Foes to friends: Former rivals now teammates

AMES — Brutal. Intense. Gut-wrenching.

All of these words and many more aptly describe the many collegiate matches between Iowa State’s Yonger Bastida and former Missouri wrestler Rocky Elam.

“It was just a battle,” Elam said.

Now the formerly bitter rivals at 197 pounds are Cyclone teammates standing shoulder to shoulder Tuesday at media day — and have swiftly morphed from being fierce foes to fast friends.

“In the match is one thing, outside the match is another thing,” said Bastida, a former All-American who saw a promising 2024-25 season as a heavyweight snuffed out because of a knee injury. “But it’s a good connection with him. He’s a great guy.”

In more ways than one.

Elam attained All-American status four times as a Tiger and quickly becomes one of the most coveted competitors in the transfer portal when he entered it this spring. Kevin Dresser’s Iowa State program immediately became one of his strongest suitors — and he committed to the Cyclones in early April.

“(He’s) ranked No. 2 in the nation (by FloWrestling) in the preseason,” Dresser said of Elam, one of several of high-level transfers who joined ISU’s program in the offseason. “There (are) not many four-time All-Americans walking the planet. He’s placed between third and sixth his whole career. He’s gonna be fun to watch.”

Eventually, anyway.

Elam battled through an array of injuries and Dresser said he’ll be on “a pitch count” early for the Cyclones, who open the season on Nov. 8 in the Cyclones Invitational. That doesn’t sit well with Elam as a competitor, but it does appeal to his rational side as he seeks to rise from All-American to NCAA champion.

“Ultimately, the goal is March, so we keep that in mind and we keep that at the center of our training,” Elam said.

Injuries decimated ISU’s lineup last season and Bastida’s absence along with that of fellow Cuban and former All-American 141-pounder Anthony Echemendia stood front and center in that area. Echemendia suffered an ankle injury, then tried to return before an infection landed him in the hospital and swiftly became a potential life-or-death situation.

“The doctor told me, ‘No, this is not a matter of wrestling anymore,’” he said. “‘You don’t understand the gravity of your infection. If the infection goes from the metal (plate) to your bone, then we have to cut off your leg, or you could lose your life.’ At that moment I got humbled, because that taught me that I’m not just a wrestler.”

Bastida didn’t face anything remotely as scary as his countryman Echemendia did, but missing almost all of last season similarly affected his perspective on and off the mat.

“I feel like struggle makes you have more confidence,” said Bastida, who’s ranked No. 3 by FloWrestling at heavyweight. “Since I was born I’ve been through a lot of struggles, and every single struggle is an opportunity to get tougher and be better.”

The same holds true for working with, instead of against, Elam in the sport.

“Rocky’s wrestling IQ is really good and I saw him kind of coaching up Yonger in a couple positions (on Monday),” Dresser said. “So there’s already that friendship and bond there.”

AT A GLANCE

Coach: Kevin Dresser (9th season at ISU, 93-33; 20th season overall, 253-84)

Last season: 12-5 overall (6-2 in Big 12), finished fourth at Big 12 tournament, 27th at NCAA Championships

Top returners: Yonger Bastida, heavyweight; MJ Gaitan, 174; Aiden Riggens, 164; Jacob Frost, 149; Paniro Johnson, 149/157; Anthony Echmendia, 141; Evan Frost, 133

Schedule highlights: Nov. 8 — Cyclone Invitational, 10 a.m. (season opener); Nov. 14 — Nebraska-Kearney. 7 p.m. (home dual opener); Nov. 30 — Iowa. noon; Dec. 5-6 — at Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas; Dec. 21 — at Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tenn.; Feb. 15 — UNI, 7 p.m.; March 6-7 — at Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Okla.; March 19-21 — at NCAA Championships in Cleveland

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