Spencer Lee, the three-time NCAA champ and one of wrestling’s brightest stars, has long been a name fans chant in packed arenas. Recently, though, the Olympic silver medalist and Hawkeye legend faced Japan’s Masanosuke Ono, the 2024 World Champion at 61 kg, in a tense 59.5 kg clash at Xtream Arena on February 26, 2025, during FloWrestling’s Night in America.
Ono edged out a 3-2 win, all points from first-period step-outs, stifling Lee’s explosive offense in a tactical chess match that left Iowa fans stunned yet proud of their champ’s grit. For a guy who’s used to pinning opponents and hoisting trophies, that defeat stung, and you could feel the weight of it in the hushed crowd. But how did the legend take this loss?
Well, recently Ono took to Instagram announcing his PSU signing: “I signed to Penn State University to wrestle for the Nittany Lions!” Expressing his emotions, he wrote, “I am excited to learn folk style and to compete for PSU.” To everyone’s surprise, Spencer Lee dropped a comment below this post that turned heads. “This is pretty cool; congrats, my friend!” Spencer wrote while congratulating Ono—a move clearly big enough to earn respect. He showed a side of grace that’s rare in a sport built on grit. But many wonder , what exactly brought Ono to Penn State University?
Well, under Head Coach Cael Sanderson, an Olympic gold medalist and four-time NCAA champ, Penn State offers wrestlers elite training with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, top facilities, and a staff including Cody Sanderson and Casey Cunningham. The program has won 11 NCAA team titles since 2009, produced 38 individual champs, and 91 All-Americans while competing in the Big Ten and drawing big crowds at Rec Hall. What else could a wrestler want from such a powerhouse? Now Ono has it all!!
Now, with Spencer Lee heading to Penn State’s wrestling dynasty, fans are buzzing about the next chapter. Although Uno’s familiarity among its US competitors is established, its history extends back to Japan.
From Japan Mats to Iowa Lights, Spencer Lee and Masanosuke Ono’s rivalry dates back
In the summer of 2019, Lee, fresh off his third NCAA title with Iowa (2018, 2019, 2021), embarked on a trip to Japan, a wrestling mecca. Banged up from knee injuries that had hobbled him during his 55-5 college run, the Pennsylvania native saw it as a chance to recharge and explore. As The Daily Iowan noted, he dropped into a university practice—possibly at a powerhouse like Waseda or Yamanashi Gakuin—and wrestled Masanosuke Ono, then an unknown talent, for a quick three-minute session, a low-key test of skills.
Lee’s Japan journey wasn’t just a one-off mat visit. Known for his relentless curiosity, the 25-year-old soaked in the country’s disciplined wrestling culture, where technique and tradition reign. Facing Ono, a quiet, wiry wrestler, was a small but telling moment—two future stars crossing paths in a humid gym, half a world from Iowa City. It was less about winning and more about feeling out a different style, a memory Lee carried back home.
Years later, on February 26, 2025, that casual meeting fueled a rematch at FloWrestling’s Night in America in Coralville, Iowa. Masanosuke Ono, now a 2023 world champion, edged Spencer Lee in a tight main event at Xtream Arena, with 4,000 fans watching. The score landed at 3-2, a rare loss for Lee, hinting that their Japan encounter had sparked a rivalry now unfolding on a bigger stage.
Now, with Lee gearing up for Penn State’s powerhouse squad, their history takes a new turn. From a Japanese practice room to a packed Iowa arena, these showdowns have forged something beyond wins and losses. For fans, it’s a tease of sportsmanship born from battle. Can their next meeting top this twist?
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