Yonger Pauli Bastida Pomares (born September 19, 1999) is a Cuban freestyle and former folkstyle wrestler who competes at heavyweight for the Iowa State Cyclones.[1][2] In freestyle, he is most notably a U23 and U20 World Championship medalist.[1] In folkstyle, Bastida is an NCAA Division I All-American out of the Iowa State University.[3]

Yonger Bastida
Personal information
Full nameYonger Pauli Bastida Pomares
Born (1999-09-19) September 19, 1999 (age 25)
Trinidad, Cuba
Sport
Country Cuba
SportWrestling
Weight class285 lb (129 kg)
Event(s)Freestyle and Folkstyle
College teamCyclones
Coached byKevin Dresser
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing  Cuba
U23 World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Budapest 92 kg
U20 World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2019 Tallinn 97 kg
U20 Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Guatemala City 92 kg
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Iowa State Cyclones
Big 12 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Tulsa 285 lb

Early life and career in Cuba

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Born in Trinidad, Cuba, Bastida became one of the most promising prospects in his native country in 2019, when he broke into the international scene.[3]

Bastida grabbed a silver medal at the Cerro Pelado International, notably defeating NCAA champion Kyven Gadson in the semifinals.[4] Afterwards, he claimed a U20 Pan American Championship title, as well as a silver medal at the U20 World Championships.[5][2] Lastly, Bastida claimed a bronze medal at the U23 World Championships.[6]

In 2020, Bastida once again grabbed a silver medal at the Cerro Pelado International, notably defeating US National champion Hayden Zillmer before falling to two-time World Champion and Olympic bronze medalist J'den Cox.[7]

Career in the United States

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College

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2020–2021

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In November of 2020, the Iowa State University announced they had recruited Bastida as an international student and a member of the wrestling team.[8]

Bastida earned the varsity spot at 197 pounds when he defeated teammate Cody Fisher by major decision.[9] As a freshman, he would record a 4–4 record during regular season, but would not be chosen as a starter for the post-season.[10]

2021–2022

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Showing notable improvements, Bastida recorded upsets over third and sixth-ranked Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam over the regular season.[11][12] After a fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, Bastida became an All-American with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA National Championships, pulling off multiple upsets and closing up the season with a 25–7 record.[13]

2022–2023

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Bastida earned the spot at 197 pounds by beating teammate Rowan Udell by major decision.[14] After multiple duals during the regular season, Bastida placed sixth at the Big 12 Championships, but was not able to place at the NCAA National Championships, closing up the season with a 18–9 record.[15]

2023–2024

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Bastida made the move up to heavyweight, and started off the season by pinning teammate Xavier Bruening at the team's wrestle-offs.[16] During regular season, Bastida amassed an undefeated 15–0 mark in dual meets and claimed the Cliff Keen Invitational title.[17]

In the post-season, Bastida claimed the Big 12 Conference title with notable victories over All-Americans Wyatt Hendrickson and Zach Elam.[18] At the NCAA tournament, Bastida reached the quarterfinals, where he was upset by two-time All-American Lucas Davison in a rematch from the Cliff Keen Invitational, and was pushed into the consolation bracket.[19] In the blood-round, he was upset once again by Yaraslau Slavikouski, which eliminated him from the tournament, failing to place.[20]

Freestyle record

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Senior Freestyle Matches
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location
2020 Cerro Pelado International   at 97 kg
Loss 7–3   J'den Cox TF 1–11 February 14, 2020 2020 Granma y Cerro Pelado

  Havana, Cuba

Win 7–2   Hayden Zillmer 7–4
Win 6–2   Luis Sosa TF 11–0
2019 U23 World Championship   at 92 kg
Win 5–2   Demur Megeneishvili 6–2 October 28 - November 3, 2019 2019 World U23 Wrestling Championship

  Budapest, Hungary

Loss 4–2   Batyrbek Tsakulov 1–6
Win 4–1   Bendegúz Tóth TF 13–2
Win 3–1   Sargis Hovsepyan TF 11–0
Win 2–1   Michał Bielawski Fall
2019 Granma y Cerro Pelado   at 97 kg
Loss 1–1   Reineris Salas TF 0–10 February 15–23, 2019 2019 Granma y Cerro Pelado

  Havana, Cuba

Win 1–0   Kyven Gadson

NCAA record

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NCAA Division I Record
Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event
End of 2023–2024 Season (junior year)
2024 NCAA Championships DNP at 285 lbs
Loss 71–22 Yaraslau Slavikousk 3–8 March 21–22, 2024 2024 NCAA Division I National Championships
Loss 71–21 Lucas Davison 4–6
Win 71–20 Lewis Fernandes TF 20–5
Win 70–20 Bennett Tabor Fall
2024 Big 12 Conference   at 285 lbs
Win 69–20 Wyatt Hendrickson 10–7 March 9–10, 2024 2024 Big 12 Conference Championships
Win 68–20 Zach Elam MD 11–3
Win 67–20 Michael Wolfgram Fall
Win 66–20 Xavier Doolin Fall
Win 65–20 Zach Elam MD 13–4 February 25, 2024 Missouri - Iowa State Dual
Win 64–20 Adam Ahrendson TF 25–6 February 11, 2024 Northern Iowa - Iowa State Dual
Win 63–20 Michael Wolfgram TF 23–8 February 2, 2024 West Virginia - Iowa State Dual
Win 62–20 Konner Doucet 7–2 January 27, 2024 Iowa State - Oklahoma State Dual
Win 61–20 Josh Heindselman MD 14–4 January 26, 2024 Iowa State - Oklahoma Dual
Win FF January 12, 2024 Utah Valley - Iowa State Dual
Win 60–20 Max Acciardi TF 21–6 January 7, 2024 Iowa State - Cal Baptist Dual
Win 59–20 Cohlton Schultz 4–3 January 5, 2024 Iowa State - Arizona State Dual
Win 58–20 Lewis Fernandes 6–3 December 19, 2023 Iowa State - Cornell Dual
Win 57–20 Josiah Hill MD 14–4 Iowa State - Little Rock Dual
Win 56–20 Dayton Pitzer 6–3 Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual
2023 Cliff Keen Invitational   at 285 lbs
Win 55–20 Lucas Davison 5–3 December 2–3, 2023 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Win 54–20 Grady Griess TF 18–3
Win 53–20 Nick Feldman MD 13–5
Win 52–20 Jack Jessen 11–4
Win 51–20 Peter Ming TF 21–6
Win 50–20 Bradley Hill MD 17–6 November 26, 2023 Iowa - Iowa State Dual
Win 49–20 Peter Christensen TF 19–4 November 19, 2023 Wisconsin - Iowa State Dual
Win 48–20 Jake Fernicola TF 19–4 November 12, 2023 Davidson - Iowa State Dual
Win 47–20 Daniel Bucknavich TF 26–10 November 5, 2023 Iowa State - Cleveland State Dual
Start of 2023–2024 Season (senior year)
End of 2022–2023 Season (junior year)
2023 NCAA Championships DNP at 197 lbs
Loss 46–20 Michael Beard 1–2 March 16–18, 2023 2023 NCAA Division I National Championships
Win 46–19 Andrew Davison 3–1
Loss 45–19 Ethan Laird 1–3
Win 45–18 Evan Bockman 5–2
2023 Big 12 Conference 6th at 197 lbs
Loss 44–18 Evan Bockman 2–3 March 4–5, 2023 2023 Big 12 Conference Championships
Loss 44–17 Owen Pentz 2–4
Loss 44–16 Rocky Elam 0–6
Win 44–15 Evan Bockman 9–5
Win 43–15 Tyce Raddon TF 24–9
Loss 42–15 Braxton Amos 0–4 February 15, 2023 Iowa State - Missouri Dual
Loss 42–14 Zach Braunagel 3–5 February 12, 2023 Illinois - Iowa State Dual
Win 42–13 Wyatt Voelker 12–6 February 10, 2023 Iowa State - Northern Iowa Dual
Loss 41–13 Nino Bonaccorsi 4–6 February 4, 2023 Iowa State - Pittsburgh Dual
Win 41–12 Austin Cooley MD 17–8 February 3, 2023 Iowa State - West Virginia Dual
Win 40–12 Luke Surber 7–2 January 29, 2023 Oklahoma State - Iowa State Dual
Win 39–12 Evan Bockman 5–3 January 14, 2023 Iowa State - Utah Valley Dual
Win 38–12 Jonathan Fagen MD 24–11 January 8, 2023 Arizona State - Iowa State Dual
Win 37–12 Guillermo Escobedo MD 18–7 January 7, 2023 Wyoming - Iowa State Dual
Loss 36–12 Max Dean 1–4 December 20, 2022 Iowa State - Penn State Dual
Win 36–11 Lewis Fernandes 4–2 December 19, 2022 Cornell - Iowa State Dual
Win 35–11 Tanner Harvey 3–2 Oregon State - Iowa State Dual
Win 34–11 Jacob Warner 4–3 December 4, 2022 Iowa State - Iowa Dual
Win 33–11 Garavous Kouekabakilaho MD 21–8 November 20, 2022 Grand View (Iowa) - Iowa State Dual
Win 32–11 Elijah Sobas TF 22–7 November 12, 2022 Iowa State - Cal Baptist Dual
Win 31–11 Levi Hopkins MD 16–5 November 5, 2022 Iowa State - Campbell Dual
Win 30–11 Stephen Little MD 11–3 Iowa State - Little Rock Dual
Win 29–11 Braxton Amos 5–3 Iowa State - Missouri Dual
Start of 2022–2023 Season (junior year)
End of 2021–2022 Season (sophomore year)
2022 NCAA Championships 5th at 197 lbs
Win 28–11 Gavin Hoffman Fall March 17–19, 2022 2022 NCAA Division I National Championships
Loss 27–11 Stephan Buchanan 3–4
Win 27–10 Greg Bulsak 4–3
Win 26–10 Jake Woodley 5–4
Win 25–10 Kordell Norfleet 4–2
Win 24–10 Jaron Smith 11–4
Loss 23–10 Rocky Elam 0–1
Win 23–9 Braxton Amos 3–2
2022 Big 12 Conference 5th at 197 lbs
Win Owen Pentz FF March 5–6, 2022 2022 Big 12 Conference Championships
Loss 22–9 Jake Woodley 0–1
Loss 22–8 Stephen Buchanan Fall
Win 22–7 Rocky Elam 4–3
Win 21–7 Rocky Elam SV–1 8–6 February 16, 2022 Iowa State - Missouri Dual
Win 20–7 John Gunderson MD 21–8 February 11, 2022 Iowa State - Northern Iowa Dual
Win 19–7 Kayne Hutchison TF 22–6 February 5, 2022 Air Force - Iowa State Dual
Win 18–7 Jackson Moomau TF 23–8 February 4, 2022 West Virginia - Iowa State Dual
Win 17–7 Gavin Stika MD 18–6 January 30, 2022 Iowa State - Oklahoma State Dual
Loss 16–7 Jake Woodley 2–4 January 28, 2022 Iowa State - Oklahoma Dual
Win 16–6 Owen Pentz 9–6 January 23, 2022 North Dakota State - Iowa State Dual
Win 15–6 Liam Swanson Fall January 16, 2022 Iowa State - Providence (Mont) Dual
Win 14–6 Isaac Bartel MD 13–5 Iowa State - Montana State-Northern Dual
Loss 13–6 Stephen Buchanan SV–1 4–6 January 14, 2022 Iowa State - Wyoming Dual
Win 13–5 Josh Loomer TF 20–5 January 12, 2022 CSU Bakersfield - Iowa State Dual
Win 12–5 Jayshon Hines Fall January 6, 2022 Northwest Kansas TC - Iowa State Dual
Win 11–5 Thomas Penola 6–4 December 19, 2021 Purdue - Iowa State Dual
Win 10–5 Jacob Warner 4–2 December 5, 2021 Iowa - Iowa State Dual
Win 9–5 Arick Lopez TF 23–8 November 27, 2021 Cal Baptist - Iowa State Dual
Win 8–5 Jack Brown 4–3 Army - Iowa State Dual
2021 Daktronics Open   at 197 lbs
Win 7–5 Bennett Tabor TF 18–3 November 21, 2021 2021 Daktronics Open
Win 6–5 Spencer Mooberry MD 16–5
Loss 5–5 Silas Allred Fall
Win 5–4 Cody Donnelly MD 19–5
Start of 2021–2022 Season (sophomore year)
End of 2020–2021 Season (freshman year)
Loss 4–4 Kordell Norfleet MD 7–17 February 14, 2021 Arizona State - Iowa State Dual
Loss 4–3 A.J. Ferrari 2–5 January 30, 2021 Oklahoma State - Iowa State Dual
Win 4–2 Jesus Gutierrez Fall Iowa Central CC - Iowa State Dual
Loss 3–2 Jake Woodley MD 0–12 January 24, 2021 Oklahoma - Iowa State Dual
Loss 3–1 Rocky Elam 4–5 January 17, 2021 Missouri - Iowa State Dual
Win 3–0 Joe Reimers Fall January 10, 2021 Nebraska-Kearney - Iowa State Dual
Win 2–0 Brady Vogel MD 18–8 Loras - Iowa State Dual
Win 1–0 Kobe Woods 15–8 January 3, 2021 Wartburg - Iowa State Dual
Start of 2020–2021 Season (freshman year)

Stats

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Season Year School Rank Weigh Class Record Win
2024 Senior Iowa State University #2 285 25–2 92.59%
2023 Junior #19 (DNP) 197 18–9 66.67%
2022 Sophomore #9 (5th) 24–7 77.42%
2021 Freshman #159 4–4 50.00%
Career 71–22 76.34%

[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Yonger Bastida - Wrestling". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  2. ^ a b "Yonger Bastida: Estoy contento con mi resultado". Escambray (in Spanish). 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  3. ^ a b "Gladiador trinitario Yonger Bastida en Gala Nacional de la Lucha cubana – Radio Trinidad Digital" (in Spanish). 7 December 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  4. ^ "Luchadores de Trinidad de Cuba, segundos en Gala de Campeones – Radio Trinidad Digital" (in Spanish). 5 February 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  5. ^ "Yonger Bastida en la cúspide del Panamericano Juvenil de Lucha – Radio Trinidad Digital" (in Spanish). 8 June 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  6. ^ "Trinitario Yonger Bastida se baña de bronce en mundial de lucha de Budapest – Radio Trinidad Digital" (in Spanish). 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  7. ^ Stuve, Sam. "Iowa State Wrestling adds Yonger Bastida to roster". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  8. ^ Goodwin, Cody. "Wrestling: Iowa State signs Yonger Bastida, a Junior world medalist from Cuba". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  9. ^ Stuve, Sam. "Iowa State wrestling begins its 2020-21 season with wrestle-offs". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2021-01-07.
  10. ^ Bousson, Ellie. "Takeaways: Two Big 12 takedowns for Iowa State wrestling". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  11. ^ Krivacs, Daniel. "Three Big Takeaways: Cyclones lose dual streak after 18-15 loss to Hawkeyes". Iowa State Daily. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  12. ^ "No. 5 Cyclones Beat No. 9 Missouri to Complete Undefeated League Slate". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  13. ^ "Cyclones notch three All-Americans at NCAA Championships". CycloneFanatic.com. 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  14. ^ "Freshmen Impress at Iowa State Wrestle-Offs". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  15. ^ "Carr Finishes as NCAA Runner-Up". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  16. ^ "Results: Iowa State Wrestle-Offs". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  17. ^ "Iowa State wins team title at 2023 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, led by individual champion Bastida". www.themat.com. 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  18. ^ "Iowa State Wins First Big 12 Title Since 2009". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  19. ^ Elzinga, Isaac. "Big 12 heavyweight champion Yonger Bastida loses in NCAA quarterfinals to Michigan's Lucas Davison". The Daily Iowan. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  20. ^ "ISU Places Three on Podium During Medal Round". Iowa State University Athletics. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  21. ^ Wrestlestat.com. "Yonger Bastida". WrestleStat. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
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