AMES – The Iowa State wrestling team hits the road in preparation for the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas. The Cyclones enter the tournament with a handful of roster changes after injuries from the Cy-Hawk meet and wrestle-off adjustments.
Iowa State enters Las Vegas without sophomore Connor Euton at 165 following an ACL tear. Euton will miss the rest of the season and head coach Kevin Dresser said sophomore MJ Gaitan is set to wrestle in his place.
“We’ve got a lot of guys going different directions this week,” Dresser said. “17 of the top 20 teams will be in Vegas, and we must be ready.”
Adrian Meza (125), Evan Frost (133), Jacob Frost (141), Anthony Echemendia (149), Paniro Johnson (157), MJ Gaitan (165), Aiden Riggins (174), Evan Bockman (184), Christian Carroll (197) and Yonger Bastida (285) are projected to appear for the Cyclones.
The Cyclones will prepare to take on some of the top-ranked teams in the nation, the most notable in Penn State, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Ohio State. Michigan, Virginia Tech, South Dakota State and Virginia Tech will also appear in the tournament.
“We’ve got some good options,” Dresser said. “Gaitan is a high-fire wrestler and so is the rest of the team. We’ve seen some strengths shine through at different weight classes and we’re hopeful to continue our success.”
Last season’s Cliff Keen Invitational went well for Iowa State. Dresser and the Cyclones placed first in the competition ahead of Ohio State and Nebraska. Bastida placed first in the heavyweight final over Michigan’s Lucas Davison, complimented by strong finishes from Evan Frost and David Carr.
Johnson is set to make his Cliff Keen debut at 157. Johnson won his previous matchup in Iowa City over top-ranked Jacori Teemer after an injury resulted in six points for Johnson and the Cyclones.
“My matchup against Iowa didn’t end as I wanted it to,” Johnson said. “I wish things had gone differently, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. The guys in Vegas are no joke, and I’m excited for the competition.”
Gaitan is set to make his debut at 165, barring a decision to medically redshirt Euton. Euton’s return date is not set and will be determined later. Gaitan wrestled at 174 last season in a room with national champion Carr in the 165 spot.
“I wrestled 160 in high school and 165 was the ideal goal my freshman year,” Gaitan said. “It was definitely an adjustment, and my lifestyle changed dramatically. I feel better, stronger, and more natural in the 165 weight class.
Gaitan lost to South Dakota State’s Cade DeVos by a 10-2 decision. He’s set to make his second appearance at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
“It’s a tough tournament every year,” Gaitan said. “It’s great for seeding, and we’re fully expecting to fight through it. I’ve learned much about myself after last year, and my confidence has never been higher.”
The Cliff Keen Invitational is set for Friday and Saturday in Las Vegas. The tournament can be streamed through FloWrestling with an undetermined start time.
