You’d think a dominant two-match sweep at Final X would leave Spencer Lee smiling, but not quite. The Olympic silver medalist punched his ticket to the Senior World Team at 57 kg with back-to-back wins over 19-year-old Penn State freshman Luke Lilledahl, yet the post-match vibes were anything but celebratory. He looked calm and composed on the mat, but behind that calm was a storm of frustration. For Lee, just winning isn’t enough; he wants to dominate, entertain, and live up to the very standard he sets for himself.

In Match 1, Lee came out sharp. He immediately took control with his signature inside tie to high crotch, scoring two takedowns and following up with clean leg lace turns. Within the first period, he had already racked up six points. Lilledahl managed to get on the board with a late takedown, but Lee’s mat control and timing were too much, ending the bout 7–2. It was a strong start for Lee, showing clear separation in experience and execution.

Match 2 looked like a repeat. Spencer Lee again opened with crisp offense, collecting a takedown and another pair of turns, this time blanking Lilledahl 6–0. What stood out was his control; he shut down Lilledahl’s attacks with heavy hips and positioning, not giving an inch on defense. He didn’t need to chase points because the damage was done early. With the sweep complete, Lee officially locked in his first Senior World Team berth and will now represent Team USA in Zagreb, Croatia, at the 2025 World Wrestling Championships. But despite the wins, Lee didn’t hold back in voicing his disappointment.

“They should’ve called me passive in both matches—I didn’t do literally anything in the second periods,” Spencer Lee admitted. “It’s a pretty bad showing for someone who keeps preaching scoring points, and then doesn’t score points.” He even said maybe he should stop talking about offense until he shows it for six minutes. When the interviewer reminded him that he scored all his points in the first period, Lee’s reply was dry: “Sure, they’re alright… same thing, both matches.” He expressed frustration at not wrestling freely and fully, saying that he often feels like he wrestles “like a robot” when in reality, he has more explosive, entertaining tools that he’s not unleashing in matches. “I can throw, I can switch, I can explode—but then I get out there and I just stand there.”

Still, Lee acknowledged the positive side. He was thankful for the fans who showed up at the Prudential Center, saying the turnout made the event special and that he wished freestyle wrestling had the kind of fan base college programs like Iowa and Penn State enjoy. He apologized for rushing post-match due to drug testing and said he hoped to reconnect with fans afterward. Looking ahead, he’s taking about a week off to rest and recover before jumping back into training. “I wrestled like that, and maybe I don’t win [at Worlds],” he said, emphasizing the need to improve. At 27, he knows he has to be smarter with his body, stay healthy, and bring his best to Zagreb. “It’s not about just winning—it’s about scoring points, creating action, putting on a show.”

So, while Spencer Lee got the result he wanted, it’s clear he wasn’t satisfied with the performance. That’s the mark of a true competitor. For Lee, Final X was just the beginning, and now, with three months until Worlds, the mission is clear: not just to win, but to show the world exactly what he’s capable of. But to reach so far wasn’t easy for him at all!

Spencer Lee’s final climb to the top

It’s been a long, bumpy road for the Iowa legend. Despite being a three-time NCAA champion and U17/U20 world gold medalist, Spencer Lee has battled multiple ACL tears, including wrestling without ACLs during his 2021 NCAA title run. After missing time with injuries and setbacks, he made a triumphant return to the international scene by claiming silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the Senior World podium still eludes him. Now, with veterans like Jordan Burroughs retired and David Taylor shifting away from the U.S. freestyle team, Lee has a golden opportunity in Zagreb.

From mid‑June to September, his focus is laser‑sharp: heal up, sharpen that first‑period explosion, and, by his own admission, learn to keep the gas on for a full six minutes. At 26 (turning 27 just after Worlds), he’s juggling peak athletic years with smarter recovery blocks, taking a brief breather now before a three‑month ramp designed to turn that Final X dominance into history in Croatia. Lee insists the mission isn’t just to win; it’s to entertain, rack up points, and show the global crowd the free‑flowing arsenal he sometimes keeps holstered under pressure.

So, yes, the 2025 Senior World Championships run September 13–21 in Zagreb. Men’s freestyle opens on the 13th, but the 57 kg bracket kicks off the morning of September 14, rolls into semifinals around 16:45, and crowns its medalists that same evening between 18:00 and 21:00. No opponents or seeds are posted yet, but when Spencer Lee steps on the mat that morning, he’ll be chasing the one accolade missing from his résumé and he’ll have the global spotlight, minus a few retired icons, all to himself.