Ranking Penn State’s top 3 wrestlers in 2021
By Chris Snyder
No. 1 – Nick Lee Sr. 141
And at No. 1 I have (cue Bud Kilmer voice), surprise, surprise, Nick Lee.
Compiling an overall record of 90-13 at PSU, Lee has done it all with back-to-back fifth place finishes in the 2018 and 2019 NCAA Championships, and a runner up finish in the 2020 Big Ten Championships.
Lee finished last year with a record of 20-1, the lone loss happening at the aforementioned Big Tens against Luke Pletcher from our much beloved rival OSU**.
There were times Lee looked absolutely unstoppable last year. He was dominant in wins against all of the top 10 ranked wrestlers he faced which includes an 8-4 decision against Pletcher during the regular season.
If alternate realities do exist, and there’s one that didn’t include a 2020 with COVID-19, Lee would have taken home an NCAA Championship at 141. I’m sure of it.
The loss in the Big Ten finals would have been just the motivation he needed to further wreck shop in the championships.
As with Brooks, Lee has blown through his three matches so far this season. I was really looking forward to Lee’s potentially upcoming match against Iowa’s No. 1 Jaydin Eierman, however with how things have gone so far this season, it is what it is.
OSU isn’t particularly strong at 141, so Lee should be able to handle either Dylan D’Emilio or Anthony Echemendia with little resistance.