Spencer Lee and Luke Lilledahl will wrestle at Final X on June 14 in a best-of-three series to determine the world team member at 57 kg. The winner will represent Team USA at the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia September 13-16. Check out the article below for a full breakdown of the matchup along with our predictions for how the matches will unfold. 

Key Credentials

Spencer Lee

Hometown: Murrysville, Pennsylvania

College: Iowa (2018-2023)

College record: 98-6

Senior level record: 38-2

2024 Olympic silver medalist

3X NCAA champion (2018, 2019, 2021)

2X U20 World champion (2015 and 2016)

2014 U17 World champion

Luke Lilledahl

Hometown: St. Charles, Missouri

College: Penn State (2025-current)

College record: 26-3

Senior level record: 16-5

2025 NCAA 3rd place

2024 U20 World champion

2023 U20 World silver medalist

2022 U17 World champion

2021 U17 World silver medalist

How They Got To Final X

Wrestlers who win a World/Olympic medal and then return the next year at the same weight automatically qualify for Final X. Spencer Lee made his first World or Olympic Team in 2024 when he defeated Nico Megaludis, Zane Richards, and Thomas Gilman at the Olympic Trials. He then qualified for the Olympics by winning the Last Chance Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Team USA. At the Olympic Games in Paris, Lee won a silver medal, only being defeated by Japan’s Rei Higuchi in the final 4-2. 

Luke Lilledahl qualified via the US Open, where he made easy work of the field, defeating his four opponents by a combined score of 40-4. 

Watch Lilledahl's US Open final with Liam Cronin below.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

The Storyline

The Hawkeye vs the Nittany Lion. The established Olympic medalist vs the college kid. The taller lankier wrestler vs the shorter stocky wrestler. The huge favorite vs the massive underdog. On paper, this matchup seems like two opposites colliding, and Spencer Lee is one of the bigger favorites of Final X. However, in some ways, it is more similar than you might think, and there is reason to have hope if you are a Penn State/Luke Lilledahl fan.

While Lilledahl’s name doesn’t have quite the same prominence or stardom as Spencer Lee’s did after his freshman year of college, their careers aren’t that much different. Lee won a title as a true freshman, and Lilledahl finished third, but Lee had a 22-3 record while Lilledahl had 26-3 record this season. They’re both U17 and Junior World champions. After his freshman year, Lee qualified for the Olympic Trials by destroying the competition at Senior Nationals, and after his freshman year, Lilledahl qualified for Final X by destroying the competition at the US Open.

So, while in some ways this is a battle of opposites, the similarities make this an interesting matchup as well.

Watch CP breakdown this matchup below.

Breaking Down The Matchup

While I do think Lilledahl doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is because he didn’t win an NCAA title this year and isn’t as popular as Spencer Lee, Lee is still rightfully a big favorite in this match. Lee isn’t just the final boss at 57 kg, he’s one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the world.

The two have met once previously - the 2023 Bill Farrell. Spencer Lee on by 11-0 tech fall. 

Watch Spencer Lee and Luke Lilledahl's previous meeting at the 2023 Bill Farrell below.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Lilledahl has made massive improvements since then. 2023 US Nationals - Lilledahl loses to DeShazer 3-2. 2024 Olympic Trials - Lilledahl beats DeShazer 3-2 and Liam Cronin 2-2. 2025 US Open - Lilledahl beats Cronin 10-0 after Cronin beat DeShazer. He’s got good forward pressure and likes to use low ankle attacks and rettacks/go behinds to pick his opponents apart. 

Spencer Lee’s playbook isn’t new, but almost no one can stop it. He wants to get to his high crotch, and if he gets on top, there’s a good chance he’s going to turn you with either a gut wrench, standard leg lace, or head-in-the-middle leg lace. 

Watch Spencer Lee defeat Roman Bravo-Young at the February 2025 Ranking Series tournament below.

Unlock this video, live events, and more with a subscription!

Sign Up

Already a subscriber? Log In

Prediction

As mentioned above, I don’t think Lilledahl gets the respect he deserves, and he’s improved tenfold in the past year, but I don’t think he’s improved enough. Spencer Lee is a different beast. His strength, power, and wrestling IQ present unique problems and can be hard to replicate in training. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lilledahl is a little overwhelmed by Lee’s unique feel. 

While I’m sure Cael and co. will come up with a good game plan, Lilledahl normally likes to operate in the ties quite a bit and that plays right into Lee’s game. I think Spencer will be able to get an inside tie, hit a high crotch, and get a turn. My official prediction is Lee in two matches.