The 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships delivered the thrilling action that college wrestling enthusiasts had been eagerly anticipating. Nonetheless, the Iowa State Wrestling program exhibited a varied performance. Jacob Frost, competing at 141 pounds, clinched a seventh-place finish, representing a noteworthy accomplishment for the Cyclones. However, the other team members encountered difficulties. What transpired with them?

Evan Frost, competing at 133 lbs, wrapped up the tournament with a record of 3-2. Paniro Johnson at 149 lbs and Cody Chittum at 157 lbs both finished with 2-2 records. Aiden Riggins, wrestling at 165 lbs, also ended with a 3-2 record. MJ Gaitan, competing at 174 lbs, recorded a 1-2 outcome, while Evan Bockman at 184 lbs and Daniel Herrera at 285 lbs each concluded the event with 0-2 records.

The NCAA Wrestling Championships highlighted the progress the Cyclones must make to contend for the title in the upcoming season. However, a recent update has surprised the community, including world champion Ben Askren. On X, Askren expressed his views on Cody Chittum’s entry into the transfer portal, remarking, “Man, what is going on in Iowa State right now?”

Chittum stands out as a prominent figure in the world of college wrestling. His collegiate journey has been nothing short of dynamic. Chittum first pledged his commitment to the University of Iowa but later opted to redirect his allegiance to Iowa State Wrestling in 2023. In his inaugural season with the Cyclones, the wrestling prodigy recorded an impressive 16-7 record and secured a spot at the NCAA Championships. Chittum’s entry into the NCAA transfer portal clearly suggests that he is looking to explore options with different wrestling programs.

The unexpected revelation? If an individual such as Chittum is contemplating a transition to different programs for his NCAA future, it raises significant inquiries regarding the state of the Iowa State Wrestling program. However, given the disappointing nature of this season for Iowa State, what insights did their coach offer regarding the team’s performance?

Giving his insight on Iowa State wrestling

“A lot of our young guys, we just got to get better at wrestling. We didn’t get our hand raised and get on the podium in some places because we’re not good enough at wrestling yet. I was the same way when I was 20 years old, you got to get better at wrestling and when you get really good at wrestling, you get rewarded,” stated coach Kevin Dresser.

This season, the Iowa State Wrestling program found itself trailing the competition. They certainly fell short this time, failing to secure a spot in the top 10, a stark contrast to their previous season when they managed to finish in fourth place. Dresser underscored the difficulties encountered throughout the injury-riddled season and recognized the necessity for enhancement.

The coach recognizes that the Iowa State Wrestling program has the necessary talent to make significant improvements. Nonetheless, they failed to leave a notable impact in the ongoing season. Moreover, he articulated clearly that there is significant potential for enhancement, and they must truly focus on honing their wrestling skills.