PRIMER: Bastida, Echemendia Open Season at NWCA All-Star Classic

AMES, Iowa - Anthony Echemendia and Yonger Bastida open Iowa State's 2025-26 season Saturday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. (CT) at the NWCA All-Star Classic hosted at Jersey Mike's Arena on the campus of Rutgers University. Bastida, ranked No. 3 in the nation, will take on Michigan's No. 4 Taye Ghadiali while Echemendia will headline the event against two-time defending national champion Jesse Mendez of Ohio State.

Bastida-Ghadiali will be the 13th match of the evening while Echemendia-Mendez is the final bout of the night. A full bout order can be viewed at the end of this story.

What: NWCA All-Star Classic
When: Saturday, Nov. 1 - 6 p.m. (CT)
Where: Jersey Mike's Arena - Piscataway, N.J.
Watch: FloWrestling

All-Star Classic Graphics

BASTIDA vs. GHADIALI
Bastida vs. Ghadiali is somewhat of an unknown matchup as this will be both wrestlers' first college match in nearly a year. Both were granted medical redshirts last season after seeing limited action.

Bastida is a three-time NCAA Qualifier and former All-American (2022 - 5th, 197 lbs.) entering his final season for the Cyclones. He wrestled in only two matches last season with his most notable victory coming against Iowa's Ben Kueter. In Bastida's last full season in 2023-24, he finished with a 26-2 record with his only two losses of the season coming on Friday of the NCAA Championships. It was a dominant season up to that point as he had 102 takedowns to his name and only allowed six, three of which occurred at the NCAA Championships.

Ghadiali has achieved All-America status once in his career, placing eighth at the 2024 NCAA Championships. He transferred from Campbell to Michigan in the offseason, which seems to have benefited numerous heavyweight wrestlers in the past. In limited action last season, Ghadiali posed a 4-2 record with the losses coming against All-Americans Gable Steveson and Isaac Trumble.

ECHEMENDIA vs. MENDEZ
A 2024 national semifinal rematch, this bout features to be the main event of the evening.

Mendez prevailed in that semifinal bout, 6-4, and would go on to win the first of his two national titles. Echemendia had Mendez on the ropes, however, thanks to a third-period takedown. The Cyclone was in on Mendez's legs for the winning takedown and the pair were in a scramble situation as time expired in the final period. Mendez held a deceive riding time advantage in the match, something Echemendia will need to improve if he hopes to win this rematch.

Echemendia is back healthy following a tumultuous offseason which included several surgeries to battle an infection following a routine operation to repair a high-ankle sprain. He posted a 6-3 record in his limited action. Mendez finished with a 30-3 reocrd last season and won his second national title.

ALL-STAR CLASSIC BOUT ORDER
Women's Matches
138 - No. 1 Zaynah McBryde (Life) vs. No. 1 Katie Lange (Grand Valley)
145 - No. 1 Esther Kolawole (William Penn) vs. No. 2 Reese Larramendy (Iowa)
160 - No. 1 Latifah McBryde (Life) vs. No. 1 (145) Bella Mir (North Central)
117 - No. 2 Salyna Shotwell (Life) vs. No. 1 Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley)

D2 vs. D3 Match
141 - No. 1 Mark Samuel (Roanoke) vs. No. 1 Khyvon Grace (West Liberty)

Division I Men's Matches
149 - No. 5 Casey Swiderski (OKST) vs. No. 3 Lachlan McNeil (MICH)
174 - No. 3 Simon Ruiz (CORN) vs. No. 8 Lenny Pinto (RUT)
197 - No. 3 Joey Novak (WYO) vs. No. 4 Stephen Little (LR)
125 - No. 4 Eddie Ventresca (VT) vs. No. 5 Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh)
157 - No. 5 Ty Watters (WVU) vs. No. 4 Daniel Cardenas (STAN)
165 - No. 4 Hunter Garvin (STAN) vs. No. 7 Max Brignola (LEH)
184 - No. 4 Jaxon Smith (MD) vs. No. 7 Zack Ryder (OKST)
285 - No. 3 Yonger Bastida (ISU) vs. No. 4 Taye Ghadiali (MICH)
133 - No. 1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) vs. No. 7 Dylan Shawver (RUT)
141 - No. 7 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) vs. No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST)

Iowa State University Athletics

PRIMER: Bastida, Echemendia Open Season at NWCA All-Star Classic

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