No. 4 Cyclones Derail No. 15 Panthers, 28-6

Sunday, February 15

Ames, Iowa

7:00 PM

Iowa State

Northern Iowa

MJ Gaitan celebrates a win over UNI inside of Hilton Coliseum (2026)

Photo by: Jeff Spaur

No. 4 Cyclones Derail No. 15 Panthers, 28-6

02.15.2026 | Wrestling

Gaitan, Grice, Dresser Press Conference Stats

AMES, Iowa – No. 4 Iowa State defeated in-state rival No. 15 UNI Sunday night in front of a rowdy Hilton Coliseum crowd. The Cyclones took eight of 10 matches from the Panthers, including the first five of the dual, to come out on top, 28-6.

Iowa State (11-2, 7-1 Big 12) held a 24-8 advantage in takedowns against UNI (10-8, 4-4 Big 12). This marks the first time since the 2003-04 season the Cyclones notched dual victories over both of their in-state rivals, Iowa and UNI.

ISU won three matches via bonus-point margin, including heavyweight Yonger Bastida's 12^th tech fall of the season, tied for the most nationally (James Conway; Franklin & Marshall). Bastida's last three wins inside of Hilton Coliseum, and seven of his last nine overall, have come via tech fall. Bastida now owns a 95:2 takedown ratio on the season.

No. 11 Stevo Poulin got the Cyclones started with a decisive 4-1 decision against No. 31 Trevor Anderson. After a scoreless first period, Poulin reversed Anderson to start the second period and rode the Panther for the remainder of the period. Poulin also rode Anderson for the entirety of the third period as he amassed well over three minutes of riding time.

In an upset at 133 pounds, Garrett Grice topped No. 22 Julian Farber in a tight match, 5-4. Grice flashed his scrambling ability and turned a Farber attack into a takedown of his own in the opening period. The Cyclone would add a reversal in the final period to cap his first dual appearance of the season after missing much of the year to injury.

No. 3 Anthony Echemendia got out to a big lead against Max Brady at 141 pounds but surrendered a pair of third period takedowns to thwart the tech fall. Nonetheless, Echemendia rolled to a 19-10 major decision over Brady.

No. 11 Jacob Frost notched his fourth ranked win of the season with a commanding 8-2 decision over No. 32 Caleb Rathjen. The Cyclone tallied takedowns in the second and third periods as he improved to 14-4 on the season.

At 157 pounds, No. 8 Vinny Zerban made it five in a row for the Cyclones with a 15-5 major decision over Cael Rahnavardi. Zerban recorded three first-period takedowns, along with a reversal and riding time point in the third, as he improved to 13-3 on the year.

No. 15 Connor Euton dropped a tight match to No. 6 Ryder Downey in overtime, 8-5. Both wrestlers exchanged takedowns in regulation, but it was Downey who prevailed in the extra frame.

In the dual's marquee matchup at 174 pounds, No. 13 MJ Gaitan won an overtime thriller over No. 12 Jared Simma, 8-5. Simma struck first with a takedown in the opening period before Gaitan responded with one of his own in the second and again in the overtime period. Gaitan now owns a 2-1 lifetime record against Simma as the pair had split their two previous career meetings.

UNI would get a decision at 184 pounds before Iowa State's closing duo of Rocky Elam and Yonger Bastida put a bow on things. Elam, ranked No. 2 in the country at 197 pounds, defeated Carson Babcock, 8-1, to improve to 13-0 on the season.

Top-ranked Bastida put on another takedown clinic with a 21-6 first period tech fall over Grant Stromberg. Bastida picked up his 95^th career victory as he pushed his season record to 20-0.

UP NEXT
No. 4 Iowa State is back on the mat inside Hilton Coliseum next Sunday, Feb. 22 for senior day. The Cyclones take on Mizzou at 2 p.m. on ESPN+

MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 4 Iowa State 28, No. 15 UNI 6
125: No. 11 Stevo Poulin (ISU) dec. No. 31 Trever Anderson (UNI), 4-1
133: Garrett Grice (ISU) dec. No. 22 Julian Farber (UNI), 5-4
141: No. 3 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) maj. dec. Max Brady (UNI), 19-10
149: No. 11 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. No. 32 Caleb Rathjen (UNI), 8-2
157: No. 8 Vinny Zerban (ISU) maj. dec. Cael Rahnavardi (UNI), 15-5
165: No. 6 Ryder Downey (UNI) dec. No. 15 Connor Euton (ISU), 8-5 SV-1
174: No. 13 MJ Gaitan (ISU) dec. No. 12 Jared Simma (UNI), 8-5 SV-1
184: Izzy Moreno (UNI) dec. Manny Rojas (ISU), 12-5
197: No. 2 Rocky Elam (ISU) dec. Carson Babcock (UNI), 8-1
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) TF Grant Stromberg (UNI), 21-6