No. 10 Iowa State Dominates NDSU and Penn at Sunshine Duals

No. 10 Iowa State went 2-0 at the Journeymen Sunshine Duals on Saturday, securing dominant victories over North Dakota State and No. 24 Penn.

The Cyclones won 17 of 20 matches in Bradenton, Fla., maintaining the high-level efficiency that has defined their early season. This success extends their perfect 4-0 start to the dual season, according to Iowa State Athletics.

The day saw individual momentum and changes in weight classes. Seven different Cyclones posted unblemished 2-0 records, providing the depth needed for a heavy dual schedule. Among them was Aiden Riggins, who made a highly anticipated season debut at 184 pounds. After competing at 165 pounds a year ago, Riggins utilized an offseason body transformation to outscore his opponents 10-1.

The dual against North Dakota State began with a momentary setback when NDSU’s No. 8 Ezekiel Witt pinned Rin Sakamoto in the opening match. However, the Cyclones responded by winning nine straight bouts to secure a 34-6 victory.

The statistical spread of the NDSU match highlights the gap in technical execution. The Cyclones secured six matches by bonus-point margin, a factor that often dictates the trajectory of dual meets. Jacob Frost, ranked No. 9, provided a standout performance by earning an 11-2 major decision over No. 11 Gavin Drexler at 149 pounds. This victory marked Frost’s first ranked win of the season and his seventh career win against a top-15 opponent.

At the heavier weights, No. 24 Brayden Thompson secured a 5-2 sudden victory over No. 23 Devin Wasley at 197 pounds. This marked Thompson’s second win against a ranked opponent.

Weight Class	Winner	Result
133	No. 16 Garrett Grice (ISU)	maj. dec. No. 32 Tristan Daugherty, 11-1
141	No. 4 Evan Frost (ISU)	TF Devon Harrison (NDSU), 16-1
149	No. 9 Jacob Frost (ISU)	maj. dec. No. 11 Gavin Drexler, 11-2
197	No. 24 Brayden Thompson (ISU)	dec. No. 23 Devin Wasley, 5-2

The second half of the day presented a steeper climb as the Cyclones faced No. 24 Penn. While the margin was narrower than the NDSU matchup, Iowa State maintained control with a 25-7 win, winning eight of the ten matches.

Paniro Johnson, ranked No. 9, delivered what Iowa State Athletics described as the biggest win of the dual. Johnson earned a 7-4 decision in a high-stakes matchup against No. 15 Jude Swisher. Grice also found success, rebounding from a difficult road trip to Utah by defeating No. 32 Tristan Daugherty in the dual and continuing his momentum with a win over Spencer Barnhart.

The dual was not without its close calls. No. 17 Connor Euton narrowly lost a 11-10 decision to No. 14 Sean Seefeldt at 165 pounds after surrendering three takedowns in the final period. Jacob Frost also faced a rematch against No. 7 Cross Wasilewski, falling 9-1 after being unable to overcome a strong first period by the Quaker.

Despite these individual losses, the sheer volume of wins across the lineup ensured the Cyclones remained undefeated. The ability to secure wins in both the middle and upper weight classes provides a blueprint for the program as they move into the heart of the dual season.

The Cyclones’ next test takes them to Iowa City for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Dual on Sunday, Nov. 22.