PRIMER: No. 3 Iowa State Heads to Vegas for the CKLV

AMES, Iowa - No. 3 Iowa State looks to build on its Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series victory over Iowa this weekend at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Wrestling takes place Friday and Saturday at the Westgate Hotel Paradise Event Center as ISU looks for its second CKLV title in the last three years.

WHAT: Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
WHEN: Friday & Saturday, Dec. 5-6
WHERE: Westgate Hotel Paradise Events Center - Las Vegas, Nev.

The Links
WATCH: FloWrestling
LISTEN: Varsity App
(PxP: Joe Sinclair; Analyst: Nate Carr)
LIVE STATS
MATCH NOTES: ISU

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (All times central)
Friday, Dec. 5
11 a.m. - Round of 32, Round of 16; Consolations
8 p.m. - Quarterfinals; Consolations
Saturday, Dec. 6
Noon - Semifinals; Consolations; 5th & 7th Place Matches
5 p.m. - Finals; 3rd Place Matches

ISU LINEUP
125: No. 10 Stevo Poulin (1-1)
133: No. 4 Evan Frost (4-0)
141: No. 4 Anthony Echemendia (3-1)
149: Jacob Frost (1-0)
157: No. 3 Vinny Zerban (4-0)
165: Aiden Riggins (8-1)
174: No. 8 MJ Gaitan (5-0)
184: No. 10 Isaac Dean (4-1)
197: No. 2 Rocky Elam (4-0)
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (5-0)
*InterMat Rankings (12/2/2025)

CKLV PRE-SEEDS
125: Stevo Poulin - No. 1
133: Evan Frost - No. 1
141: Anthony Echemendia - No. 1
149: Jacob Frost - No. 3
157: Vinny Zerban - No. 3
165: Aiden Riggins - Unseeded
174: MJ Gaitan - No. 2
184: Isaac Dean - No. 2
197: Rocky Elam - No. 1
285: Yonger Bastida - No. 1

Team Photo - 2023 CKLV Champs — Iowa State last won the Cliff Keen Invitational in 2023.

KEY STORYLINES

Iowa State is fresh off its first dual win over Iowa in 21 years. The then-No. 6 Cyclones took six of ten bouts from No. 3 Iowa to come out on top, 20-14, and snap a streak of 20-consecutive losses to the Hawkeyes.
ISU's win over Iowa was its highest ranked dual win since 2022-23 when the Cyclones beat No. 3 Arizona State.
The Cyclones are up to No. 3 in this week's NWCA Coaches Poll, tied for their highest ranking in the Kevin Dresser era (2017-pres.).
Iowa State last won the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in 2023 and placed fifth in 2024. The Cyclones are one of nine top-25 teams competing in the tournament according to FloWrestling's tournament rankings. If every registered team brings complete squads, this year's field will have over 120 nationally ranked wrestlers.
Cyclone 174-pounder MJ Gaitan was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week after he earned the highest ranked win of his career against Iowa's No. 2 Patrick Kennedy. Gaitan tallied two takedowns in the match and outlasted Kennedy, 9-8, in tiebreakers.
Evan Frost made his season debut at 133 pounds against the Hawkeyes. He defeated two-time NCAA finalist and third-ranked Drake Ayala, 11-5, thanks to three third period takedowns. The victory avenged Frost's loss to Ayala last season.
Nine Cyclones are ranked inside the top-10 of their respective weight class according to FloWrestling. Yonger Bastida, ISU's highest-ranked wrestler, is the top-rated heavyweight in the country.
Kevin Dresser preaches a high-paced, entertaining style of wrestling and encourages his athletes to give fans their money's worth. So far this season, 61.5% of ISU's wins have come with bonus points.
Evan Frost is looking for his first CKLV title after runner-up finishes the last two seasons. Yonger Bastida won a CKLV title two seasons ago, but did not compete in the tournament last season.
Anthony Echemendia returns to the tournament where he suffered a high ankle sprain last season. Complications from routine surgery after the injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

Yonger Bastida is HIM 🌪️ He gets it done against Lucas Davison 5-3 to bring home the heavyweight CKLV title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/bHzwHEs3dW
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) December 3, 2023

IOWA STATE AT THE BVU OPEN

Iowa State will send nine wrestlers to the BVU Open Saturday in Storm Lake, Iowa. Information on how to follow is below.

WHAT: BVU Open
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 6 - 9 a.m.
WHERE: Storm Lake, Iowa - Siebens Fieldhouse/Saggau Family Court
TOURNAMENT HUB: FloWrestling

ISU ENTRIES
125: Ethan Perryman
133: Adrian Meza, Osmany Diversent
157: Kane Naaktgeboren
165: Manny Rojas
174: Melton Powe
197: CJ Carter, Rowan Udell
285: McCrae Hagarty