Cy-Hawk Streak Snapped: No. 6 Iowa State Downs No. 3 Iowa 20-14 in Historic Upset

Ames, IA- No. 6 Iowa State snapped a 21-year drought in the Cy-Hawk rivalry, defeating No. 3 Iowa 20-14 before 12,292 roaring fans at Hilton Coliseum to claim the Dan Gable Traveling Trophy for the first time since 2004. Behind standout wins from Yonger Bastida, MJ Gaitan, Anthony Echemendia, Vinny Zerban and Rocky Elam, coach Kevin Dresser’s Cyclones proved their trophy-contender status despite illnesses sidelining key wrestlers like Evan Frost, MJ Gaitan and Jacob Frost earlier in the week with severe head colds. Dresser clarified post-match: “MJ and Evan Frost both Monday and Tuesday were out with like a really bad head cold... one Frost boy gave it to the other Frost Boy,” leading to Paniro Johnson stepping in at 149—not due to injury or discipline.

Top-ranked Bastida set the tone at 285, winning 11-4 over No. 6 Ben Kueter with three takedowns, heavy riding and a late surge despite pre-match injury rumors. Dresser explained the lineup choice: “I told them…if we win the flip, we’re going 285. So, Younger has been known this group for the combination of that and then also…Rocky…wanted to go last today and he went last.” Iowa tied it at 125 via Dean Peterson’s 4-2 decision over Stevo Poulin in a late-scramble thriller, but No. 6 Evan Frost reclaimed the lead at 133 with an 11-5 upset of No. 3 Drake Ayala, surging for 10 third-period points amid “barn burners,” as Dresser called them.

Echemendia dominated at 141 for a 15-2 major over No. 10 Nasir Bailey, pushing the score to 10-3, though Dresser noted they “should have gotten a tech” and planned to “bust his chops” for a late lapse in finishing. After Ryder Block’s gritty 2-1 TB win at 149, No. 6 Zerban powered to an 11-3 major at 157 against No. 8 Jordan Williams, flipping the bout with near-falls and a late takedown. Dresser lit up: “You get a long ways in this sport when you try really hard for seven minutes because think about if you ever grab a hold of somebody for seven minutes, you get tired really fast, really quick, right? So, that guy just goes hard.” No. 3 Mikey Caliendo’s 20-5 tech fall over No. 26 Connor Euton at 165 cut the gap, but Dresser cited Euton’s injury woes: “We haven’t even got to Christmas ever with him with injuries. And I'm not picking on him. He trains hard. He works his tail off, but some guys out there just are, you know, that injury-prone thing is the real deal.”

The dual’s defining moment unfolded at 174, where No. 14 MJ Gaitan stunned No. 2 Patrick Kennedy 9-8 in tiebreakers after a wild, scramble-filled battle—nearly tossing him early, building an 8-4 lead, surviving stalling calls to tie it, then escaping and riding out in TB. Dresser credited a smart plan from coach St. John: “MJ brings…that rollaround ability…when somebody’s always trying to pin you…that’s a whole different level of cardio,” adding he’s now “half a tornado.” No. 1 Angelo Ferrari’s 2-1 escape decision over No. 10 Isaac Dean at 184 kept hope alive, but No. 2 Elam sealed it 8-2 at 197 over No. 4 Massoma Endene with controlled takedowns and rides. Dresser raved: Elam’s a four-time All-American and U20 world champ where “that stuff just doesn’t happen by accident”—a “quiet leader” getting “a little more vocal.”

Dresser, a self-described “miserable loser and a so-so winner,” savored the milestone—a 2017 goal fulfilled for a passionate fan base that braved frigid alumni events—but quickly pivoted: “There’s a lot of matches these guys will forget in their career, but they’re not going to forget today,” though “somebody’s going to want to take their head off Friday at 9:00 a.m. Los Vegas time.” He joked about reining in celebrations—“if you’re in the NFL, you probably go out and drink a case of beer, but my guys will go eat five cheeseburgers and five Casey’s pieces if I don't get to them”—while praising the team’s compete level in those “barn burners.” This win signals Iowa State’s rebuild is over, positioning them strongly for the Cliff Keen Invitational and Big 12 contention.

Iowa State wrestling vs. Iowa wrestling box score

• 285: Yonger Bastida (ISU) over Ben Kueter (IOWA) (Dec 11-4)

• 125: Dean Peterson (IOWA) over Stevo Poulin (ISU) (Dec 4-2)

• 133: Evan Frost (ISU) over Drake Ayala (IOWA) (Dec 11-5)

• 141: Anthony Echemendia (ISU) over Nasir Bailey (IOWA) (MD 15-2)

• 149: Ryder Block (IOWA) over Paniro Johnson (ISU) (TB-1 2-1)

• 157: Vinny Zerban (ISU) over Jordan Williams (IOWA) (MD 11-3)

• 165: Mikey Caliendo (IOWA) over Connor Euton (ISU) (TF 20-5 6:18)

• 174: MJ Gaitan (ISU) over Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) (TB-1 9-8)

• 184: Angelo Ferrari (IOWA) over Isaac Dean (ISU) (Dec 2-1)

• 197: Rocky Elam (ISU) over Massoma Endene (IOWA) (Dec 8-2)