Never slowing down, Spencer Lee ready to challenge for U.S. world team spot

Spencer Lee doesn’t want to slow down. If Lee had total control, his wrestling matches would never be boring.

When Lee wrestles Luke Lilledahl at 57 kilograms for the U.S. world team spot Saturday at Final X in Newark, N.J., he wants to prevent the match from lagging. Lee, a Franklin Regional and Iowa graduate, believes allowing Rei Higuchi to slow the pace in the gold-medal match at the 2024 Olympics prevented him from reaching the top of the podium.

“It’s all about scoring points,” Lee said. “That’s the only thing I care about. I get frustrated when matches are low scoring because of myself. Obviously, the opponent has something to say about that, but if I can help it, I’d like to make matches more exciting and a lot of action.”

Lee, 26, has a 38-2 record in senior freestyle matches. His desire to be an Olympic champion hasn’t slowed. Lee’s progress toward an international career was delayed by a number of knee injuries that started in high school and recurred during his time at Iowa.

Lee still lives in Iowa City and works out regularly with the college wrestlers.

“That’s always been my main goal,” Lee said. “College just happened to be a stepping stone on the way. It did take a long time to get to this point because of injuries, but I feel like it’s my time to shine and it’s my time to go out there and do what I do best and try and win World and Olympic titles for Team USA.”

Lilledahl, 19, won the 2025 U.S. Open at 57 kilograms and will be eager to test himself against Lee. Lilledahl was the Big Ten champion and placed third at the NCAA championships for Penn State this past season.

“I’m jealous that he was able to compete to make a world team spot at 19 years old,” Lee said. “When I was 19, I was having my knees surgically repaired pretty much every summer. I just said it’s good for Team USA to know that there’s so many young athletes still competing and getting ready for the big show.”

Since losing in the Olympics, Lee has won eight of nine matches. Lee challenged himself last February, taking on Japanese wrestler Masanosuke Ono at a catchweight.

Lee lost to Ono, the 2024 61 kg world champion, 3-2. Again, Lee felt there wasn’t enough action.

“I think that’s a little disappointing for myself and for the fans as well,” Lee said. “So we brought an event in and had thousands of people come watch and then it was just the most boring thing ever. So that was one thing that was frustrating for me is I let the match kind of slow down again, so I have to be better.”

Lee, a three-time NCAA and PIAA champion, said he continues to battle through all the injuries and adversity because he wants the Olympic gold medal. If he wasn’t still driven to win it, Lee already would have retired.

The match at Final X will be an important step toward qualifying for the 2028 Olympics, but he isn’t thinking about Los Angeles yet.

“The only thing you can do is your best,” Lee said. “I don’t really think about failing or what I would do if I fail. I just go out there and I train and I just go one day at a time. Right now, I’m getting ready for Final X. I’m not worried about the LA Olympics, ‘cause that’s a long way away.”