Ames, Iowa – Ames, Iowa – No. 6 Iowa State opened the 2024-25 wrestling season Friday night, as the shorthanded Cyclones dropped a 23-21 decision to No. 20 Stanford. The Cyclones entered the dual down five starters. The Cyclones had won six-straight season-opening duals entering the night.

Eight Cyclones made their Hilton Coliseum debut on Friday night.

Iowa State started with a 6-0 lead in the dual score courtesy of a forfeit at 125 pounds, accepted for the Cyclones by true freshman Adrian Meza. At 133 pounds, Stanford’s No. 20 Tyler Knox used a takedown and 3-point nearfall in the first period, as he beat Garrett Grice by 10-0 major decision. Trailing 4-3 after a first period takedown, Zach Redding lost by fall in 5:50 to Aden Valencia, as the Cardinal took a 10-6 lead after 141 pounds.

In the marquee matchup of the night at 149 pounds, Iowa State’s No. 6 Anthony Echemendia faced No. 10 Jaden Abas. A late takedown in the first period gave Abas a 3-0 lead, but Echemendia countered with a seven-point move of his own to end the second period with a 7-4 lead. Echemendia used a takedown in the final minute and a point for riding time for the 11-5 victory. The defending Big 12 Champion improved to 16-3 in dual meets in his career.

Stanford’s Grigor Cholakyan used a seven-point move late in the first period to spoil Kane Naaktgeboren’s collegiate debut, as Cholakyan won by fall in 5:32 at 157 pounds. Stanford’s No. 8 Hunter Garvin, an Iowa City native, used a first period takedown and a pair of late ones, as he defeated Connor Euton 10-3 at 165 pounds. At 174 pounds, Aiden Riggins gave up seven points in the third period, as he dropped a 10-1 major decision to No. 21 Lorenzo Norman.

Making his Cyclone debut at 184 pounds, No. 19 Evan Bockman used three takedowns in the final :45 to seal a 15-7 major decision over Luke Duthie. Redshirt Freshman Christian Carroll made his collegiate dual debut at 197 pounds, as he defeated No. 13 Nick Stemmet 11-7. Carroll used a pair of takedowns in the first period, and another in the second, for the victory. True freshman Daniel Herrera made his collegiate debut at heavyweight, picking up a 20-4 (5:47) technical fall over Jackson Mankowski. Herrera was a force, recording a takedown in the first period, three in the second and a pair in the third for the technical fall.