Iowa star wrestler Spencer Lee, a junior 125-pounder and two-time NCAA champion, pulled out of the reputable Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Hoffman Estates, Ill. due to a medical forfeit.
Lee reached the semifinals but forfeited to Mike DeAugustino of Northwestern, allowing DeAugustino to advance to Saturday night’s finals to face Patrick Glory of Princeton.
Lee also forfeited to Michael Colaiocco of Penn in the consolation round.
Official word from Iowa is that Lee’s forfeit is a “coach’s decision” and provided no further details.
He defeated Nolan Hellickson of Harvard by technical fall (16-1, 3:32) in the quarterfinals.
Lee was the No. 1 seed in the tournament. He recently won the 57 kg (125 pounds) U.S. Senior National Freestyle Championship in Fort Worth, Texas to qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials on April 4-5 at Penn State.
Spencer Lee medical forfeits out of the semifinals of the Midlands Championships. pic.twitter.com/GpJsPUflx3
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) December 30, 2019
Spencer Lee has medical forfeited. Don't read into that at all. My guess it was for him to get a few matches and then rest. He's only a week removed from the U.S. Nationals in Fort Worth.
— K.J. Pilcher (@kjpilcher) December 30, 2019
