Completed Event: Wrestling versus Cyclone Invitational on November 8, 2025 , , Eight Champs
Final
Wrestling
Cyclone Invitational
Eight Champs
Iowa State University Athletics
Friday, November 14
Ames, Iowa
7:00 PM
Iowa State
vs
Nebraska-Kearney
PRIMER: No. 6 Iowa State Hosts Nebraska-Kearney in Dual Opener
11.12.2025 | Wrestling
AMES, Iowa -Â Iowa State opens its 2025-26 dual slate Friday at 7 p.m. with a matchup against reigning NCAA Division II national champions Nebraska-Kearney. The Cyclones have won six of eight dual openers under head coach Kevin Dresser and are 22-4 on their home mat since 2021-22.
Iowa State will also send a strong contingent of athletes to the Grand View Open on Saturday. More information can be found at the bottom of this story.
THE MATCHUP:Â No. 6 Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Nebraska-Kearney (1-0, 0-0 MIAA)
WHEN:Â Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 - 7 p.m.
WHERE:Â Hilton Coliseum (14,267) - Ames, Iowa
PURCHASE TICKETS
The Links
WATCH:Â ESPN+Â
(PxP: Evan Wessling; Analyst: Kyven Gadson)
LISTEN:Â Varsity App
(PxP: Joe Sinclair; PxP: Ryan Rohlk; Analyst: Nate Carr)
LIVE STATS
ISU MATCH NOTES
PROBABLE MATCHUPS
No. 6 Iowa State (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Nebraska-Kearney (1-0, 0-0 MIAA)
125: No. 7 Stevo Poulin (0-0) vs. Caleb Coyle (1-0)
133: Carter Pearson (1-1) vs. No. 5 Zach Ourada (1-0)
141: No. 6 Anthony Echemendia (2-1) -or- Evan Frost (2-0) vs. No. 4 Joseph Airola (1-0)
149: No. 2 Paniro Johnson (3-0) vs. Brady Collins (1-0)
157: No. 3 Vinny Zerban (3-0) -or- Jacob Frost (0-0) vs. No. 9 Cael Robb (1-0)
165: Connor Euton (3-0) vs. No. 7 Trenton Munoz (1-0)
174: No. 12 MJ Gaitan (3-0) vs. No. 11 Otgonbayar "Augie" Batsuuri (1-0)
184: No. 9 Isaac Dean (3-0) vs. Kaden Hart (1-0)
197: CJ Carter (0-0) vs. No. 1 Jackson Kinsella (1-0)
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (4-0) vs. No. 2 Crew Howard (1-0)
*InterMat Rankings (11/11/2025) // UNK Show Division II Rankings
INSIDE THE SERIES
2nd Meeting
Overall: 1-0
Home: 1-0
Road: 0-0
Neutral: 0-0
Current Streak: ISU W1
Last Meeting: 1/10/21Â (ISU 38, UNK 4)
CYCLONES vs. LOPERS
Iowa State will square off against Nebraska-Kearney for the second time ever and the first time since 2021.
The Lopers are coached by Dalton Jensen, who wrestled for the Cyclones for two seasons before eventually transferring to UNK for his junior season. A Missouri Valley, Iowa native, Jensen was a 2010 NCAA Qualifier for the Cyclones.
Former Cyclone Andrew Sorenson is UNK's head assistant coach. Sorenson was a two-time national qualifier for Iowa State, and compiled a 93-31 career record. He was a two-time Big 12 Conference place winner, taking third in 2010 and second in 2012.Â
Current ISU assistant coach and Iowa grad Derek St. John wrestled Sorenson at the 2009-10 Harold Nichols Cyclone Open. Sorenson beat St. John, 7-5, in that match.
KEY STORYLINES
- Following a 2024-25 season which saw several key Cyclones go down with season-ending injuries, Dresser and his staff have reloaded their squad. For the first time since 1982-83, ISU enters a season with seven past All-Americans on its roster.
- The Cyclones have won six of eight dual openers under head coach Kevin Dresser and are 22-4 on their home mat since 2021-22.
- ISU's 2025-26 dual slate features six teams that finished inside the top 15 at last year's NCAA Championships, including three of the top six teams. Overall, Iowa State's dual slate features 10 of the top 25 teams from the 2025 national tournament.
- Iowa State crowned eight champions at the Cyclone Invitational last weekend. The Cyclones separated themselves from their competition when they were able, with 62% of their wins in the tournament coming by bonus-point margin.
- Dresser and Co. utilized the transfer portal to add several high-impact pieces to the roster, including three former All-Americans - Rocky Elam (Missouri), Stevo Poulin (UNCO) and Vinny Zerban (UNCO). Isaac Dean (Rider), a 2025 NCAA Qualifier who reached the Round of 16 last season, also joined the Cyclones.
- Iowa State finished the 2024-25 season with a 12-5 dual record, including a 6-2 mark in Big 12 duals. It marked Dresser's fourth-consecutive season with 12 or more dual victories.
- Connor Euton was perhaps Iowa State's most impressive wrestler on opening weekend. He went 3-0 to win Cyclone Invitational with a fall and two tech falls. In the finals, he notched a second period tech fall against Wisconsin's No. 20 Cody Goebel, 19-4. He had 13 takedowns in the tournament and allowed none.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Pre--Match Tailgate – 4:30 p.m.
The Cyclone Regional Training Center, Stumpy's Snow & Mow and the Story County Pork Producers will hold a pre-match tailgate in lot C2 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Assistant coach Brent Metcalf will speak at approximately 5:45.
All Cyclone fans are welcome.
MatCYd Club - 5:30 p.m.
Johnny's at Scheman will open for MatCYd Club members 90 minutes prior to each home dual meet and will close at the start of the dual;Â bars will close 15 minutes prior to the meet start time.Â
MatCYd Club pass holders should enter the Scheman Building via the ground level doors on either the north or south side of the building. Normal Johnny's policies and procedures will be in place. All MatCYd Club/Johnny's guests must have a MatCYd Club pass, and all MatCYd Club guests must stop at the designated "Johnny's Scanning Stations" on the ground level of Scheman to scan their pass. Every guest will have a secure, one-time use wristband put on them when they scan in on the ground level; the individual seeking admittance must be present to receive their wristband when their pass is scanned.
All MatCYd Club members are encouraged to check their email for more information.
Post-Match Social - Immediately Following
Immediately following the dual, all Cyclone fans are invited to attend the post-match social in the auditorium on the first floor of Scheman (the middle floor). It's a great opportunity to meet the ISU wrestlers and members of the coaching staff. Cash bar and dry snacks (popcorn, pretzels) will be available.
MATCH PROMOTIONS - Military Appreciation
Complimentary general admission tickets will be offered to all active and retired military personnel (Present form of ID, badge or employee ID upon arrival at Hilton Coliseum).
*You must pick up your FREE Ticket at the Hilton Ticket Office on the day of the event. The Ticket office opens an hour prior to all events. Veterans can claim FREE tickets through Vet Tix.
Giveaway: "The Boys are Back" Tour shirts for the first 200 fans
Students: Nike Gear Raffle
GRAND VIEW OPEN
A strong contingent of Cyclones will head to the Grand View Open Saturday as well.
What: Grand View Open
When: Saturday, Nov. 15 - 9 a.m.
Where:Â Grimes, Iowa -Â Ignit Sports Complex
LIVE STATS
125: Christian Castillo*
133: Adrian Meza*
157: Kane Naaktgeboren*
165: Manny Rojas, Aiden Riggins*
174: Melton Powe
197: Rowan Udell, CJ Carter*
285: McCrae Hagarty, Daniel Herrera
Freshman/Sophomore Division
149: Logan Stotts
165: Owen Helgeson
174: Jacob Helgeson*
*Wrestling attached
WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Head coach Kevin Dresser, Connor Euton and Rocky Elam met with the media on Tuesday. Watch their interviews below.
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Rocky Elam Press Conference before UNK Dual
Tuesday, November 11
Connor Euton Press Conference before UNK Dual
Tuesday, November 11
Coach Dresser Press Conference before UNK Dual
Tuesday, November 11
Kevin Dresser 2025 Media Day presser
Tuesday, October 28
