Iowa State Wrestling Finishes Second, Crowns Two Champions

Cyclones qualify all 10 wrestlers for NCAA Championships despite falling short of team title

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Iowa State wrestling team finished second at the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma, crowning two individual champions while qualifying all 10 of its wrestlers for the upcoming NCAA Championships.

Why it matters

Iowa State's strong performance, despite falling short of the team title, positions the Cyclones well for the NCAA Championships as they look to build on their success and compete for a national championship.

The details

Elam and Bastida won individual titles for Iowa State, with Elam defeating Wyoming's Joey Novak 5-4 and Bastida beating Oklahoma State's Konner Doucet 4-1. Stevo Poulin (125) and Anthony Echemendia (141) each finished as runners-up in their respective weight classes. Several other Cyclones, including Garrett Grice, Jacob Frost, Connor Euton, MJ Gaitan, and Isaac Dean, also earned automatic bids to the NCAA Championships by placing in the top six of their weight classes.

  • The Big 12 Championships took place on March 9, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The players

Elam

An Iowa State wrestler who won the individual title in his weight class.

Bastida

An Iowa State wrestler who won the individual title in his weight class.

Stevo Poulin

An Iowa State wrestler who finished as the runner-up in his weight class.

Anthony Echemendia

An Iowa State wrestler who finished as the runner-up in his weight class.

Kevin Dresser

The head coach of the Iowa State wrestling team.

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What they’re saying

“With a 15-3 record and several notable wins, Zerban could still earn an at-large bid if healthy.”

— Kevin Dresser, Head Coach (westerniowatoday.com)

What’s next

The NCAA Championships are the next major event for the Iowa State wrestling team, where they will look to build on their strong performance at the Big 12 Championships and compete for a national title.

The takeaway

Iowa State's ability to qualify all 10 of its wrestlers for the NCAA Championships, despite falling short of the team title, demonstrates the depth and talent of the Cyclones' program and their potential to make a deep run at the national level.