Iowa wrestling wins first national title since 2010
24th national title in program history capped by Spencer Lee's incredible performance
By Tyler Devine
For the first time since 2010, and for the 24th time in school history, the king of college wrestling resides in Iowa City.
It is the fourth national championship won by the Hawkeyes under head coach Tom Brands, who is in his 15th season at Iowa.
“It’s been 11 years since a real important trophy has been in Iowa City,” Brands said. “This team, and these 35 guys back in that wrestling room and these 10 guys here and this coaching staff and this administration brought the trophy back and that’s important to our fanbase.”
Iowa’s lone individual champion, 125-pound junior Spencer Lee, became the seventh three-time national champion in Iowa history, and did so in spectacular fashion.
The Murrysville, Pa., native said after the match that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee just eight days ago, but Lee refused to miss the opportunity to win a national title.
Lee has previously torn his ACL two times.
“Whatever, man,” Lee said. “I didn’t want to tell anyone, because that’s excuses. Excuses are for wusses. And you know what, that was a tough turn for me. I could barely wrestle, I could barely shoot, I can’t sprawl. But you know what, I believed in my coaching staff and everyone who believed in me, so there you guys go.”
Brands emphasized Lee’s importance to Iowa’s resurgence.
“You can’t understate his importance,” Brands said. “It’s certainly as a spark plug and an igniter, but it’s more than that.”
Iowa’s first three national titles under Brands came in consecutive seasons from 2008-10.
This run to the national title was significantly different than the previous three.
Iowa has to overcome a delayed start to the regular season, and only competed in five regular season dual meets due to a pause in team activities because of positive COVID-19 tests within the program.
Iowa also was favored to win the 2020 national title but the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hawkeyes won the Big Ten regular season title and the team title at the Big Ten Championships.
Senior Jaydin Eierman fell to No. 2 seed Nick Lee of Penn State in the 141-pound final in sudden victory.
Eierman beat Lee in the Big Ten Championships.
Senior Michael Kemerer also lost to a Penn State wrestler in a Big Ten rematch.
Kemerer, a native of Murrysville, Pa., fell 3-1 in sudden victory to Carter Starocci in the 174-pound championship match.
Senior Austin DeSanto finished a career-best third place at 133 pounds.
DeSanto announced after his third-place match that he will use the free year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic and return to Iowa.
Senior 125-pounder Spencer Lee already has announced that he will return to Iowa next season.
DeSanto, a native of Exeter, Pennsylvania, scored 65 points in five victories during the tournament.
“(I was) just letting it go,” DeSanto said. “Letting my offense go and just believing in myself, believing in the coaching staff, believing in everybody around me. I know no matter what, my teammates and my coaches still love me win or loss, and that’s a great thing to have behind you.”
DeSanto’s victory did not come without controversy, however.
Brands announced Saturday afternoon that DeSanto will not participate in the NCAA Parade of All-Americans or the medal stand ceremony due to his behavior toward NCAA media officials following his match.
DeSanto was suspended in 2019 for his behavior following a match.
“My behavior toward the NCAA media officials prior to the post-match interview was wrong and I owe all those involved a sincere apology,” DeSanto said in a statement. “My language and behavior was inappropriate and inexcusable. I have spoken with Tom and I understand and agree with the decision.”
Junior 197-pounder Jacob Warner fell to No. 1 seed Myles Amine of Michigan in the third-place match to place fourth and earn his third career All-America honor, and sophomore heavyweight Tony Cassioppi placed third.
Junior Kaleb Young also become a three-time All-American with a seventh place finish at 157 pounds.
Iowa took all 10 wrestlers into the tournament, but three were eliminated on the backside of the bracket, the most surprising of which was No. 1 seed 165-pounder Alex Marinelli, who medically forfeited his consolation match.
Brands said Friday night he did not want to get into the specifics of Marinelli’s injury.
Sophomore 184-pounder Nelson Brands and junior 149-pounder Max Murin also failed to place in the top eight.