gilman. Two former Hawkeyes. Two world-class wrestlers.
But only one could win the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling.
In a highly-anticipated best-of-three finals series, it was Lee who emerged victorious, defeating Gilman two matches to none to win the Trials at 57 kilograms. Lee won the first match, 6-3, thanks to a takedown-to-a-turn sequence in the second period. In the second, a similar script unfolded: Gilman led 2-2 on criteria with 30 seconds left, then Lee erupted for a takedown, two turns, and ultimately pinned Gilman in 5:58. As a result, Lee is the Olympic Trials champion — but he is not yet an Olympian.
The Murrysville, Pa., native must now qualify the U.S. for the 57-kg competition at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He’ll travel to Istanbul, Turkey, next month for the World Olympic Games Qualifier, set for May 9-12. In all, the United States still needs to qualify five weights for Paris: 57 kg and 65 kg in men’s freestyle as well as 60 kg, 67 kg, and 77 kg in Greco-Roman.
It’s a challenge Lee is ready to attack, the same way he attacked the Trials this weekend. Lee finished 4-0 and outscored his opponents by a combined 35-11. He took out Nico Megaludis, another Murrysville native and occasional training partner; Zane Richards, the returning world team rep; then Gilman, three-time world medalist, world champion, and Olympic bronze medalist, in consecutive matches.
Winning Olympic gold has always been Lee’s dream. He’s now closer than he’s ever been — and he doesn’t plan on stopping now.
Here’s a weight-by-weight rundown of what happened in Session III on Saturday: … more at … Themat.com/Spencer-lee-wins-battle-of-former-hawkeye-lightweights-to-win-57-kg-at-u-s-olympic-team-trials

April 27, 2024 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized