PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania — University of Iowa sophomore Spencer Lee defeated Virginia’s Jack Mueller, 5-0, on Saturday night to win the 125-pound title at the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Lee, the No. 3 seed at 125, scored takedowns in the first and third periods, and forced a pair of stalling calls on Mueller to win the title for the second straight year.

“Terry Brands always tells me big time wrestlers show up at big time moments. We preach that at the University of Iowa, and everyone on my team believes that they’re a big-time wrestler because that’s the mindset you have to have to be in this sport,” Lee said.

“We preach that — big time wrestlers show up at big time matches. I believe that too. I believe we all show up the best we can, especially when you face a great opponent like Jack Mueller. He’s a great exponent.”

Lee outscored his opponents 55-7 in five matches. He won twice by decision and added one major decision, one technical fall, and one pin. He defeated an undefeated opponent in the finals for the second straight year. Mueller was 21-0 entering the finals. A year ago, Lee defeated Nick Suriano in the finals, 5-1. Suriano had been 25-0.

Lee’s individual national title is the 85th in program history, and 12th under head coach Tom Brands.

“He needs to give himself a lot of credit,” said Iowa head coach Tom Brands. “Spencer Lee is a tough costumer. In short that is what I would say. He is a gracious guy, but in the heat of the battle he wants things to go his way. When they go his way, you’re a national champion. He’s that good.”

UNI’s Drew Foster took the title at 197 pounds. with a 6-4 decision over Cornell’s Max Dean in the championship match. Foster becomes the first champion for the Panthers since 2000. Foster wasn’t heavily recruited in high school and worked from a 15-19 freshman season to become an NCAA Champ his senior year.

HAWKEYE ALL-AMERICANS

The Hawkeyes placed fourth at the NCAA Championships with 76 points. Iowa crowned six All-Americans, including Lee, sophomore Austin DeSanto, junior Pat Lugo, sophomore Kaleb Young, sophomore Alex Marinelli, and redshirt freshman Jacob Warner.

Championship Matches
125: No. 3 Spencer Lee (Iowa) dec. No. 5 Jack Mueller (Virginia), 5-0
133: No. 3 Nick Suriano (Rutgers) won in SV-2 over No. 1 Daton Fix (Oklahoma State), 4-2
141: No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis won in SV-1 over No. 2 Joey McKenna (Ohio State), 6-4
149: No. 1 Anthony Ashnault (Rutgers) dec. No. 2 Micah Jordan (Ohio State), 9-4
157: No. 1 Jason Nolf (Penn State) major dec. No. 2 Tyler Berger (Nebraska), 10-2
165: No. 8 Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) dec. No. 2 Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State), 7-1
174: No. 3 Zahid Valencia (Arizona State) dec. No. 1 Mark Hall (Penn State), 4-3
184: No. 6 Drew Foster (Northern Iowa) dec. No. 5 Max Dean (Cornell), 6-4
197: No. 1 Bo Nickal (Penn State) dec. No. 2 Kollin Moore (Ohio State), 5-1
285: No. 2 Anthony Cassar (Penn State) major dec. No. 1 Derek White (Oklahoma State), 10-1

Final Team Scores Top 25
1. Penn State 137.5
2. Ohio State 96.5
3. Oklahoma State 84
4. Iowa 76
5. Michigan 62.5
6. Missouri 62
7. Cornell 59.5
8. Minnesota 53.5
9. Rutgers 51.5
10. Nebraska 51
11. Virginia Tech 50
12. Arizona State 42
T-13. Lehigh 40.5
T-13. Northern Iowa 40.5
15. Princeton 35
16. Iowa State 32
17. North Carolina State 31.5
18. Lock Haven 29
19. North Carolina 28.5
20. Oregon State 28
21. Wisconsin 27
22. Northwestern 26
23. Virginia 20.5
24. Duke 19
25. Oklahoma 18.5