Journalists aren't supposed to root for a side. Pretty hard to hold up to that standard when one of this year's competitors in the Paris Olympics from the United States was once living right here, roughly a mile away through the woods, in northwest Pennsylvania. And what makes it even harder not to cheer him on as an objective reporter is all those year of photographing him when he and his twin sister were just little kids wrestling in JO's.
So this morning I couldn't concentrate on anything know this little kid pictured above was going for a gold medal in the Paris Olympics. And yes, I was rooting for him. Not just because a gold medal story is always better than a silver medal story (unless you're a sharp shooter from Turkey,) but because this kid is just a good kid... well adult now.
His dad Larry Lee and I met before I ever knew Spencer. He worked at Allegheny College where I was a student worker. I remember seeing him once at the Tool City wrestling tournament and was surprised because I didn't know that side of his life. I took pictures of the twins horsing around wrestling off to the side during the tournament final. At the time it could be argued that his sister Gabby, was the better wrestler.
It wasn't long before I learned how deeply committed the family was to wrestling. Not many five or six year olds get talked about the way Spencer Lee's name would come up. People stopped to watch him wrestle even at that age. In the beginning you couldn't blink, because it might be over that fast. He was that good.
He was never the kid that looked the strongest or even the most intimidating. He smiled and was always respectful to everyone he encountered, even his opponents. But he understood very early on how to use body mechanics, to his advantage. He had lightning speed and had an almost master in physics-level understanding of angles of engagement to obtain the greatest result. It was going to be super fun watching him grow up and wrestle through high school.
Unfortunately for us, he and his family moved south to the Pittsburgh area just prior to Spencer starting his high school career. So I didn't get to see him wrestle any longer, but tales of his victories were being talked about all over Crawford County still and we saw him on the podium several times in pictures.
For all but one final second in his senior year in the Pennsylvania state championships he was undefeated in high school. A last second takedown was awarded his opponent giving the undefeated three-time state champion his only blemish on his record. He wrestled with an injury, but not once used that as an excuse and nearly won the title anyway. He won two world championships while in high school.
In college things weren't much different, though injury riddled at times, he compiled three national championships and was headed for his fourth when he was upset by Matt Ramos. in the semi-finals. Again though injured, Lee credited his opponent with earning the victory.
He then has gone on to win several international tournaments.
Friday in Paris he got to the finals with a 3-2 win over China's Wanda Zou, a 12-2 win over Kyrgyzstan's Bekzat Almaz and a 14-4 tech fall over Gulomjon Abdullavaev of Uzbekistan.
Rei Higuchi of Japani out lasted Lee with a 4-2 win in a tight match. Lee needed a desperation points at the end of the 2-2 match because in Olympic rules, though the score was tie in the waning seconds, Higuchi was ahead because of degree of difficulty was greater for the two points he had earned. Lee scored single points on push outs while Higuchi had a takedown.
Had Lee not attempted the last second desperation attempt and the score remained 2-2 he would've still received the silver.
I could not locate other photos of Lee in my 30 gallon tote of poorly labeled CD's and DVD's of the photos I've taken over the years, but about a year ago I found this little black and white print out of him and put it aside figuring I'd write a preview column, but then I couldn't find that until late last night. There it was underneath a pile of papers face down. Just in time. Almost as if it was scripted.
Congrats Spencer Lee and family. By the look on social media, you sure have made old friends from Crawford County mighty proud.
So this morning I couldn't concentrate on anything know this little kid pictured above was going for a gold medal in the Paris Olympics. And yes, I was rooting for him. Not just because a gold medal story is always better than a silver medal story (unless you're a sharp shooter from Turkey,) but because this kid is just a good kid... well adult now.
His dad Larry Lee and I met before I ever knew Spencer. He worked at Allegheny College where I was a student worker. I remember seeing him once at the Tool City wrestling tournament and was surprised because I didn't know that side of his life. I took pictures of the twins horsing around wrestling off to the side during the tournament final. At the time it could be argued that his sister Gabby, was the better wrestler.
It wasn't long before I learned how deeply committed the family was to wrestling. Not many five or six year olds get talked about the way Spencer Lee's name would come up. People stopped to watch him wrestle even at that age. In the beginning you couldn't blink, because it might be over that fast. He was that good.
He was never the kid that looked the strongest or even the most intimidating. He smiled and was always respectful to everyone he encountered, even his opponents. But he understood very early on how to use body mechanics, to his advantage. He had lightning speed and had an almost master in physics-level understanding of angles of engagement to obtain the greatest result. It was going to be super fun watching him grow up and wrestle through high school.
Unfortunately for us, he and his family moved south to the Pittsburgh area just prior to Spencer starting his high school career. So I didn't get to see him wrestle any longer, but tales of his victories were being talked about all over Crawford County still and we saw him on the podium several times in pictures.
For all but one final second in his senior year in the Pennsylvania state championships he was undefeated in high school. A last second takedown was awarded his opponent giving the undefeated three-time state champion his only blemish on his record. He wrestled with an injury, but not once used that as an excuse and nearly won the title anyway. He won two world championships while in high school.
In college things weren't much different, though injury riddled at times, he compiled three national championships and was headed for his fourth when he was upset by Matt Ramos. in the semi-finals. Again though injured, Lee credited his opponent with earning the victory.
He then has gone on to win several international tournaments.
Friday in Paris he got to the finals with a 3-2 win over China's Wanda Zou, a 12-2 win over Kyrgyzstan's Bekzat Almaz and a 14-4 tech fall over Gulomjon Abdullavaev of Uzbekistan.
Rei Higuchi of Japani out lasted Lee with a 4-2 win in a tight match. Lee needed a desperation points at the end of the 2-2 match because in Olympic rules, though the score was tie in the waning seconds, Higuchi was ahead because of degree of difficulty was greater for the two points he had earned. Lee scored single points on push outs while Higuchi had a takedown.
Had Lee not attempted the last second desperation attempt and the score remained 2-2 he would've still received the silver.
I could not locate other photos of Lee in my 30 gallon tote of poorly labeled CD's and DVD's of the photos I've taken over the years, but about a year ago I found this little black and white print out of him and put it aside figuring I'd write a preview column, but then I couldn't find that until late last night. There it was underneath a pile of papers face down. Just in time. Almost as if it was scripted.
Congrats Spencer Lee and family. By the look on social media, you sure have made old friends from Crawford County mighty proud.
Another brush with Olympic wrestling greatness a long time ago
It was about four degree outside and there was new snow everywhere in Northwest Pennsylvania. I was working for Edinboro University's public relations department in the late 1990s making photos of the campus and events. This day I wanted to take advantage of the new fallen snow. I saw a photograph and pulled my car over on one of the back roads into the campus. I put my hazards on even though there wasn't really anyone else around. and I got out to make a picture.
A little while later a truck pulls up along side and the driver rolled down a window to ask if I was alright and if I needed any help? It was two-time Olympic gold medalist Bruce Baumgartner.
I thought that was pretty cool.
A little while later a truck pulls up along side and the driver rolled down a window to ask if I was alright and if I needed any help? It was two-time Olympic gold medalist Bruce Baumgartner.
I thought that was pretty cool.
RSS Feed