Nick Lee (wrestler)

Nicholas Boone Lee (born March 12, 1998) is an American freestyle and former folkstyle wrestler who competes at 65 kilograms. In freestyle, he is a Pan American champion and a US National champion. Lee represented the United States at 65 kg at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships.

In folkstyle, Lee was a two-time NCAA Division I National champion and a Big Ten Conference champion out of the Pennsylvania State University.

High school
A native of Evansville, Indiana, Lee attended Mater Dei High School, where he was a IHSAA state champion along with his two brothers Joe and Matt. In freestyle, Lee was a two-time Fargo National champion.

A Penn State commit, Lee decided to forego his senior year and graduated early in order to train at the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club.

2016–2017
While not officially attending the Pennsylvania State University, Lee went 2–2 at the Bill Farrell Memorial International in freestyle in November 2016. In February of the following year, Lee placed third at the Edinboro Open while wrestling unattached. Back to freestyle, Lee placed fifth at the U20 US Nationals. Lee also beat Sammy Sasso at Who’s Number 1 and Kanen Storr in the Fargo Finals to affirm his ranking of #1 in the country his senior year.

2017–2018
Competing under a redshirt, Lee placed first at the Mat Town Open, second at the Southern Scuffle and Clarion Open, and third at the Binghamtom Open. In January, Lee's redshirt was pulled, competing as a true freshman instead.

After a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, Lee became an All-American with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA tournament, closing off the year at 32–7. Lee then competed at the U20 US World Team Trials, placing second.

2018–2019
During the regular season of his sophomore year, Lee claimed titles from the Southern Scuffle and Keystone Classic. At the Big Ten Championships he once again placed third, before repeating as an All-American with another fifth-place finish at the NCAA tournament to close off the year at 31–4.

2019–2020
In the midst of folkstyle season, Lee placed third at the 2019 US National Championships with notable wins over Olympian Frank Molinaro, US National runner-up Jaydin Eierman and NCAA runner-up Ethan Lizak, qualifying for the US Olympic Team Trials.

After winning the Black Knight Invitational during regular season, Lee improved to a second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships to close out the year at 20–1. The NCAA championships were then cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Lee, the second-seed, and all other wrestlers unable to compete.

2020–2021
After several months off competition, Lee won two freestyle matches at the NLWC III and NLWC IV. Back to folkstyle, Lee placed second at the Big Ten tournament before becoming an NCAA National champion, defeating Eierman in the finals, whom he lost to in the Big Ten finals. Lee closed out the year at 13–1.

Fresh as an NCAA champion, Lee competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials in April, securing a prestigious third-place finish with a lone loss to two-time NCAA champion Jordan Oliver, and notable wins over three-time NCAA champion Zain Retherford, two-time U17 World champion Yianni Diakomihalis, NCAA champion Nahshon Garrett and U20 World finalist Mitch McKee.

2021–2022
Lee went undefeated during his senior year of collegiate wrestling, becoming a two-time NCAA champion and a Big Ten champion with a 21–0 record. Lee was then named the Penn State Male Athlete of the Year, and closed off his career as a two-time NCAA champion and a four-time All-American with a record of 116–13.

Back to freestyle, Lee was unable to place at the US World Team Trials Challenge tournament in May. In November, Lee placed second at the Bill Farrell Memorial, notably defeating U23 World silver medalist Adlan Askarov in the first round.

2023
To start off January, Lee placed seventh at the Grand Prix Zagreb Open, defeating eventual 2023 World finalist Sebastian Rivera before falling to eventual 2023 World champion Ismail Musukaev. On April, Lee became the US Open National champion, with wins over two-time Pan American champion Joseph McKenna and U20 World medalist Beau Bartlett, qualifying for Final X.

At Final X, in June, Lee defeated four-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis in two close matches to make the US World Team. In July, Lee made the Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial finals, with wins over World medalist Alibek Osmonov and European medalist Islam Dudaev, before falling to World medalist Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga.

At the World Championships, Lee advanced with wins over European medalist Krzysztof Bienkowski, NCAA All-American Austin Gomez and U20 World champion Umidjon Jalolov, before being eliminated by returning World champion Rahman Amouzad, placing seventh in his first showing at the tournament.

2024
To start off February, Lee beat rival Yianni Diakomihalis on points in a US Pan American Qualifier wrestle-off, before Diakomihalis forfeited the next match due to injury.

Lee then competed at the Pan American Championships later in the month, claiming the gold medal. At the Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament, Lee was defeated by Mexico's Austin Gomez and was therefore unable to qualify the weight for the United States.

In April, Lee competed at the US Olympic Team Trials as the top-seed, where after defeating two-time Pan American champion Alec Pantaleo and two-time US National champion Andrew Alirez, he fell to reigning World champion and teammate Zain Retherford in two straight matches to place second.

Freestyle record
! colspan="7"| Senior Freestyle Matches ! Res. !  Record ! Opponent ! Score ! Date ! Event ! Location ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2024 US Olympic Team Trials at 65 kg ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2024 Pan American Olympic Qualification 9th at 65 kg 🇲🇽 Acapulco, Mexico ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2024 Pan American Championships at 65 kg 🇲🇽 Acapulco, Mexico ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2024 US Pan American Qualifier at 65 kg 🇺🇸 Denver, Colorado ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2023 World Championships 7th at 65 kg 🇷🇸 Belgrade, Serbia ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial at 65 kg 🇭🇺 Budapest, Hungary ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2023 US World Team Trials at 65 kg 🇺🇸 Newark, New Jersey ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2023 US Open at 65 kg 🇺🇸 Las Vegas, Nevada ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2023 Grand Prix Zagreb Open 7th at 65 kg Zagreb, Croatia ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2022 Bill Farrell Memorial at 65 kg 🇺🇸 New York City, New York ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2022 US World Team Trials DNP at 65 kg 🇺🇸 Coralville, Iowa ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2020 US Olympic Team Trials at 65 kg 🇺🇸 Fort Worth, Texas 🇺🇸 State College, Pennsylvania ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2019 US Nationals at 65 kg 🇺🇸 Fort Worth, Texas ! style=background:white colspan=7 |2016 Bill Farrell Memorial DNP at 61 kg 🇺🇸 New York City, New York
 * Loss
 * 36–13
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Zain Retherford
 * style="font-size:88%"|0–5
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|April 20, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2024 US Olympic Team Trials
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|🇺🇸 State College, Pennsylvania
 * Loss
 * 36–12
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Zain Retherford
 * style="font-size:88%"|1–2
 * Win
 * 36–11
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Andrew Alirez
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–9
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|April 19, 2024
 * Win
 * 35–11
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Alec Pantaleo
 * style="font-size:88%"|9–2
 * Win
 * 35–11
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Alec Pantaleo
 * style="font-size:88%"|9–2
 * Loss
 * 34–11
 * align=left|🇲🇽 Austin Gomez
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 12–22
 * style="font-size:88%"|March 1, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%"|2024 Pan American Olympic Qualification Tournament
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;"|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;"|
 * Win
 * align=left|🇦🇷 Agustin Destribats
 * style="font-size:88%"|INJ
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|February 24, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2024 Pan American Continental Championships
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3|
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=3|2024 Pan American Continental Championships
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=3|
 * Win
 * 34–10
 * align=left|🇨🇦 Jacob Alexander Torres
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * 33–10
 * align=left|🇪🇨 Josh Kramer
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * align=left|🇪🇨 Josh Kramer
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Yianni Diakomihalis
 * style="font-size:88%"|FF
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|February 3, 2024
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2024 US Pan American Qualifier
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2024 US Pan American Qualifier
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * Win
 * 32–10
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Yianni Diakomihalis
 * style="font-size:88%"|12–3
 * style="font-size:88%"|12–3
 * Loss
 * 31–10
 * align=left| Rahman Amouzad
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–7
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|September 18, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2023 World Championships
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * Win
 * 31–9
 * align=left|🇺🇿 Umidjon Jalolov
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–3
 * Win
 * 30–9
 * align=left|🇲🇽 Austin Gomez
 * style="font-size:88%"|Fall
 * Win
 * 29–9
 * align=left|🇵🇱 Krzysztof Bieńkowski
 * style="font-size:88%"|6–0
 * 29–9
 * align=left|🇵🇱 Krzysztof Bieńkowski
 * style="font-size:88%"|6–0
 * Loss
 * 28–9
 * align=left| Tömör-Ochiryn Tulga
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 0–10
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|July 13–16, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2023 Polyák Imre & Varga János Memorial Tournament
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * Win
 * 28–8
 * align=left|🇦🇱 Islam Dudaev
 * style="font-size:88%"|6–4
 * Win
 * 27–8
 * align=left|🇰🇬 Alibek Osmonov
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * 26–8
 * align=left|🇮🇱 Josh Finesilver
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * 26–8
 * align=left|🇮🇱 Josh Finesilver
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * 25–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Yianni Diakomihalis
 * style="font-size:88%"|8–8
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|June 10, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2023 Final X Newark
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * Win
 * 24–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Yianni Diakomihalis
 * style="font-size:88%"|7–6
 * style="font-size:88%"|7–6
 * Win
 * 23–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Joseph McKenna
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–5
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|April 26–30, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2023 US Open National Championships
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5|
 * Win
 * 22–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Beau Bartlett
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–10
 * Win
 * 21–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Matthew Kolodzik
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 12–1
 * Win
 * 20–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jason Miranda
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * 19–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Hayden Bates
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * 19–8
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Hayden Bates
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Loss
 * 18–8
 * align=left|🇭🇺 Ismail Musukaev
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 0–11
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|February 1, 2023
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=2|2023 Grand Prix Zagreb Open
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * Win
 * 18–7
 * align=left| Sebastian Rivera
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 13–2
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 13–2
 * Loss
 * 17–7
 * align=left|🇰🇬 Taiyrbek Zhumashbek Uulu
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 4–14
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|November 18–19, 2022
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2022 Bill Farrell Memorial International
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * Win
 * 17–6
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Pat Lugo
 * style="font-size:88%"|4–0
 * Win
 * 16–6
 * align=left|🇹🇯 Kamol Begakov
 * style="font-size:88%"|9–2
 * Win
 * 15–6
 * align=left|🇰🇿 Askarov Adlan
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 18–8
 * 15–6
 * align=left|🇰🇿 Askarov Adlan
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 18–8
 * Loss
 * 14–6
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Joseph McKenna
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 3–13
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|May 21–22, 2022
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2022 US World Team Trials Challenge
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * Loss
 * 14–5
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Evan Henderson
 * style="font-size:88%"|11–12
 * Win
 * 14–4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Matthew Kolodzik
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 12–2
 * Win
 * 13–4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Josh Saunders
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–3
 * 13–4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Josh Saunders
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–3
 * Win
 * 12–4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Yianni Diakomihalis
 * style="font-size:88%"|16–8
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|April 2–3, 2021
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=5|2020 US Olympic Team Trials
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=5|
 * Win
 * 11–4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Zain Retherford
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–4
 * Win
 * 10–4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Nahshon Garrett
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 12–2
 * Loss
 * 9–4
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jordan Oliver
 * style="font-size:88%"|3–8
 * Win
 * 9–3
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Mitch McKee
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 14–2
 * Win
 * 8–3
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Tariq Wilson
 * style="font-size:88%"|14–10
 * style="font-size:88%"|December 22, 2020
 * style="font-size:88%"|NLWC IV
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Tariq Wilson
 * style="font-size:88%"|14–10
 * style="font-size:88%"|December 22, 2020
 * style="font-size:88%"|NLWC IV
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=2|
 * Win
 * 7–3
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Brandon Wright
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * style="font-size:88%"|November 24, 2020
 * style="font-size:88%"|NLWC III
 * style="font-size:88%"|NLWC III
 * Win
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Yianni Diakomihalis
 * style="font-size:88%"|FF
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|December 20–22, 2019
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2019 US National Championships
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=6|
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=6|2019 US National Championships
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=6|
 * Win
 * 6–3
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Frank Molinaro
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Loss
 * 5–3
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jordan Oliver
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 0–10
 * Win
 * 5–2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Joey Lazor
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * 4–2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jaydin Eierman
 * style="font-size:88%"|10–6
 * Win
 * 3–2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Ethan Lizak
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Win
 * 3–2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Ethan Lizak
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 10–0
 * Loss
 * 2–2
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Joey Lazor
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 2–12
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|November 9–11, 2016
 * style="font-size:88%" rowspan=4|2016 Bill Farrell Memorial International
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * style="text-align:left;font-size:88%;" rowspan=4|
 * Win
 * 2–1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Shelton Mack
 * style="font-size:88%"|9–8
 * Loss
 * 1–1
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Jayson Ness
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 0–10
 * Win
 * 1–0
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Alan Waters
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 15–4
 * 1–0
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Alan Waters
 * style="font-size:88%"|TF 15–4