Spencer 2026 World Team

[vhsalum]

What the big deal adding 4 weights? The Olympics don’t make enough money to buy medals for 4 weight classes. Drop break dancing, cut back on the various kiaking, skate boarding , mountain bike events, and put wrestling and weight lifting back in prime time instead of those “sports”. Two of the most classic Olympic sports deserve prime time. I don’t know why everyone drools over swimming and gymnastics, because other than Olympics, they are lucky to dry flies to their collage events. All these X games sports just draws interest from the niche of people who do those activities. College wrestling out draws all of them .

Probably because none of what you said is true.

Wrestling is VERY low in terms of viewership. Sure NCAAs, but that doesn't translate to FS/Worlds/Olympics. It is getting a LOT better though.

More people, including casuals, are more inclined to watch swimming and X games stuff. Sad, but true. Break dancing was a one-time thing - and outside of that stupid woman, it probably would have been a great addition to the games.

The IOC is a bunch of corrupt, inept evil mitches. But I know UWW is fighting hard to get more weights. Fingers crossed it doesn't have to include dropping Greco, but right now, that's where the IOC is.

 

[TheREALSpooner]

That’s not the point. The prime time tv is bringing the sport to a wider audience. The only people watching wrestling on the specific stream are the die hard fans and they would be watching regardless of it being in the Olympics.

If the Olympics isn’t bringing in any new viewers then how much is it really elevating the sport? If wrestling was no longer in the Olympics and you polled random people throughout the world and asked if wrestling was an Olympic sport you would get an overwhelming majority still say yes.

And the point was that social media coverage and promotion are becoming every bit as important as prime time TV. When an American wins gold (for example), NBC and others pump it all over social media. When that happens at worlds, it isn’t even mentioned by major media. Wrestling can’t afford to give up that visibility.

 

[HollisterHawk]

Even us hard core fans don’t want to watch at 3:30am, especially on a work day.

I actually watch at 3:30am.... but I'm a very sick man with a ton of emotional baggage

 

[Grapple24]

I bought my US Open tickets a couple of weeks ago crossing my fingers he's going to register. If he wins the Open he doesn't have to compete at team trials the following month. Competing at the Open gives you two chances to make the team.
I've never seen Spencer or ADS wrestle in person. Anyone else plan on going?

Hawk fans dont travel well at all for these events

 

[HollisterHawk]

Hawk fans dont travel well at all for these events

Damn it! I was looking to Cesspool it up in Vegas! Rudis just put out a interview with Spencer and it's a great watch. Sounds like he's going to the Open and possibly Pan-Ams. Imply's fear of losing a couple of times and working through it. He sounds like he's in a great place mentally. I'm prepared to see him rip some arms off like a hairless gorilla

 

[FF141]

What the big deal adding 4 weights? The Olympics don’t make enough money to buy medals for 4 weight classes. Drop break dancing, cut back on the various kiaking, skate boarding , mountain bike events, and put wrestling and weight lifting back in prime time instead of those “sports”. Two of the most classic Olympic sports deserve prime time. I don’t know why everyone drools over swimming and gymnastics, because other than Olympics, they are lucky to dry flies to their collage events. All these X games sports just draws interest from the niche of people who do those activities. College wrestling out draws all of them .

What the big deal adding 4 weights? The Olympics don’t make enough money to buy medals for 4 weight classes. Drop break dancing, cut back on the various kiaking, skate boarding , mountain bike events, and put wrestling and weight lifting back in prime time instead of those “sports”. Two of the most classic Olympic sports deserve prime time. I don’t know why everyone drools over swimming and gymnastics, because other than Olympics, they are lucky to dry flies to their collage events. All these X games sports just draws interest from the niche of people who do those activities. College wrestling out draws all of them .

I don’t think it’s I much the medal count as 4 weights is 64 more athletes plus their teams of ppl that accompany them. They have to logistically have places for them.

 

[ArtRadley]

How about we drop synchronized swimming instead?

Wrestling is a classic sport…I can’t believe they have reduced it to 6 weight classes for the Olympics. I hope there is active lobbying to get this changed.

I am familiar with the guys who lobbied to keep wrestling - I’m good friends with one of them - and we are lucky to have the six. vhsalum appears to know the story; we should have given up Greco.

Imo the folks who run the Olympics have no appreciation for or knowledge of competition sports. Certainly they lack awareness or concern for sports history. Their priorities lie completely elsewhere, so lobbying is difficult.

 

[redghost1974]

Wrestling should be moved to the winter sports. Hard to gain eyeballs vs track and field events.

 

[Comment123]

A week out. Some recent practice pics from hwc:

Hawkeye Wrestling Club on Instagram: "Being prepared feels good! The US OPEN starts in one week in Las Vegas, NV. 😮‍💨 Love these guys? Support them by registering for our upcoming event and by bidding online on our silent auction items! 👀🖼️🥾🛥️🎣🏌🏽‍♂

755 likes, 0 comments - hwc_1973 on April 17, 2026: "Being prepared feels good! The US OPEN starts in one week in Las Vegas, NV. 😮‍💨 Love these guys? Support them by registering for our upcoming event and by bidding online on our silent auction items! 👀🖼️🥾🛥️🎣🏌🏽‍♂️🎟️🛒🥃🛍️🔗in bio!".

www.instagram.com

Hawkeye Wrestling Club on Instagram: "⚫️🟡🐤💪🏻 LOADING… 🔴⚪️🔵🇺🇸 US OPEN next week in Las Vegas, NV. 😮‍💨 Love these guys? Support them by registering for our upcoming event and by bidding online on our silent auction items! 👀🖼️🥾🛥️🎣🏌🏽‍♂️🎟️🛒🥃🛍️🔗in bio!"

3,526 likes, 7 comments - hwc_1973 on April 16, 2026: "⚫️🟡🐤💪🏻 LOADING… 🔴⚪️🔵🇺🇸 US OPEN next week in Las Vegas, NV. 😮‍💨 Love these guys? Support them by registering for our upcoming event and by bidding online on our silent auction items! 👀🖼️🥾🛥️🎣🏌🏽‍♂️🎟️🛒🥃🛍️🔗in bio!".

www.instagram.com

 

[lisa morales]

Damn it! I was looking to Cesspool it up in Vegas! Rudis just put out a interview with Spencer and it's a great watch. Sounds like he's going to the Open and possibly Pan-Ams. Imply's fear of losing a couple of times and working through it. He sounds like he's in a great place mentally. I'm prepared to see him rip some arms off like a hairless gorilla

Speaking of hairless...poor Spencer.

 

[Comment123]

Speaking of hairless...poor Spencer.

One of these days this will get the laughs you're looking for

 

[Tiltman]

The trolls fascination with Lee’s hairline is strange to say the least.

 

[Boomhawk52]

A guy named Dave, hairline was below average. Turned out to be a great wrestler and a wonderful guy.

 

[HollisterHawk]

Speaking of hairless...poor Spencer.

You're either super fat or a dude.

 

[Tiltman]

You're either super fat or a dude.

Or both

 

[lisa morales]

Or both

Yes, I'll admit to having a large frame.

 

[ChicagoHawk2020]

Yes, I'll admit to having a large frame.

Shocker

 

[Sett1997]

The trolls fascination with Lee’s hairline is strange to say the least.

Still acting like a 6th grade moran. Hasn't matured enough to realize that making fun of someone's appearance is not cool. Pretty sad!

 

[HawkAlum2002]

"Stone Cold" Spencer Lee does already have enough knee braces and often a goatee if he ever wants to fully embrace the look though. Leave the beer to Royce Alger and the middle fingers to AJ though.

 

[UndercoverHawk]

"Stone Cold" Spencer Lee does already have enough knee braces and often a goatee if he ever wants to fully embrace the look though. Leave the beer to Royce Alger and the middle fingers to AJ though.

WHAT?!

 

[Sett1997]

Personally , I thing Spencer is a fine looking young man. Badass to the bone. He's got that thing going on , it's called "charisma " makes him stand out more than any head of hair would! He's a freaking animal!

 

[TameTurk]

Good luck Spencer! Roll em' up!

 

[HollisterHawk]

Just rolled through the conversation center. Got a picture of Daton and Jax sparring. Girls and Greco practitioners scrapping hard. My first event ever. If I can keep the alcohol consumption to a manageable rate, (much like keeping my weight management in check like Im competing lol ) tomorrow is going to be crazy

 

[Misalorales]

Personally , I thing Spencer is a fine looking young man. Badass to the bone. He's got that thing going on , it's called "charisma " makes him stand out more than any head of hair would! He's a freaking animal!

He is still the pride of my home area even if he didn't finish his highschool career here. Remember hearing things about him, how good he was, and got to see him in person when he would've been maybe a sophomore. A truly unbelievable talent, it was always a pleasure watching him. I think Liledahl has next, but next won't be until after the 2028 Olympics at the absolute earliest. Basically has to wait for Lee to slow down, if that ever happens.

 

[Sett1997]

He is still the pride of my home area even if he didn't finish his highschool career here. Remember hearing things about him, how good he was, and got to see him in person when he would've been maybe a sophomore. A truly unbelievable talent, it was always a pleasure watching him. I think Liledahl has next, but next won't be until after the 2028 Olympics at the absolute earliest. Basically has to wait for Lee to slow down, if that ever happens.

Possible meeting between him and Luke in a few days. Be fun to see if Luke has closed the gap. I expect Spencer to win, he may destroy him. We will see.

 

[David Makalaster]

Spencer was better in 2017 than Luke will ever be. Not a close match.

 

[Misalorales]

Spencer was better in 2017 than Luke will ever be. Not a close match.

The homer in me wants to argue because it's hard to understand how a 5 time age level medalist who is a u17,u20, and u23 world champion could never have a shot.But Lee is truly special. Can't wait to see it this weekend.

 

[Comment123]

Spencer was better in 2017 than Luke will ever be. Not a close match.

It’ll be close if Spencer isn’t offensive again outside the first minute

 

[mvattivo]

Spencer was better in 2017 than Luke will ever be. Not a close match.

Oops

 

[lisa morales]

Same old story really. It's a combination of limited cardio and tired carcass. He should really consider retirement and finding a career outside of wrestling.

 

[Comment123]

Same old story really. It's a combination of limited cardio and tired carcass. He should really consider retirement and finding a career outside of wrestling.

Will see if the elbow is anything serious. But all around I would hope he’d check out the cowboy rtc before retiring.

 

[Dean111!]

Same old story really. It's a combination of limited cardio and tired carcass. He should really consider retirement and finding a career outside of wrestling.

'The spirit is willing, but the the flesh ... maybe not so much'.

 

[T8KUDWN]

Not a match Spencer should lose but not a big deal. Just causes a bit of a change to his training schedule.
He'll win the trials and win Final X.

 

[Mattski]

Not a match Spencer should lose but not a big deal. Just causes a bit of a change to his training schedule.
He'll win the trials and win Final X.

I tend to agree but if he can't take LL down early and likely get a turn or two, he's going to have trouble beating him 2 out of 3. LL has definitely closed the gap and shown he can take Spencer down in the 2nd period. It'll likely come down to how big of a lead he can build.

 

[Bones Malone]

Not a match Spencer should lose but not a big deal. Just causes a bit of a change to his training schedule.
He'll win the trials and win Final X.

I agree with this, with hopes Spencer/coaches can find the key to improved conditioning. Whatever we’ve been doing over the years is proof enough, it ain’t working and needs tweaking.

Please stack the deck in our favor, as it’s too painful seeing Iowa wrestlers lose matches to conditioning. Sadly, it’s become a continuing problem.
Go Hawks!

 

[T8KUDWN]

I tend to agree but if he can't take LL down early and likely get a turn or two, he's going to have trouble beating him 2 out of 3. LL has definitely closed the gap and shown he can take Spencer down in the 2nd period. It'll likely come down to how big of a lead he can build.

Closing the gap by not wrestling offensively in all of the first and most of the second period.

 

[dtripp26]

Closing the gap by not wrestling offensively in all of the first and most of the second period.

Apparently so...Lee couldn't finish multiple shots, then got taken down on LLs only 2 attempts, one a desperation throw that anyone should have seen coming.

Now an oft-injured wrestler,who may again be injured, has to win the WTT and 2 of 3 against a guy who has in fact narrowed the gap.

 

[T8KUDWN]

Apparently so...Lee couldn't finish multiple shots, then got taken down on LLs only 2 attempts, one a desperation throw that anyone should have seen coming.

Now an oft-injured wrestler,who may again be injured, has to win the WTT and 2 of 3 against a guy who has in fact narrowed the gap.

Interesting how so many get all worked up over one loss, "the sky must be falling".
Spencer will win the Trials and win Final X.

 

[Dean111!]

Not a match Spencer should lose but not a big deal. Just causes a bit of a change to his training schedule.
He'll win the trials and win Final X.

"When Prophecy Fails". Expectations fail, and believers must cope with the coming apocalypse.

 

[Kohawks99]

Interesting how so many get all worked up over one loss, "the sky must be falling".
Spencer will win the Trials and win Final X.

I feel the same, but it's hard to question those who have started to get a hesitation in saying they think he's going to win. To most, myself included, Spencer Lee is akin to Chuck Norris and seeing him lose more more often in this last year might leave some hesitating.

He's still the guy, but I'm more nervous now watching him that I ever have been.....