Cyclone wrestlers dominate Hawkeyes to snap streak
December 01, 2025
Author: Jeff Budlong | Image: Courtesy of the athletics department
After several close calls and near misses over the years, Iowa is a Cyclone State on the wrestling mat, again.
No. 6 Iowa State hammered third-ranked Iowa 20-14 Nov. 30 to break a 20-dual drought to the Hawkeyes, the Cyclones' first win in the series since Dec. 5, 2004. The victory came in front of 12,292 fans, the 10th largest in Hilton Coliseum history, who would not let snowy, cold weather keep them away.
The Cyclones were the aggressors all day and were rewarded by winning six of 10 matches. No. 6 Evan Frost (133 pounds) avenged a previous loss to No. 3 Drake Ayala -- a two-time national finalist -- to win 11-5, and No. 11 M.J. Gaitan (174 pounds) recorded the biggest win of his career taking down No. 2 Patrick Kennedy 9-8 in a tiebreaker. No. 2 Rocky Elam sealed the victory at 197 with a dominating victory that sent Hilton into a frenzy.
The Cyclones won't wrestle at home again until the team hosts the Cyclone Open on Jan. 18.