PRIMER: Bastida, Echemendia Open Season at NWCA All-Star Classic

AMES, Iowa – Anthony Echemendia and Yonger Bastida open Iowa State’s 2025-26 season Saturday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. (CT) on the NWCA All-Star Classic hosted at Jersey Mike’s Arena on the campus of Rutgers University. Bastida, ranked No. 3 within the nation, will tackle Michigan’s No. 4 Taye Ghadiali whereas Echemendia will headline the occasion in opposition to two-time defending nationwide champion Jesse Mendez of Ohio State.

Bastida-Ghadiali would be the thirteenth match of the night whereas Echemendia-Mendez is the ultimate bout of the evening. A full bout order might be seen on the finish of this story.

What: NWCA All-Star Classic

When: Saturday, Nov. 1 – 6 p.m. (CT)

Where: Jersey Mike’s Arena – Piscataway, N.J.

Watch: FloWrestling

BASTIDA vs. GHADIALI

Bastida vs. Ghadiali is considerably of an unknown matchup as this will likely be each wrestlers’ first faculty match in practically a 12 months. Both had been granted medical redshirts final season after seeing restricted motion.

Bastida is a three-time NCAA Qualifier and former All-American (2022 – fifth, 197 lbs.) getting into his ultimate season for the Cyclones. He wrestled in solely two matches final season together with his most notable victory coming in opposition to Iowa’s Ben Kueter. In Bastida’s final full season in 2023-24, he completed with a 26-2 file together with his solely two losses of the season approaching Friday of the NCAA Championships. It was a dominant season as much as that time as he had 102 takedowns to his identify and solely allowed six, three of which occurred on the NCAA Championships.

Ghadiali has achieved All-America standing as soon as in his profession, inserting eighth on the 2024 NCAA Championships. He transferred from Campbell to Michigan within the offseason, which appears to have benefited quite a few heavyweight wrestlers up to now. In restricted motion final season, Ghadiali posed a 4-2 file with the losses coming in opposition to All-Americans Gable Steveson and Isaac Trumble.

ECHEMENDIA vs. MENDEZ

A 2024 nationwide semifinal rematch, this bout options to be the primary occasion of the night.

Mendez prevailed in that semifinal bout, 6-4, and would go on to win the primary of his two nationwide titles. Echemendia had Mendez on the ropes, nonetheless, due to a third-period takedown. The Cyclone was in on Mendez’s legs for the successful takedown and the pair had been in a scramble scenario as time expired within the ultimate interval. Mendez held a deceive using time benefit within the match, one thing Echemendia might want to enhance if he hopes to win this rematch.

Echemendia is again wholesome following a tumultuous offseason which included a number of surgical procedures to battle an an infection following a routine operation to restore a high-ankle sprain. He posted a 6-3 file in his restricted motion. Mendez completed with a 30-3 reocrd final season and gained his second nationwide title.

ALL-STAR CLASSIC BOUT ORDER

Women’s Matches

138 – No. 1 Zaynah McBryde (Life) vs. No. 1 Katie Lange (Grand Valley)

145 – No. 1 Esther Kolawole (William Penn) vs. No. 2 Reese Larramendy (Iowa)

160 – No. 1 Latifah McBryde (Life) vs. No. 1 (145) Bella Mir (North Central)

117 – No. 2 Salyna Shotwell (Life) vs. No. 1 Sage Mortimer (Grand Valley)

D2 vs. D3 Match

141 – No. 1 Mark Samuel (Roanoke) vs. No. 1 Khyvon Grace (West Liberty)

Division I Men’s Matches

149 – No. 5 Casey Swiderski (OKST) vs. No. 3 Lachlan McNeil (MICH)

174 – No. 3 Simon Ruiz (CORN) vs. No. 8 Lenny Pinto (RUT)

197 – No. 3 Joey Novak (WYO) vs. No. 4 Stephen Little (LR)

125 – No. 4 Eddie Ventresca (VT) vs. No. 5 Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh)

157 – No. 5 Ty Watters (WVU) vs. No. 4  Daniel Cardenas (STAN)

165 – No. 4 Hunter Garvin (STAN) vs. No. 7 Max Brignola (LEH)

184 – No. 4 Jaxon Smith (MD) vs. No. 7 Zack Ryder (OKST)

285 – No. 3  Yonger Bastida (ISU) vs. No. 4 Taye Ghadiali (MICH)

133 – No. 1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) vs. No. 7 Dylan Shawver (RUT)

141 – No. 7 Anthony Echemendia (ISU) vs. No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST)