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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

Iowa's Spencer Lee competes against Rutgers's Nick Suriano in the 125-pound final bout of the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, OH. Lee defeated Suriano by decision, 5-1, placing first in the tournament. This is Lee's first national title. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Lee on his way to being the ‘very best, like no one ever was’

James Geerdes, [email protected] March 17, 2018

Seven months ago, Spencer Lee started his freshman year. On March 17, he climbed to the top of the most prestigious podium in college wrestling. Walking out to Pokemon’s theme song, “Gotta Catch...

The Iowa wrestling team takes third overall for the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, March 17, 2018. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Iowa takes third, Lee takes first at NCAA Championships

Pete Ruden, [email protected] March 17, 2018

CLEVELAND — After Iowa’s solid performance at the NCAA Championships, the Hawkeyes are bringing a bronze trophy back to Carver-Hawkeye. Led by Spencer Lee’s national title, Iowa bounced back...

Iowa's Spencer Lee defeats Rutgers's Nick Suriano in the 125-pound final bout of the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Cleveland, OH. Lee beat Suriano by decision, 5-1. This is Lee's first national title. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Lee wins NCAA title

Pete Ruden, [email protected] March 17, 2018

CLEVELAND — In just his true freshman season, Spencer Lee is an NCAA champion. Lee picked up his gold medal by beating Nick Suriano of Rutgers, 5-1, in the finals at the NCAA Championships on March...

Iowa's Brandon Sorensen, left, takes a shot on Princeton's Matthew Kolodzik in 149-pound bout during Session 5 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH on Saturday, March 17, 2018. Kolodzik won by decision, 7-3. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Sorensen’s All-American career comes to an end

Pete Ruden, [email protected] March 17, 2018

If you ask the wrestlers on the Iowa team, they will most likely tell you that Brandon Sorensen does everything the correct way. But now they’ll have to move on without him; Sorensen’s All-American...

Michigan's Alec Pantaleo, middle, chooses the down position against Iowa's Micheal Kemerer in a 157-pound bout during Session 5 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH on Saturday, March 17, 2018. Kemerer went on to defeat Pantaleo by decision, 6-1. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Iowa clinches third place at NCAAs

James Geerdes, [email protected] March 17, 2018

CLEVELAND — The Iowa wrestling team clinched a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships in Session 5 on March 17. Iowa had four finishers in the session, two fifths, a fourth, and a sixth. Iowa’s...

Lee leads Iowa’s team race 

Lee leads Iowa’s team race 

James Geerdes, [email protected] March 16, 2018

CLEVELAND — Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan wanted one thing. “My life is complete, but it will be a little more complete if he manages to win a second national championship,” Ryan said on March...

Iowa's 149-pound Brandon Sorensen competes against Ohio State's Ke-Shawn Hayes during Session 4 of the NCAAs Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH on Thursday, March 16, 2018. Sorensen defeated Hayes by major decision 9-0. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

What happened, what’s next: NCAA Championships Session 4

Pete Ruden, [email protected] March 16, 2018

CLEVELAND — Iowa entered the NCAA Wrestling Championships Session 4 on March 16 with two semifinalists and came out with just one finalist. Spencer Lee pinned Ohio State’s Nathan Tomasello to...

Lee reaches finals at NCAAs with pin of Tomasello

Lee reaches finals at NCAAs with pin of Tomasello

Pete Ruden, [email protected] March 16, 2018

CLEVELAND — Spencer Lee is headed to the NCAA finals. On March 16, Lee overcame the tough obstacle of Ohio State’s Nathan Tomasello with a pin in the duo’s rubber match in the semifinals. After...

Iowa assistant coach Terry Brands cheers on 125-pound Spencer Lee during Session 2 of the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

What happened, what’s next: NCAA Championships Session 3

James Geerdes, [email protected] March 16, 2018

CLEVELAND — Iowa pushed two of its three wrestlers from the quarterfinals into the semifinals at the NCAA Championships. Two freshmen led the charge for the Hawkeyes — Spencer Lee dominated throughout...

Iowa's 165-pound Alex Marinelli takes a shot on Riders's Chad Walsh during Session 3 of the NCAAs Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH on Thursday, March 16, 2018. Marinelli defeated Walsh by decision 7-6, advancing to the semifinals. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Freshmen lead Iowa to semifinals at NCAAs

Pete Ruden, [email protected] March 16, 2018

CLEVELAND — Last year, Iowa was led by veterans at the NCAA Championships. Seniors Cory Clark, Thomas Gilman, and Sammy Brooks all made the semifinals, and junior Brandon Sorensen threw his name...

Iowa's 157-pound Michael Kemerer competes against Stanford's Paul Fox during Session 2 of the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Thursday, March 15, 2018. Kemerer won by fall in 4:52. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

Marinelli, Kemerer adjust, but Sorensen is toppled at NCAAs

James Geerdes, [email protected] March 15, 2018

CLEVELAND — Almost everything seemed to go Iowa’s way in Session 1 of the NCAAs on March 15. Session 2 was a different story. Of Iowa’s eight wrestlers still in their championship brackets,...

Wrestlers warm up before Session 2 of the NCAAs Wrestling Championships at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH on Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Ben Allan Smith/The Daily Iowan)

What happened, what’s next: NCAA Championships Session 2

Pete Ruden, [email protected] March 15, 2018

CLEVELAND — Session 1 at the NCAA Championships was essentially all Iowa could have hoped for, but Session 2 wasn’t quite so good on March 15. Highlighted by an upset of No. 2 seed Brandon Sorensen...