Former Mater Dei wrestler Nick Lee finds it ‘surreal’ to be coaching at Penn State

EVANSVILLE — Nick Lee will always remember the shed he and his younger brothers used to wrestle in.

A tiny wrestling mat was placed inside the renovated shed. Lee and his brothers, Joe and Matt, would go to that shed on the weekends, focus on their craft, and be the best versions of themselves. Those memories will stick with Lee for the rest of his life.

Lee, a decorated wrestler at Mater Dei High School and Penn State University, was named as an assistant coach for the Nittany Lions in May. The 26-year-old finished runner-up at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials one month before his hiring.

“I’ve been a part of the Penn State wrestling program for, in some capacity, my entire adult life,” Lee said. “I think that who I am today is a product of the coaching staff and the people that have come through here. So for me, it’s a little surreal to be added to the coaching staff, and I’m just happy that I can continue to try to create the experience that I got for the rest of the younger guys that are coming through.”

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