2023 Senior Nationals - US Olympic Trials Qualifier

Suriano vs Lee Part IV? It Could Happen At 2023 Senior Nationals!

Suriano vs Lee Part IV? It Could Happen At 2023 Senior Nationals!

Superstars Nick Suriano and Spencer Lee are both registered at 57kg for the 2023 Senior Nationals where we could see their rivalry renewed.

Dec 11, 2023 by Andrew Spey
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The biggest stop on the path to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024 for Team USA Wrestling takes place this weekend in Fort Worth, Texas. The majority of the qualification spots for the Olympic Team Trials will be earned at that event, and two of the biggest names in the sport, Spencer Lee and Nick Suriano, have both registered for the 57kg men's freestyle division. 

These two dynamic lightweights have a history that stretches back over a decade, as they were high school rivals before they were college rivals. 

They've both been active on the senior circuit for years, both while in college and later as graduates, however, we've yet to see these two face off on the mat in a freestyle match. 

That doesn't mean these multiple-time NCAA champs haven't still filled their trophy cases with freestyle accolades. Lee has two U20 and one U17 world gold medals to his name and recently won the Bill Farrell Memorial International just last month in November. Suriano, meanwhile, placed third at the Bill Farrell in 2019 and has two gold medals in his career from the prestigious Henri Deglane in France. 

We were expecting to see this match in the semifinals of the 2023 US Open last April, but unfortunately, Lee had to withdraw from the tournament due to injury. Will these two superstars finally wrestle again for the fourth time at Senior Nationals? 

We'll find out soon. But before a potential round four in this series, relive Suriano and Lee's previous three meetings to familiarize (or refamiliarize) yourself with this rivalry.

Round 1: 2012 Super 32 Finals

8th grader Spencer and freshman Nick make their way through a stacked 106 lb bracket to make the Super 32 finals. A last-second takedown gave the win to Suriano.

FINAL RESULT: Suriano wins 4-3

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Round 2: 2013 Super 32 Finals

One year later and Lee and Suriano were right back where they met a year ago - the Super 32 finals. This time up a weight at 113 lbs. This time it was Spencer with the late (OT) takedown to get the job done. You can tell by his reaction how much the win meant to him.

FINAL RESULT: Lee wins 3-1

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Round 3: 2018 NCAA Finals

There was a four-and-a-half-year gap in between the two's 2nd and 3rd meetings. With the long gap and the fact that it doesn't get bigger than the NCAA finals, the stakes couldn't have been higher. Both were looking for their first NCAA title. Lee was a true freshman and Suriano was a sophomore who wasn't able to wrestle at NCAAs in 2017 due to injury.

Lee put together the most decisive victory of the rivalry, 5-1, to take a 2-1 advantage in the series.

FINAL RESULT: Lee wins 5-1

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The two have been in several brackets outside of these tournaments (2018 Midlands, 2018 Big Tens, 2019 Big Tens, 2019 Senior Nationals), but upsets and injuries have gotten in the way. If the two meet again at the US Open, there will be no bigger match. Can Suriano even the score or will Lee extend his lead?