Iowa State sees ‘opportunity’ as underdogs in 2024 Cy-Hawk wrestling dual at Iowa

AMES — Iowa State’s Anthony Echemendia will take the mat in Saturday’s 6 p.m. Cy-Hawk dual against Iowa ready to “party.”

But before that? The sixth-ranked 149-pounder, according to FloWrestling, knows the Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd will boisterously bully its way into his head.

“(Teammate) Yonger (Bastida) told me, ‘Dude it’s gonna be crazy,” said Echemendia, who could face No. 4 Kyle Parco — one of several top-10 matches that could materialize on the Hawkeyes’ home mat. “They’re gonna be — sorry for the words — talking so much (trash) when you’re coming out of the tunnel, and you’ve just gotta stay focused.”

That’s easier said than done for a 12th-ranked Cyclone squad trying to end a 19-match dual meet skid against No. 2 Iowa. ISU (1-1) will likely field its most potent starting lineup this season, and Bastida, ranked No. 4 at heavyweight, could make his season debut against the Hawkeyes’ No. 12 Ben Kueter.

“He’s excited and he’s ready to go,” Cyclones head coach Kevin Dresser said.

So is first-year ISU wrestler Christian Carroll. The Oklahoma State transfer at 197 pounds is a decided underdog against the Hawkeyes’ top-ranked Stephen Buchanan. Buchanan transferred to Iowa from Oklahoma, so Carroll knows what he’s up against — and is eager to show he can not only compete but beat, top competitors at his weight class.

“I love every aspect of it,” Carroll said. “I love being in a hostile environment. I love that energy. I love being hated. I love being doubted. I just want to get after it and prove everyone wrong.”

Carroll is one of two offseason transfers who could be in the Cyclones’ lineup. Former Hawkeye Aiden Riggins (174) is the other. Iowa brought in three top-level transfers in Buchanan, Parco, and top-ranked 157-pounder Jacori Teemer.

“It’s just such a great opportunity,” Dresser said. “We’re always making history, but this is really making history. We don’t know what 10 guys (will) wrestle yet, but I’ve got more than 10 really excited guys. We’ll probably take 15-ish, weigh in, and then we’ll decide which 10 guys we’re gonna use.”

ISU’s least sorted spot in the lineup is at 125, where three wrestlers were separated by “ors” on the projected starters’ list. Dresser said it’s likely that either three-time NCAA qualifier Kysen Terukina or talented freshman Adrian Meza will get the nod there.

“Right now the plan is to weigh in both those guys,” Dresser said.

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As for Echemendia? He’s “grown up” in a good way, Dresser said. The senior from Cabaiguan, Cuba, has melded his love of competition with a meticulous approach to fine-tuning his technique.

“He’s a student of it,” Dresser said. “He’s getting a lot smarter, and he’s gonna be tested this week. I mean, gosh, he’s got another guy. All these guys mysteriously pop up that are all (highly) ranked and now we’ve gotta go.”

So it’s time to “party” before a sold-out crowd that will drive up the decibels with ear-splitting delight. Echemendia will bask in that noise, smile, and be ready to wrestle seven minutes until full exhaustion hits.

“I grew up in Cuba with no crowd,” he said. “I wrestled because I love the sport. And being able to wrestle in front of (almost 15,000 fans), in this country, it’s like going to a party, or going to a bar. I enjoy it every time.

“Some guys get nervous. My nerves are different. My nerves are like, ‘Oh, man, I want this opportunity.’ Everything you’ve worked for — like I said, we work here hard, and then we go party.”

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