Spencer Lee, one of the greatest college wrestlers who ever lived, will end his college career with a loss.
Iowa announced Saturday morning that Lee would not wrestle for third place and has decided to medically forfeit.
STATEMENT FROM UNIVERSITY OF IOWA WRESTLING
“It has been a long road of a recovery for Spencer Lee. He will medically forfeit out of the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships today in Tulsa.”#Hawkeyes
— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) March 18, 2023
Lee has battled injuries throughout his college career. In 2021, he famously won his third national title on two torn ACLs.
Over the next two years, Lee kept winning, entering Friday night with a 97-5 career record.
But after a monumental upset ended his bid to become the fifth four-time national champion in NCAA history, Lee decided to medically forfeit out of the championships.
”It’s been a long road of recovery for Spencer Lee,” Iowa wrestling’s statement read. “He will medically forfeit out the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Tulsa.”
Lee, who won three national championships at 125 pounds and looked to be a lock for a fourth, fell to Purdue’s Matt Ramos (seeded fourth) in the semifinal match Friday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Had Lee lost in any fashion, it would have been a shock.
The fact that he got pinned makes it even more stunning.
🚨 UPSET ALERT 🚨
(4) Matt Ramos pins (1) Spencer Lee! @Matt_Ramos2 is headed to the finals!
📺 ESPN#NCAAWrestling x @PurdueWrestling pic.twitter.com/Jalh7tD9Il
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 18, 2023
Lee led Ramos 7-5 with less than a minute left in the third period before Ramos tied the match with a takedown.
After the takedown, Ramos kept Lee on his back and got the pin with one second left in the third period to win.
Since Lee wrestles for Penn State’s biggest rival, Nittany Nation didn’t shed many tears.
Hahaha Spencer Lee
— Hardcore Penn State Football (@HardcorePSUFB) March 18, 2023
I bet Spencer Lee’s mom and this guy are best friends. Dramatic af. pic.twitter.com/4BexFEXpxW
— mackenzie (@mactorchia) March 18, 2023
Holy shit, cherry on top for Iowa misery😂😂 https://t.co/FQCuz7TgcJ
— Ghost of Tim Riggins (@Linebacker_U) March 18, 2023
Penn State was already on its way to a team national title— which it will almost certainly lock up today— so Lee winning his fourth national championship wouldn’t have affected much in the standings. On the individual side, Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young (133) now has the nation’s longest active winning streak at 58.
No. 1 RBY will look for 59– and, more importantly, a third straight national title— Saturday night when he takes on Cornell’s Vito Arujau, who is the No. 3 seed.
humbleone007
March 18, 2023 at 11:56 am
RBY will have his hands full tonight. This guy dominated Dayton Fix.
Just a fan
March 18, 2023 at 3:30 pm
A first question for Spencer Lee is if you were in the finals tonight would you be medically forfeiting? If the answer is no, then there are a few more questions. I don’t think you would see Sanderson’s wrestler walking out of a tournament. It’s a team sport.
I hate Iowa and Cornell
March 18, 2023 at 8:56 pm
Care to share what this has anything the tiniest little bit to do with Spencer Lee medically forfeiting out of the tournament?
Joe Smeltzer
March 18, 2023 at 9:00 pm
Not sure what you’re asking. Could you elaborate?
Aaron Fowler
March 19, 2023 at 9:42 pm
Iowa wrestling made wrestling period. Penn St where were you before Cal an ISU grad yeah that’s in Iowa. You guys making shifty comments about Lee class act 3 time champ almost 4 don’t be hating the Hawks will be back
Rich Marchione
March 20, 2023 at 2:02 pm
He forfeited out, bush league.
Paul
March 20, 2023 at 12:20 pm
SPENCER LEE is finished. Anthony Noto of Lockhaven broke him in the quarterfinals. Took him the distance and clearly rattled him, not to mention crush his cage, Spencer was completely winded afterwards. Mentally this fight ruined him. Maybe your articles shouldn’t be so bias, spend more time elaborating on the truth and not what the media wants to hear. SPENCER had no medical issue, he was defeated and mentally done. This is why he forfeited out and didn’t wrestle back. GET your facts right and tell us what really happened !!! BYE BYE SPENCER YOUR ALL DONE BABY !!!