Spencer Lee criticizes own wrestling following Final X victory

Spencer Lee wasn’t too happy about his performance at Final X Saturday despite sweeping his best-of-three finals. He beat current Penn State standout Luke Lilledahl 7-2 and 6-0 in Newark, NJ but wasn’t happy about his lack of scoring points.

Scoring 13 points in two matches isn’t too shabby, but Lee wanted more. He criticized his own wrestling for not being explosive and free wheeling like he usually is.

But, if that leads to a much more motivated Lee at the 2025 World Championships, then perhaps Team USA will get a great performance. Following his victory, Lee was outspoken and honest about what he could do better.

“I mean, they should have called me for passivity in both matches,” Lee said afterwards. “I didn’t do literally anything in both second periods. Yeah, got a lead, didn’t do anything. Pretty, pretty bad showing for someone who I keep preaching that I score points and I don’t score points. So maybe I should stop preaching it because I’m not doing it.”

Asked about what he could do better, Lee mentioned his conversations with his coaches, including Tom Brands. It sounds like the basic stuff, but Lee was adamant about what he needed to do better.

“Move your hands, move your feet, doing things, creating action,” Lee said. “Yeah, when he would take a bad shot, then I would score. And that’s why I think he kind of hesitated to take shots. He wanted to get to his tie and get to where he’s good and that didn’t really happened. Like I said, I was just doing absolutely nothing, you know, so hard for you to get offense going another guy doesn’t really give you anything, right? Plus, you got a lead. I’m very strong … You’re probably not going to grab my legs and pull it in how he shoots, you know?” 

Spencer Lee was not satisfied in the least in his performance, despite sweeping Luke Lilledahl. He was very open and honest here.@On3sports | #On3Wrestling | @HawkeyeReport | @BlairASanderson | @TannerLafever pic.twitter.com/6HR5aiG9nI

— Nick Kosko (@nickkosko59) June 14, 2025

For Lee, it’s about practicing what he’s preaching, which he isn’t doing in his mind. The three-time NCAA Champion from Iowa and Olympic Silver Medalist just wants to translate the practice room version of Lee into the big stage consistently.

“I feel good. I feel really good,” Lee said. “It’s taking a long time to stay healthy. And I think that’s, you know, maybe it’s some of that has to do with how I wrestle, you know. I’m trying not to, you know, do things that get out of position and hurt myself. I’m just trying to win. You know, me internally, it’s like, just win Spencer, and, you know, it’s like a constant battle for me, like it’s not about winning, it’s about scoring points, and it’s about constantly going out there and entertaining. 

“I’m super athletic, man. I got a judo background. I can explode, I can throw, I can foot sweep, I can duck, you know, and I go out there and I’m like, this, I just walked at him, you know, like a robot. And I’m not a robot. If you watch a wrestling practice, I’m cartwheeling, I’m exploding, I’m ducking, I’m throwing people. I’m exciting. Then I go in a match, and I just stand there, and it’s, like, very frustrating for me, because I have a lot more to give. And I keep telling people that, and I haven’t shown it.