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Penn State Wrestling: Inside the Singlet – Wrestler Profiles for 157 and 165

By Chris Snyder

Biglerville's Levi Haines (left) wrestles Notre Dame-Green Pond's Ryan Crookham in the PIAA 2A 126-pound championship bout at the Giant Center in Hershey Saturday, March 7, 2020. Crookham won, 7-2.Hes Dr 030720 Day3
Biglerville's Levi Haines (left) wrestles Notre Dame-Green Pond's Ryan Crookham in the PIAA 2A 126-pound championship bout at the Giant Center in Hershey Saturday, March 7, 2020. Crookham won, 7-2.Hes Dr 030720 Day3 /
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Evansville Mater Dei’s Matthew Lee celebrates after beating Antwaun Graves in the 145 lbs. IHSAA State Wrestling Championship match at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb 16., 2018Matt Lee 41
Evansville Mater Dei’s Matthew Lee celebrates after beating Antwaun Graves in the 145 lbs. IHSAA State Wrestling Championship match at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday, Feb 16., 2018Matt Lee 41 /

Matt Lee

Year: Sophomore
Weight: 157/165
Major: Management
Hometown: Evansville, Ind.

Penn State Career

Matt, the brother of both Nick and Joe Lee, landed in University Park during the shortened 2020-2021 wrestling season. He was unable to suit up during that year however he did compete in eight matches in the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open and Southern Scuffle in his redshirt freshman season.

So far this year, Lee has wrestled in six matches between the Black Knight Invite, an extra match in the National Collegiate Duals, and in a regular season dual match against Wisconsin.

Prior to Penn State

Matt attended Mater Dei High School in his home state of Indiana where he wrestled for the Wildcats. Lee qualified for the Indiana state tournament three times where he placed two times and took home a state title once.

In an interview Lee did with GoPSUSports, he explains why he chose the Penn State Wrestling Team.

“The coaching staff and the culture in the wrestling room is the best in the world. It also doesn’t hurt that Penn State has some of the best academic programs in the country.”

“It’s not too much of a transition. The only thing I can do is give my full effort and be the best that I can be.”

As I mentioned earlier, Matt’s first year on campus was during the turmoil of the pandemic and everything it affected. Lee indicated he was able to settle in fairly well because he had been living in State College for some time and that he was able to wrestle and train with everyone at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club. Being able to practice with many past and present members of the Nittany Lions really helped him to get up to speed in the room.

On what he is most excited about in being an official member of the Penn State family, “Creating a stronger bond with my teammates and coaches, as well as the beginning of my college academic process.”

Like a lot of the other wrestlers on the team, Matt is also a big time gamer. He lists his Xbox as the one thing he absolutely had to bring with him during his time in Happy Valley.

And you can add Lee to the growing list of people who want to see a Buffalo Wild Wings sometime soon in State College. Lee said this was the one thing he was going to miss about not being in his hometown of Evansville.

I’m with you Matt, I’m with you.

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