TULSA, Okla. – Rocky Elam and Yonger Bastida claimed individual Big 12 titles Saturday night in front of a rowdy BOK Center crowd. This is Iowa State’s eighth-consecutive year with a Big 12 champion and the second time in the last three seasons ISU has crowned two champions.

Both Elam (197) and Bastida (285) earned their second career Big 12 titles with Elam having also won in 2023 at Missouri and Bastida taking the heavyweight crown in 2024. Bastida is the 40^th two-time conference champion in Iowa State history.

Stevo Poulin (125) and Anthony Echemendia (141) fell short in their title attempts.

Iowa State placed second as a team with 144 points behind champion Oklahoma State (176). Nine Cyclones punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships during the weekend, ISU’s eighth-straight year qualifying eight or more.

At 197 pounds, Elam allowed an early takedown to Wyoming’s No. 3 Joey Novak but was unphased. The Cyclone put together a big third period with a takedown and 1:12 ride-out to win, 5-4, and capture his second Big 12 title and the third conference title of his career. It was Elam’s second win over Novak this season.

Top-ranked heavyweight Bastida captured a second Big 12 title of his own with a 4-1 decision against Oklahoma State’s No. 7 Konner Doucet. The Cyclone notched the only takedown of the match in the closing seconds of the second period.

It is Bastida’s second Big 12 title in as many title match appearances, also owning the 2024 heavyweight Big 12 title. He becomes the 40^th two-time conference champion in Iowa State history.

Poulin came up short in his championship bout to Oklahoma State’s No. 6 Troy Spratley at 125 pounds. The Cyclone led 1-0 after two periods but Spratley used a reversal and two near fall points in the third to take control of the match. Poulin would ultimately fall, 5-2, after a Spratley riding time point.

At 141 pounds, No. 3 Anthony Echemendia came up just short against No. 2 Sergio Vega in double overtime. Neither wrestler could muster a takedown in a low-scoring match that saw regulation end in a 1-1 tie. Both wrestlers had opportunities to score in the extra period. In double overtime, Echemendia held Vega down for 0:18 before the Cowboy escaped but ultimately it was Vega who managed to ride Echemendia for the next 0:30 to come out on top, 2-1.

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Iowa State will close its 2025-26 season at the NCAA Championships March 19-21 in Cleveland, Ohio.