Cyclones Make History: Defeat Hawkeyes in Thrilling Wrestling Match After 21 Years
The Cyclones achieved a historic victory over the Hawkeyes in a thrilling wrestling match after 21 years. Iowa State emerged victorious with a 20-14 win, breaking the Hawkeyes' 20-match winning streak. The match drew a crowd of 12,292 fans, making it the 10th largest attendance in Hilton Coliseum history. The Cyclones now lead the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series 11-2 for the year, with a chance to secure the competition when the Cyclone women's basketball team faces Iowa on Dec. 10.
The dual started with a bang as top-ranked Yonger Bastida of Iowa State defeated No. 6 Ben Kueter with an 11-4 decision at heavyweight. The Cyclones continued their winning streak with victories in key matches, including No. 6 Evan Frost's upset over No. 3 Drake Ayala at 133 pounds and No. 6 Anthony Echemendia's dominant performance against No. 7 Nasir Bailey at 141 pounds. The momentum carried on as No. 10 Ryder Block secured a tight 2-1 win over No. 2 Paniro Johnson at 149 pounds.
In the second half of the dual, No. 3 Vinny Zerban showcased his skills with an 11-3 major decision over No. 12 Jordan Williams at 157 pounds. No. 11 MJ Gaitan pulled off a remarkable victory by defeating No. 2 Patrick Kennedy 9-8 in tiebreaker one at 174 pounds. The match came down to the wire, with No. 2 Rocky Elam sealing the Cyclone victory with an 8-2 win over Iowa's No. 4 Massoma Endene at 197 pounds.
The Cyclones' triumph over the Hawkeyes marks a significant milestone in their wrestling rivalry. With an impressive performance and a well-deserved victory, Iowa State continues to make its mark in collegiate wrestling. The team's next challenge awaits at the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas on Friday, Dec. 5.