TULSA — Senior Yonger Bastida won the second Big 12 title of his career at heavyweight Saturday during the championship session of the Big 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“Man, feels good, man,” Bastida said after winning his second Big 12 Championship at heavyweight. “You know, I came here with, you know, with that mentality, trying to get my second title. And I did, man, feels good.”
Bastida faced No. 2 seed Oklahoma State redshirt senior Konner Doucet for the heavyweight title. Neither wrestler gave up an inch through the first period.
In the second period, Bastida broke through Doucet. His takedown proved to be the decisive score as he won 4-1 over Doucet to secure his second Big 12 crown.
Some people would have a range of emotions after such an accomplishment, but for Bastida, it was more of a been-there-done-that moment.
“I mean, you know, just another title, man,” Bastida said. “And you know, I already won it, so I know what it feels like … so now I just move forward to another thing.”
That “thing” is the NCAA Championships on March 19-21. It’s the one piece of hardware missing from Bastida’s packed trophy case.
“I said, you know, I’m sure Yonger [Bastida] would take that big wall chart and light it on fire right now if he could trade it in for one in two weeks,” Iowa State Head Coach Kevin Dresser said.
It will be Bastida’s fourth appearance at nationals. His last appearance came during the 2023-24 season. Bastida isn’t the same wrestler he was two years ago. This time, he feels prepared for anything because he has been through everything.
“I just got mentally tougher,” Bastida said. “You know, just everything, anything that life has thrown me in the next two weeks or so, I’m ready for it. I’ve been through the worst, so I think that’s a pleasure.”
It’s Bastida’s final opportunity to earn a national title and that pursuit has fueled his dominant season. Bastida will bring everything he has to Cleveland when the NCAA Championships begin.
“Hungry, man, that’s the word,” Bastida said. “I’m hungry. I’m looking forward to taking one match at a time and hopefully I can win it.”
