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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Mar 20, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Spencer Lee is introduced prior to the championship match of the 125 weight class against Arizona State Sun Devils wrestler Brandon Courtney during the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa wrestling’s Spencer Lee speaks on withdrawal from U.S. Olympic Trials

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 29, 2021

For the second-straight year, Iowa wrestling’s 125-pound Spencer Lee has put his Olympic dreams on hold. Typically, the Olympics are only held once every four years. Lee, however, has had to deal...

Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee holds the Hodge Trophy with his father, Larry at Kinnick Stadium on Jan. 5, 2021. The Hodge Trophy is awarded to the best wrestler in the nation and Lee is one of three Hawkeyes to win the award.

Iowa wrestling’s Spencer Lee wins second-straight Hodge Trophy

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 29, 2021

For the second-straight year, Iowa wrestling's Spencer Lee has won the Dan Hodge Trophy. The award has been presented annually to the nation's most dominant wrestler since 1995. Brent Metcalf and...

Mar 20, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Spencer Lee is introduced prior to the championship match of the 125 weight class against Arizona State Sun Devils wrestler Brandon Courtney during the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa wrestler Spencer Lee withdraws from 2021 U.S. Olympic Team Trials

Robert Read, Pregame Editor March 26, 2021

For the second time in as many years, Spencer Lee's Olympic dreams will have to wait. Lee, the Iowa wrestling program's three-time national champion 125-pounder, announced Friday on Twitter that...

Mar 20, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team pose for a photo after winning the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Opinion | It’s been a privilege to cover Iowa wrestling for the last two seasons

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 24, 2021

It's been five days since Iowa wrestling won the 2021 NCAA Division I Championships at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri, and I still feel like I haven't had adequate time to process the...

Mar 20, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Spencer Lee is introduced prior to the championship match of the 125 weight class against Arizona State Sun Devils wrestler Brandon Courtney during the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

‘Excuses are for wusses’: Spencer Lee wins third consecutive national title after year-long wait

Isaac Goffin, Assistant Sports Editor March 21, 2021

Spencer Lee isn’t a fan of excuses. But if the Iowa wrestling program’s 125-pounder used one over the weekend, nobody could have blamed him. Eight days before Lee defeated Arizona State’s...

Mar 20, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Spencer Lee is introduced prior to the championship match of the 125 weight class against Arizona State Sun Devils wrestler Brandon Courtney during the finals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa wrestling’s Spencer Lee overcomes knee injury, wins national title

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 21, 2021

ST. LOUIS — After he won his semifinal match with Central Michigan's Drew Hildebrandt via 11-0 decision, Iowa's Spencer Lee appeared to be a little gimpy exiting the mat. In a videoconference...

Mar 20, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team pose for a photo after winning the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa wrestling claims long-awaited NCAA Championship

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 20, 2021

ST. LOUIS — Over the last 11 years, the NCAA Division I Wrestling team championship trophy has resided in trophy cases in both Columbus, Ohio, and State College, Pennsylvania. Soon, the hardware...

Mar 19, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Spencer Lee wrestles Purdue Boilermakers wrestler Devin Schroder in the 125 weight class during the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Spencer Lee wins 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 20, 2021

ST. LOUIS — Hawkeye senior 125-pounder Spencer Lee officially claimed his third individual national title Saturday evening at the Enterprise Center. Lee finished the 2020-21 season 12-0 — counting...

Mar 18, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Austin Desanto wrestles Little Rock Trojans wrestler Paul Bianchi during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa’s Austin DeSanto to be held out of Parade of All-Americans

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 20, 2021

ST. LOUIS — Senior 133-pounder Austin DeSanto will be held out of the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Parade of All-Americans after behaving inappropriately toward NCAA media officials, per a Saturday...

Mar 19, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Austin DeSanto wrestles Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestler Daton Fix in the 133 weight class during the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Iowa wrestling clinches 2021 NCAA Championship victory

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 20, 2021

ST. LOUIS — For the 24th time in program history, Iowa wrestling has clinched an NCAA Division I team championship. The Hawkeyes had not won a national title since 2010. Iowa's 2021 championship...

Mar 19, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestler Gable Steveson wrestles Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Tony Cassioppi in the 285 weight class during the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Follow along: Four Hawkeyes compete in Session VI of the 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 20, 2021

ST. LOUIS — Ahead of Saturday's 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship finals, three Hawkeyes will compete for third-place finishes in the consolation bracket and another will wrestle for seventh...

Mar 19, 2021; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wrestler Spencer Lee wrestles Central Michigan Chippewas wrestler Drew Hilldebrandt in the 125 weight class during the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Three Iowa wrestlers advance to NCAA Championship finals

Austin Hanson, Sports Editor March 19, 2021

ST. LOUIS — After a three-session day of wrestling Friday, three Hawkeyes moved on to Saturday's 2021 NCAA Division I Championship finals. Among them is two-time national champion Spencer Lee....