OREM, UTAH — The ninth-ranked Iowa State wrestling team powered its way to a commanding 31-11 victory over Utah Valley on Friday, November 6, 2026, collecting five technical falls and winning seven of ten matches to open Big 12 Conference competition in convincing fashion.
The Cyclones improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12, extending their streak to nine consecutive victories in conference dual openers. Iowa State also remained unbeaten against Utah Valley, improving to 9-0 in the all-time series.
Iowa State dominated the offensive action, recording a 30-9 advantage in takedowns before an announced crowd of 2,588 at the UCCU Center.
Oklahoma State transfers Rin Sakamoto and Brayden Thompson each celebrated their first victories in an Iowa State singlet, while Evan Frost, Jacob Frost, Connor Euton and Coby Merrill joined Sakamoto in earning technical falls.
Sakamoto opened the dual with an impressive performance at 125 pounds, overwhelming Geronimo Rivera in a 19-1 technical fall. The newcomer recorded three takedowns and used multiple turns from the top position to pile up near-fall points.
It was only Sakamoto’s second collegiate match and his first since facing current Iowa State assistant coach Drake Ayala during the Oklahoma State-Iowa dual on February 23, 2025.
Utah Valley answered at 133 pounds when Layne Kleimann defeated No. 14 Garrett Grice by a 13-2 major decision, but the Cyclones quickly regained control behind the Frost brothers.
Second-ranked Evan Frost delivered a 16-1 technical fall over Smokey McClure at 141 pounds, ending the match in 4:20. Frost recorded three takedowns and two turns, collecting his second consecutive technical fall to begin the season.
At 149 pounds, ninth-ranked Jacob Frost followed with another dominant showing, scoring six takedowns in a 19-3 technical fall against Jason Worthley.
The Cyclones then received a critical victory from No. 13 Paniro Johnson at 157 pounds.
Johnson found himself in a tight battle against Ian Fritz, who tied the match late in the third period following a stalling call against Iowa State. With just ten seconds remaining, Johnson secured the decisive takedown to claim a 10-7 decision and improve to 2-0.
Iowa State carried an 18-4 advantage into the second half of the dual.
Fourteenth-ranked Connor Euton pushed the Cyclones farther ahead at 165 pounds, earning his first victory of the season with a 19-4 technical fall over Ryker Fullmer in 4:26.
Utah Valley mounted a brief comeback at the next two weights.
At 174 pounds, No. 25 Marcus Espinoza-Owens defeated Iowa State’s Tate Naaktgeboren by an 8-2 decision. Nineteenth-ranked Caleb Uhlenhopp followed with a 14-2 major decision over Sawyer Bartelt at 184 pounds.
But Iowa State slammed the door on any further comeback hopes at 197 pounds.
Thompson, another transfer from Oklahoma State, earned his first Cyclone victory by defeating 23rd-ranked Kael Bennie, 9-3.
Thompson countered two takedown attempts from Bennie during the third period to secure the ranked victory.
At heavyweight, 15th-ranked Coby Merrill completed Iowa State’s dominating performance with his first collegiate technical fall, defeating Will McCleary by a 22-6 score.
Merrill recorded seven takedowns, including four in the third period, to improve to 2-0.
The Cyclones finished with five technical falls, two decisions and a comfortable 20-point victory in their first Big 12 Conference dual of the season.
Iowa State followed its 29-12 season-opening win over Bucknell under new coach Brent Metcalf with the decisive road victory in Utah.
The Cyclones will now travel to Bradenton, Florida, for the Sunshine Duals on Saturday, November 14, where they are scheduled to face North Dakota State and Penn.
Complete match information is available through Iowa State Athletics’ official wrestling report.