Lee, Woods earn Big Ten titles

Spencer Lee and Real Woods captured individual Big Ten wrestling titles as the Iowa Hawkeye wrestling team finished in second place in the team competition.

Lee was voted the Big Ten Wrestler of the Year for a third time in his career (2020, 2021) and he was selected as the Outstanding Wrestler of the Big Ten Championships for the first time in his career.  He went 3-0 with two technical fall victories and outscored his opponents, 45-4. He is the second Hawkeye all-time to earn three Big Ten Wrestler of the Year honors, joining Mark Ironside (1996, 1997, 1998) as a three-time recipient.  Iowa has had 11 wrestlers garner 13 Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships honors and 10 wrestlers have garnered 15 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year accolades.

Lee won his title match 8-2 over Liam Cronin from Nebraska. That was his 55^th straight win and his third Big Ten individual title.

“We have a lot to work on as a team. We’re still grinding as a team, it was a tough tournament,” said Lee. “I feel like I improved a lot this weekend in a lot of areas, but I have a lot to work on as well.”

Wood grinded out a 2-1 victory at 141 pounds over Brock Hardy from Nebraska.

“I had to keep my hands fighting,” said Woods. “That’s the most important part of leg defense when someone is in on you.  I had to continue to stay in good position as well as I could.

Iowa’s third finalist, Patrick Kennedy, fell in his title match to 165 pound top seeded Dean Hamiti. Eventually, Kennedy lost 9-6 in the match.

The Hawkeyes qualified all ten wrestlers for the NCAA Tournament in Tulsa in two weeks. Max Murin at 149 pounds and Tony Cassioppi at heavyweight finished third at the event. Nelson Brands at 174 pounds and Jacob Warner at 197 pounds finished fifth. Brody Teske at 133 pounds, Cobe Siebrecht at 157 and Abe Assad at 174 pounds finished seventh.

Overall, Iowa took second place behind defending national champions Penn State. Iowa had 134.5 team points while the Nittany Lions were at 147.0 team points.

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS

1.            Penn State          147.0

2.            IOWA                    134.5

3.            Nebraska             104.5

4.            Ohio State           99

5.            Michigan              84.5

6.            Minnesota          79

7.            Northwestern   78.5

8.            Wisconsin            55.5

9.            Purdue                 47.0

10.          Illinois                   46.5

11.          Rutgers                32

12.          Indiana                 30

13.          Michigan State  28.0

14.          Maryland             24.0

Iowa Placewinners

1st: Spencer Lee (125), Real Woods (141)

2nd: Patrick Kennedy (165)

3rd: Max Murin (149), Tony Cassioppi (285)

5th: Nelson Brands (174), Jacob Warner (197)

7th: Brody Teske (133), Cobe Siebrecht (157), Abe Assad (184)

Finals Results

125 – #1 Spencer Lee (UI) dec. #2 Liam Cronin (NEB), 8-2

141 – #1 Real Woods (Or ) dec. #3 Brock Hardy (NEB), 2-1

165 – #1 Dean Hamiti (UW) dec. #2 Patrick Kennedy (UI), 9-6

Consolation Results

149 – #4 Max Murin (UI) dec. #5 Shayne Van Ness (PSU), 3-2 – 3rd place

174 – #7 Nelson Brands (UI) dec. #5 Edmond Ruth (ILL), 5-1 – 5th place

197 – #5 Jacob Warner (UI) wins by medical forfeit Cameron Caffey (MSU) – 5th place

285 – #3 Tony Cassioppi (UI) major dec. Tate Orndorff (OSU), 10-1 — 3rd place