AMES, Iowa – Iowa State heavyweight Yonger Bastida was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Week after securing a pair of victories against top-6 opponents last weekend at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals, the league office announced Tuesday.

Bastida defeated both Ohio State’s No. 3 Nick Feldman and Lehigh’s No. 6 Nathan Taylor Sunday afternoon in Nashville. Both matches ended with the same score, a 4-2 decision in the Cuban’s favor.

It marks Bastida’s fourth career weekly honor from the league and the second time this season that a Cyclone has been recognized by the conference.

Now 12-0 on the season, Bastida has seven wins over ranked opponents, including four wins over top-10 foes. He owns a 43:1 takedown ratio this season and has gone eight-consecutive matches without surrendering a takedown.

No. 3 Iowa State is off until after the New Year. The Cyclones are back in action Jan. 4 at Stanford.

AMES, Iowa – After more than 40 seasons spent at the collegiate level, former Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock has announced his retirement from coaching.

Heacock, who helped turn the Iowa State defense into one of the nation’s very best and most respected units, was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2017 and was again a nominee from 2022-25.

Heacock’s coaching career spanned time as both a college and high school coach. He spent the last 12 seasons on Matt Campbell’s coaching staff at Toledo and Iowa State, including the last 10 seasons leading a Cyclone defense that went from the bottom of the Big 12 prior to his arrival to annually one of the league’s stingiest units.

Having been a part of 72 Cyclone victories, no other coordinator in school history seen ISU win more games during their tenure. He joined the school in 2016 alongside Campbell and the defensive players he has coached at Iowa State have been recognized by the Big 12 Conference a total of 80 times, earning either first- or second-team honors on 28 occasions.

“I’m so thankful, grateful and blessed to have worked alongside some of the finest players, support staff members and coaches in America,” Heacock said in an X post announcing his retirement. “I’m certainly thankful and grateful that God chose me to be the defensive coordinator at Iowa State University for 10 years. Ames, Iowa State, the team, and Cyclone Nation: Man, we all did some special stuff together! Thanks to you all!”

Heacock’s nationally-recognized 3-3-5 defense, implemented in 2017, altered the Big 12 Conference and has been imitated often in the college ranks. The Cyclone defense has frequently ranked among the Big 12’s best under his leadership. In 10 seasons at ISU, his unit ranked among the league’s top three in scoring defense seven times, while ranking among the top-three in total defense six times.

The 2018 and 2022 team’s led the Big 12 in scoring defense. The latter became just the third team in Big 12 history to lead the league in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and passing defense.

Eight of his former Cyclone defensive players – Jamal Perry (CB), Willie Harvey (LB), Jake Hummel (LB), Anthony Johnson Jr. (DB), Will McDonald IV (DE), Enyi Uwazurike (DL), T.J. Tampa (DB), Darien Porter (DB) – played in the NFL. In 2023, McDonald became the school’s second-ever first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

The Beloit, Ohio native’s coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Toledo in 1983. It included time on Bo Schembechler’s staff at Michigan (1988-89), while he also worked alongside Jim Tressel.

He was head coach at Youngstown State from 2001-09, reaching the FCS Semifinal in 2006. At YSU, he was two-time Gateway Conference Coach of the Year (2005-06) and ended his tenure with a 60-44 overall record.

Non-Conference 

Winterset – 78 vs Atlantic – 49

Carroll – 67 vs Kuemper Catholic – 63

Western Iowa Conference 

AHSTW – 69 vs Logan-Magnolia – 51

Tri-Center – 58 vs Underwood – 53

Pride of Iowa Conference 

Martensdale-St. Marys – 55 vs Southwest Valley – 47

Southeast Warren – 64 vs Central Decatur – 53

Non-Conference 

Nodaway Valley – 67 vs Atlantic – 63

Western Iowa Conference 

AHSTW – 72 vs Logan-Magnolia – 39

Underwood – 38 vs Tri-Center – 26

Pride of Iowa Conference 

Martensdale-St. Marys – 48 vs Southwest Valley – 36

Central Decatur – 48 vs Southeast Warren – 31

The Tri-Center Girls Basketball team is off to a 3-3 start to begin the 2025-2026 season and coming off a 40-26 win against Logan-Magnolia. Head Coach Derek Sonderland says the duo of Laurn and Haley Harder have learned a lot from the upperclassmen.

The Harders are the two top scorers for the Trojans as they have both scored over 50 points on the season. Sonderland says the key is improving after each and every game.

Limiting turnovers is being stressed to the players in team discussions.

The ability to rebound is also crucial for the Trojans.

Tri-Center continues their season January 6th in a home game against Treynor.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Foundation for Teamwork announced on Monday the University of Iowa’s offensive line as the recipient of the 2025 Joe Moore Award, with the program earning its second honor as the Most Outstanding Offensive Line Unit in College Football.

In a surprise presentation inside the Hansen Football Performance Center on Iowa’s campus, the Hawkeyes’ offensive line was presented with the only award in college football that celebrates a group or unit. This is the second time Iowa has earned the Joe Moore Award, and it is the fifth time a Big Ten program has captured the top honor (Iowa 2016, Michigan 2021, Michigan 2022 and Washington 2023). Iowa joins Michigan and Alabama as the only two-time winners.

“In a season when O-line continuity was challenged across college football by injuries and inexperience up front, Iowa’s unit provided the kind of dependable, physical consistency that has become increasingly rare,” said Aaron Taylor, founder of the Joe Moore Award and a CBS Sports analyst. “That ability to play steady, disciplined football with an edge – week after week – is what separated them from the rest of the pack. When the moment demanded their best, Iowa consistently answered the call.”

Taylor, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was an All-American at the University of Notre Dame for the Award’s namesake, the legendary offensive line coach Joe Moore.

“Iowa set themselves apart through consistency and the rare blend of toughness, effort, technique, and a true willingness to finish,” said Cole Cubelic, lead sideline analyst for the SEC Network and Chairman of the Joe Moore Award voting committee. “They faced heavy boxes and constant movement all season, yet stayed patient, limited negative plays, and allowed the offense to function as designed. Iowa won because of its O-line.”

Iowa’s five starters – guards Beau Stephens and Kade Pieper, tackles Gennings Dunker and Trevor Lauck, and center Logan Jones – started all 12 games in 2025, with Jones, Stephens and Dunker combining for 120 career starts. Jones was voted the Rimington Trophy recipient as college football’s top center as well as being an Outland Trophy finalist. Together, the unit did not have its first accepted holding penalty until Game 10 at USC.

“When you watch Iowa on tape, they epitomize a unit that wins with cohesion,” said Mike Golic Jr., DraftKings and lead TNT Big 12 game analyst. “Their first steps and timing are almost hypnotic, with precise landmarks and angles, well-executed combo blocks, solid pass protection, and reliability. When margins are tight and steadiness is required, this group rarely blinked, and that consistency especially late in games is what ultimately separated them from the other outstanding finalists.”

Looking Ahead
No. 23 Iowa travels to Tampa, Florida, to face No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31, 2025, at Noon (ET) on ESPN. This is the first matchup between the two programs.

AMES, Iowa – Tyler Roehl is returning to Iowa State as offensive coordinator after a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions. Roehl previously served as assistant head coach and running backs coach for the Cyclones during their record-setting 2024 season.

Roehl will stay with the Lions through their final game, including the National Football League Playoffs, if applicable.

Roehl, a West Fargo, North Dakota native, helped the Cyclones to an 11-3 season, a Big 12 Championship game appearance and a Pop-Tarts Bowl championship in his lone season in Ames before coaching the Lions’ tight ends this season. ISU finished the 2024 season ranked No. 15 nationally.

Roehl and Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers have competed against each other both as players and coaches at NDSU and South Dakota State, respectively.

“I’ve competed against Tyler, I’ve coached against him,” Rogers said. “He’s the ultimate competitor and having gone against him as a coach I know he has the mindset and leadership to help our offense be successful.

“His offenses are known for creativity, innovation and toughness, and as a former defensive coordinator, I know how hard those offenses were to prepare for when we competed against one another.”

For the Lions this season, Roehl’s top two tight ends Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright have combined for 54 receptions for 597 yards and five touchdown catches with two regular-season games remaining.

Roehl, who spent five seasons as North Dakota State’s offensive coordinator before coming to Ames, led a Cyclone rushing attack that had 27 touchdowns on the ground, tied for the fourth-most in school history. It was an increase of 14 rushing touchdowns, while ISU pounded the ground for 2,247 yards, 688 yards more than the previous season.

Individually, Carson Hansen had 13 rushing touchdowns, becoming the ISU’s first non-QB outside NFL stars David Montgomery and Breece Hall to rush for 10 touchdowns in a season since 2005.

While he was on staff, Iowa State averaged 31.1 points per game, the fifth-best mark in program history, while its 416.2 total yards was the eighth best per game average.

Roehl joined the Cyclones in 2024 after being named Tennessee State’s associate head coach and offensive coordinator in January following a successful tenure at North Dakota State.

Roehl won seven FCS national titles and eight Missouri Valley Football Conference titles with the Bison.

In total, Roehl spent 11 years at NDSU, including five as play caller for the Bison. NDSU reached the FCS National Championship game three times, winning titles in 2019 and 2021 when Roehl was in charge of the offense. He also coached the tight ends and fullbacks for NDSU.

As coordinator in 2023, his final season at his alma mater, NDSU had one of the most prolific offenses in FCS. The Bison led the nation in rushing yards (3,560), rushing touchdowns (47) and overall touchdowns (74). In his five seasons leading the offense, NDSU ranked among the top five nationally in rushing offense four times and paced the nation in rushing touchdowns in three-straight seasons.

He coached five FCS All-Americans and 11 players who combined for 15 all-conference honors.

In his first season as offensive coordinator in 2019, the Bison scored 38 of their 80 total touchdowns on plays of 20 or more yards, including 15 touchdowns of 50-plus yards. Quarterback Trey Lance won the Walter Payton Award that season as NDSU was among the nation’s leaders in scoring offense, total offense and rushing offense.

Roehl was named to the 2020 class of the American Football Coaches Association’s 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute.

Roehl was a standout player for NDSU, rushing for 2,512 yards and being named a two-time CSC Academic All-American. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2009 as an undrafted free agent.

He was a Sports Network and Associated Press second team FCS All-American in 2007, rushing for 1,431 yards and 21 touchdowns. He ran for a school-record 263 yards in a win over Minnesota and led the Great West Football Conference in rushing, scoring and all-purpose yards.

Roehl graduated from NDSU in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and earned a master’s degree in health, nutrition and exercise science in 2014.

Coaching Experience
2026 – Iowa State – Offensive Coordinator

2025 – Detroit Lions – Tight Ends

2024 – Iowa State – Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs
2024 – Tennessee State – Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator (did not coach any games)
2019-23 – North Dakota State – Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends/Fullbacks
2014-18 – North Dakota State – Tight Ends/Fullbacks
2012-13 – Moorhead High School – Defensive Coordinator/Running Backs
2011 – North Dakota State – Offensive Graduate Assistant
2010 – Concordia (Minn.) – Running Backs

Iowa State basketball coach T.J. Otzelberger says leadership has been a big part of their perfect start to the season. The Cyclones enter the Christmas break with a 12-0 record and are ranked third in the latest AP Poll. They return to action next Monday by hosting Houston Christian.

Otzelberger says the veterans set the tone.

Next Monday’s game will be the final non-conference test before the start of Big 12 play.

At Iowa, the focus shifts to Vanderbilt this week as the Hawkeyes continue preparations for the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on New Years Eve. The Commodores are ranked 14th and finished the regular season 10-2. Iowa senior defensive tackle Aaron Graves.

In a season full of near misses, Vanderbilt provides a final chance for the Hawkeyes to beat a rated foe.

NASHVILLE – No. 3 Iowa State closed the fall semester with a split Sunday at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals, falling to No. 2 Ohio State, 21-13, before topping No. 20 Lehigh, 26-11.

Iowa State is now 3-1 on the season while Ohio State improved to 10-0 and Lehigh to 4-5.

Heavyweight Yonger Bastida, now 12-0 on the season, highlighted the day with two wins over top-six opponents. Both matches against OSU’s No. 3 Nick Feldman and Lehigh’s No. 6 Nathan Taylor ended with the same score, a 4-2 decision in the Cuban’s favor.

Jacob Frost (149) and Rocky Elam (197) also went 2-0 on the day. Against the Buckeyes, Frost earned his highest ranked win of the season with a 4-1 victory over No. 6 Ethan Stiles. Elam tallied two bonus-point victories on the day, including a 9-0 result against OSU’s No. 14 Luke Geog.

Individual dual recaps and results can be found below.

Up next, the Cyclones are back in action after the New Year with a west coast road trip beginning Jan. 4 at Stanford.

No. 3 Iowa State 13, No. 2 Ohio State 21
Ohio State started fast with three-straight decisions at 125, 133 and 141 pounds before No. 10 Jacob Frost got the Cyclones on the scoreboard at 149 pounds. Frost topped No. 6 Ethan Stiles, 4-1, in sudden victory in an entertaining match which saw both wrestlers firing attacks at a high rate. In the end, it was Frost who came out on the right side of a scramble in overtime to record his highest ranked win of the season.

The Buckeyes would win by fall at 157 pounds prior to the 165-pound bout which saw No. 19 Connor Euton make his return to the lineup after suffering an ankle sprain in the Cy-Hawk dual (Nov. 30). Euton won a tight match, 4-2, against No. 16 Paddy Gallagher with Euton getting the deciding takedown with roughly 0:40 remaining in the match.

Iowa State closed the dual with back-to-back wins at 197 and 285 pounds. At 197 pounds, No. 1 Rocky Elam secured a commanding 9-0 major decision against No. 14 Luke Geog. Elam amassed over two minutes of riding time and two takedowns in the win.

No. 1 Yonger Bastida was a 4-2 winner over No. 3 Nick Feldman at 285 pounds. Bastida dictated much of the action throughout the match and earned the winning takedown in the final period.

No. 2 Iowa State 26, No. 20 Lehigh 11
Lehigh won the dual’s opening match at 133 pounds before Evan Frost put the Cyclones back in front at 133 pounds. Frost used four takedowns and over two minutes of riding time to tally a 14-3 major decision over Mason Ziegler.

After a Lehigh tech fall at 141 pounds, No. 10 Jacob Frost completed his 2-0 day with a decision over Owen Reinsel at 149 pounds. Frost used a third period takedown and a ride out to push riding time over the minute mark in the 5-0 win.

Kane Naaktgeboren picked up his first dual win of the season, and the second of his career, with a dominant 20-5 tech fall over Griffin Gonzalez. Naaktgeboren turned on the jets for five takedowns in the third period to separate himself.

Following a loss at 165 pounds, Iowa State would close the dual with four-consecutive wins.

At 174 pounds, Aiden Riggins moved up a weight class for a 17-9 major decision against Richie Grungo. It was a back-and-forth match but a late takedown and a turk for four near fall points gave Riggins the bonus point.

No. 13 Isaac Dean needed triple overtime to beat No. 22 Rylan Rogers, 5-2, at 184 pounds. Neither wrestler could separate themselves until Dean mustered up the energy for a takedown in the second sudden victory period.

No. 1 Rocky Elam was decisive in his 10-1 major decision over Remy Brancato-Roed at 197 pounds. Elam logged three takedowns in the win and improved to 10-0 on the season.

No. 1 Yonger Bastida added another top-10 win to his resume with a 4-2 decision over No. 6 Nathan Taylor. Bastida overcame a noticeable size advantage to get a takedown with 0:50 remaining. Bastida now has seven wins over ranked opponents this season, including four wins over top-10 foes.

MATCH-BY-MATCH RESULTS
No. 3 Iowa State 13, No. 2 Ohio State 21
125: No. 3 Nic Bouzakis (OSU) dec. No. 13 Stevo Poulin (ISU), 9-2
133: No. 2 Ben Davino (OSU) dec. No. 3 Evan Frost (ISU), 4-2
141: No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) dec. No. 4 Anthony Echemendia (ISU), 5-1
149: No. 10 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. No. 6 Ethan Stiles (OSU), 4-1 SV-1
157: No. 4 Brandon Cannon (OSU) WBF Kane Naaktgeboren (ISU), 6:53
165: No. 19 Connor Euton (ISU) dec. No. 16 Paddy Gallagher (OSU), 4-2
174: No. 4 Carson Kharchla (OSU) dec. Aiden Riggins (ISU), 7-3
184: No. 6 Dylan Fishback (OSU) dec. No. 13 Isaac Dean (ISU), 4-1 SV-1
197: No. 1 Rocky Elam (ISU) maj. dec. No. 14 Luke Geog (OSU), 9-0
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) dec. No. 3 Nick Feldman (OSU), 4-2

No. 3 Iowa State 26, No. 20 Lehigh 11
125: No. 5 Sheldon Seymour (LEH) dec. No. 13 Stevo Poulin (ISU), 9-6
133: No. 3 Evan Frost (ISU) maj. dec. Mason Ziegler (LEH), 14-3
141: Carter Bailey (LEH) TF Osmany Diversent (ISU), 15-0 (3:00)
149: No. 10 Jacob Frost (ISU) dec. Owen Reinsel (LEH), 5-0
157: Kane Naaktgeboren (ISU) TF Griffin Gonzalez (LEH), 20-5 (6:34)
165: No. 7 Max Brignola (LEH) dec. No. 19 Connor Euton (ISU), 6-1
174: Aiden Riggins (ISU) maj. dec. Richie Grungo (LEH), 17-9
184: No. 13 Isaac Dean (ISU) dec. No. 22 Rylan Rogers (LEH), 5-2 SV-2
197: No. 1 Rocky Elam (ISU) maj. dec. Remy Brancato-Roed (LEH), 10-1
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) dec. No. 6 Nathan Taylor (LEH), 4-2

197: No. 1 Rocky Elam (ISU) maj. dec. Remy Brancato-Roed (LEH), 10-1
285: No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU) dec. No. 6 Nathan Taylor (LEH), 4-2