Spencer Lee at the Olympics: Recap of Thursday’s action in Paris
Iowa wrestling’s Spencer Lee at the Olympics: Recap of Thursday’s action in Paris
FloWrestling
Before Spencer Lee and Kennedy Blades hit the mat on the Olympic stage, several Iowa Hawkeyes wrestlers also participated in the Games.
In fact, there have been 21 Hawkeyes to earn a spot on Olympic teams. Here’s how they each fared in the competition:
Olympic Wrestling Day 4 live updates: Spencer Lee wins semifinal, to wrestle for Gold
Kennedy Blades (167 pounds, 2024, Paris)
Blades won a silver medal at the Olympics before even putting on a Hawkeye singlet. The Illinois native committed to Iowa in July 2024, won silver in August and starts school in Iowa City in a couple of weeks.
Spencer Lee (125.5lbs, 2024, Paris)
Lee went 3-0 in his opening matches on Thursday to advance to Friday’s 57kg gold medal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The three-time NCAA champion qualified for the Games on May 11 in Istanbul, Turkey, at the World Olympic Games qualifier.
Thomas Gilman (125.5lbs, 2020, Tokyo)
Gilman, a three-time NCAA All-American, earned a bronze medal at 57kg in the 2020 Olympics. He is currently an assistant coach at Oklahoma State.
Daniel Dennis (125.5lbs, 2016, Rio)
Dennis was a two-time NCAA All-American and national runner-up in 2010. He lost that match in the final seconds and took a break from the sport afterward before regaining form and competing in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. Dennis won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 57kg but lost his first match Olympic match 11-0.
More: Ex-Hawkeye, Olympic hopeful has quite a tale to tell
Steve Mocco (264.5lbs, 2008, Beijing)
Mocco spent the first two seasons of his college career at Iowa, earning runner-up honors at the 2002 NCAA and Big Ten Championships as a freshman and becoming the undefeated champion at the 2003 NCAAs and Big Tens as a sophomore before transferring to Oklahoma State. In the 2008 Olympics, Mocco advanced to the quarterfinals and eventually placed seventh.
Doug Schwab (145.5lbs, 2008, Beijing)
Schwab was a three-time All-American and Big Ten champion during his Iowa career, highlighted by winning the 1999 NCAA championship at 141 pounds. In 2008, he was the U.S. Olympic Trials champion but did not medal at the Beijing Games. He was inducted in the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014 and is currently the head coach of the University of Northern Iowa wrestling team.
Mike Zadick (132lbs, 2008, Beijing)
Zadick was a three-time All-American wrestler at Iowa from 2000-02, winning the 2002 149-pound Big Ten title. He finished 18th at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Joe Williams (163lbs, 2004, Athens)
Williams enjoyed a stellar career at Iowa, earning a 129–9 overall record en route to three NCAA wrestling titles and perfect 34-0 senior season in 1998. He was Iowa’s 14th four-time All-American and placed fifth in the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Terry Brands (127.75lbs, 2000, Sydney)
Brands, currently the associate head coach at Iowa, was a two-time World champion and earned bronze at the 2000 Olympics. The Sheldon native won two NCAA titles for the Hawkeyes.
Lincoln McIlravy (152lbs, 2000, Sydney)
McIlravy was a three-time NCAA champion at Iowa. The South Dakota native earned a bronze medal at the 2000 Games. He took silver and bronze at the 1999 and 1998 World Championships.
Tom Brands (136.5lbs, 1996, Atlanta)
Brands, now Iowa’s head coach, won three NCAA titles with the Hawkeyes. He won a gold medal in Atlanta and did not give up a point to his opponents in those Games. He also won gold at the 1993 World Championships.
Chris Campbell (180.5/198lbs, 1980/1992, Moscow/Barcelona)
Campbell earned a spot on the 1980 team, but the United States boycotted those Games held in the Soviet Union. In 1992, he earned a bronze medal at age 37, becoming to oldest American to win an Olympic wrestling medal.
Barry Davis (125.5/125.5lbs, 1984/1988, Los Angeles/Seoul)
Davis, a Cedar Rapids native, was a three-time NCAA champion at Iowa. He finished second at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles and did not medal in Seoul. He won bronze at the 1986 Worlds and bronze at the 1987 Worlds.
Ed Banach (198lbs, 1984, Los Angeles)
Banach is a member of Iowa’s “three NCAA titles” club. He also won four Big Ten crowns. He won a gold medal at the Los Angeles Olympics.
Lou Banach (220lbs, 1984, Los Angeles)
Ed’s twin brother was a two-time NCAA champion at Iowa and a three-time All-American. He won the Olympic gold medal in L.A. with four pins.
Randy Lewis (136.5/136.6lbs, 1980/1984, Moscow/Los Angeles)
From Rapid City, S.D., Lewis was one of Iowa’s most dominant wrestlers. He won two NCAA titles and would have won three but for a nasty arm injury. His 1980 Olympic experience ended with the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Games, but he won gold in Los Angeles.
Chuck Yagla (149.5lbs, 1980, Moscow)
The Waterloo native was a two-time NCAA champion in the Hawkeye singlet. He earned a spot on the 1980 team but saw his Olympic dreams disappear when the U.S. boycotted the Games in the Soviet Union.
Steve Combs (171.5lbs, 1968, Mexico City)
Combs won a Big Ten championship and was a national runner-up with the Hawkeyes. He did not win a medal in the 1968 Games.
Terry McCann (125.5lbs, 1960, Rome)
McCann was Iowa’s first gold medalist after winning two NCAA titles with the Hawkeyes. He’s one of many Hawkeyes who became National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees.
Joe Scarpello (174lbs, 1948, London)
A four-time All-American and a two-time NCAA champion in Iowa City, Scarpello was an alternate on the 1948 Team USA.
Leslie Beers (158.5lbs, 1928, Amsterdam)
Iowa’s first NCAA champion and All-American, Beers also was the Hawkeyes’ first Olympian. He was an alternate at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam.
What about Dan Gable?
Gable coached Iowa for 21 years, winning 15 NCAA team championships. He won a gold medal in 1972 in Munich … after his collegiate career at Iowa State.
Gus Martin is a Digital Producer/Content Director for The Des Moines Register. Follow him on X at @GusMartin_DMR.
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Publish date : 2024-08-09 03:45:00
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