(Tulsa, Oklahoma) Iowa State finished second at the Big 12 Wrestling Tournament over the weekend while still achieving a key goal: it appears set to qualify all 10 wrestlers for the NCAA Championships.
The Cyclones crowned two champions. Rocky Elam defeated Wyoming’s Joey Novak 5-4, scoring the decisive takedown with 1:11 remaining after giving up the first takedown. Yonger Bastida, who reached the finals with three falls or technical falls, beat Oklahoma State’s Konner Doucet 4-1 with a takedown late in the second period.
Stevo Poulin (125) and Anthony Echemendia (141) each fell in the finals. Poulin lost a 5-2 decision to Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley, while Echemendia dropped a tiebreaker to Oklahoma State freshman Sergio Vega.
Garrett Grice placed sixth at 133 in relief of Evan Frost to qualify for NCAAs. Jacob Frost (fourth, 149), Connor Euton (third, 165), MJ Gaitan (third, 174) and Isaac Dean (sixth, 184) also earned automatic bids. Euton highlighted the group with a 13-12 win over UNI’s No. 2-seeded Ryder Downey for third.
The only non-automatic qualifier was Vinny Zerban (157), who won his opening match but medically forfeited with what head coach Kevin Dresser called a concussion. With a 15-3 record and several notable wins, Zerban could still earn an at-large bid if healthy.
Big 12 Team Standings
- Oklahoma State (176)
- Iowa State (144)
- Arizona State (94)
- Missouri (84.5)
- West Virginia (77.5)
- South Dakota State (76.5)
- Oklahoma (73)
- Wyoming (67.5)
- North Dakota State (54.5)
- Northern Iowa (51)
- Air Force (31.5) 11. Utah Valley (31.5)
- California Baptist (21.5)
- Northern Colorado (15)
