The most recent Iowa State NCAA champion, Kyven Gadson, wants to help in anyway he can to return Iowa State to national prominence.

He believes with what the previous staff left behind and with what Kevin Dresser brings to the table that Iowa State will be back.

“I think [the future] is promising,” Gadson said. “I think the guys at Iowa State — they want to win. I believe the guys that coach Dresser and his staff bring in are going to want to win too and are going to put in the work to do so.

“I’m looking forward to the process — it’s not like it’s going to happen overnight — I’m looking forward to whatever I can do to help the process to help Iowa State wrestling.”

Dresser was named the Iowa State wrestling coach Monday afternoon. He comes from a Virginia Tech program that he built into a national power.

He has experience turning around programs.

In his first season at Virginia Tech in 2006-07, he went 6-12. By his third season, he went 20-2. He sustained his success and he was eventually named National Wrestling Coaches Association coach of the year in 2016.

“I think Jamie [Pollard] and his team went out and looked for someone to bring something special to the coaching staff after this season,” Gadson said. “From what he’s done in his past, I think what he brings to the table is just obviously a knowledge of how to build something sustainable and how to manage and oversee the Iowa State wrestling program.”

Part of making something sustainable is having the wrestlers to do so.

Freshman Kanen Storr will be a cornerstone in the process. Storr was recently named the best redshirting freshman in the nation. He’s also found success at senior-level tournaments like the Dave Schultz Memorial, where he placed second.

“I’m very excited for Dresser to be my coach,” Storr said. “Hopefully we can build this program together back to what it once was. With me being a freshman and him being his first year at Iowa State, I’m excited to build this program back together.”

Storr also said he believes Dresser is a great hire and a great folkstyle coach.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead one of the nation’s most storied and accomplished college wrestling programs at Iowa State,” Dresser said in a statement released by Iowa State. “Growing up in Iowa, I admired the sellout crowds at Hilton Coliseum and watching championship coaches like Dr. Harold Nichols and Jim Gibbons and countless All-America Cyclones.

“The administrative commitment – both facilities and operating budget – along with a devoted and knowledgeable fan base make Iowa State one of those few programs in the nation that has the foundation to compete for elite national status annually.”