Franklin Regional graduate Spencer Lee clinched a spot on the U.S. Olympic wrestling team Saturday by winning the 57-kilogram weight class at the Olympic Trials at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center.
But if the Murrysville native wants to wrestle in his mother’s homeland of France and earn a trip to Paris, he must finish in the top three at a World Olympic qualifier in Istanbul, Turkey on May 9-12.
The United States doesn’t have automatic bids to Paris in the 57- and 64-kilogram weight classes.
Only 16 wrestlers are eligible to participate in the Olympics at each class.
Lee claimed the roster spot by defeating Thomas Gilman in the best-of-3 finals.
He won the first match 6-3 and then recorded a pin in the second match.
Gilman was a four-time medalist.
Kittanning’s Jason Nolf, a three-time NCAA champion from Penn State, lost Saturday in the best-of-3 finals to Kyle Dake.
Lee said the last year has been long and hard since losing in the NCAA finals in 2023.
“If it wasn’t for the Iowa Hawkeye program supporting me, I’d probably be retired,” Lee said in an interview aired by PA Power Wrestling. “I’ve been staying healthy and trying to compete to the best of my ability.
“I’m still not healthy, but healthy enough to wrestle hard. I had a savvy and really good opponent in Thomas Gilman. People get the wrong impression about us. We watch film together and train together, and we were teammates.”
Friday, Lee defeated Franklin Regional grad Nico Megaludis, 8-0, and then rolled over No. 1 seed Zane Richards, 13-6.
Lee is a three-time NCAA champion from Iowa. Gilman was seeded No. 2 and also wrestled at Iowa.
“I feel better, but I have to qualify in the weight, unfortunately,” Lee said. “But I have an opportunity. I got to compete against more competition, and I feel it’s a blessing. I have to get ready for the Olympics and try to win that tournament.”
