AMES — A new chapter in Iowa State wrestling began with a victory Sunday night, November 1, 2026, as the ninth-ranked Cyclones defeated Bucknell 29-12 before 4,080 fans at Hilton Coliseum, giving Brent Metcalf his first dual-meet win as head coach.
Iowa State won seven of the 10 matches, collected bonus points in four bouts and dominated the takedown count, 22-3. The Cyclones improved to 1-0, while Bucknell fell to 0-1.
Metcalf became the seventh Iowa State head coach to win his first dual. It was the Cyclones’ second consecutive season-opening dual victory and their eighth in nine seasons.
Dru Ayala, a sophomore transfer from Iowa, opened the meet at 125 pounds with a 5-2 decision over Jackson Heslin, getting a first-period takedown and 1:09 of riding time for his first collegiate dual victory.
At 133 pounds, No. 15 Garrett Grice followed with an 8-2 decision over Blue Stiffler, producing two takedowns and 1:06 of riding time.
The Frost brothers then blew the meet open with consecutive technical falls. Second-ranked Evan Frost beat Bryce Manera 19-3 at 141 pounds after piling up five takedowns, and ninth-ranked Jacob Frost defeated Cade Wirnsberger 21-3 at 149 pounds in 3:35.
Jacob Frost’s win was his 23rd career technical fall. Iowa State led 16-0 after four bouts.
No. 13 Paniro Johnson, returning after a neck injury sidelined him for much of last season, overwhelmed Ryan Lawler at 157 pounds with five takedowns in a 16-5 major decision. The Cyclones took a 20-0 advantage into the second half of the lineup.
Bucknell struck back at 165 pounds. No. 13 Connor Euton led No. 15 Noah Mulvaney 10-3 entering the third period, but Mulvaney caught the Cyclone in a cradle and secured a pin in 6:12.
At 174 pounds, Tate Naaktgeboren was leading No. 17 Myles Takats 4-1 when the Bucknell wrestler could not continue. The injury-default victory gave Iowa State six more team points and a 26-6 lead.
Sawyer Bartelt returned to competition at 184 pounds for the first time in 644 days after multiple knee injuries. He battled No. 29 Tyler Bienus through regulation and sudden victory, but Bienus prevailed 4-1 in the tiebreaker.
Bucknell also won at 197 pounds, where No. 21 Dillon Bechtold defeated Brayden Thompson 4-1 in sudden victory.
Iowa State finished the night with a heavyweight win from No. 15 Coby Merrill, who returned from earning a U23 World Championships bronze medal only two weeks earlier. Merrill scored his first collegiate takedown eight seconds into the match and defeated Lucas Lawler 6-2.
Ayala, Naaktgeboren and Merrill each earned their first career dual-match victories, while the Frost brothers’ back-to-back technical falls and Johnson’s major decision showed the strength of Iowa State’s middle weights.
Iowa State vs. Bucknell wrestling results
No. 9 Iowa State 29, Bucknell 12
- 125: Dru Ayala (ISU) dec. Jackson Heslin, 5-2
- 133: No. 15 Garrett Grice (ISU) dec. Blue Stiffler, 8-2
- 141: No. 2 Evan Frost (ISU) tech. fall Bryce Manera, 19-3 (5:05)
- 149: No. 9 Jacob Frost (ISU) tech. fall Cade Wirnsberger, 21-3 (3:35)
- 157: No. 13 Paniro Johnson (ISU) major dec. Ryan Lawler, 16-5
- 165: No. 15 Noah Mulvaney (Bucknell) pinned No. 13 Connor Euton, 6:12
- 174: Tate Naaktgeboren (ISU) won by injury default over No. 17 Myles Takats, 6:42
- 184: No. 29 Tyler Bienus (Bucknell) dec. Sawyer Bartelt, 4-1 (TB-1)
- 197: No. 21 Dillon Bechtold (Bucknell) dec. Brayden Thompson, 4-1 (SV-1)
- 285: No. 15 Coby Merrill (ISU) dec. Lucas Lawler, 6-2
Attendance at Hilton Coliseum: 4,080.
Next match for Iowa State wrestling
The ninth-ranked Cyclones travel to Utah Valley on Friday, November 6, 2026, for their Big 12 Conference dual opener. Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Central time.