### No. 20 Stanford Upsets Shorthanded No. 6 Iowa State in Wrestling Season Opener

In Ames, Iowa, a fiercely contested wrestling match on Friday night saw No. 20 Stanford narrowly defeat No. 6 Iowa State with a score of 23-21, marking a surprising start to the 2024-25 season. The Cyclones, who were missing five key starters, saw their streak of six consecutive season-opening wins come to an end.

Iowa State initially led the dual, starting with a 6-0 advantage due to a forfeit at the 125-pound weight class. However, their early lead was quickly overshadowed as freshman Aden Valencia of Stanford pinned his opponent in 5:50 at 141 pounds, propelling the Cardinal to a 10-6 lead.

One of the night's highlights was the 149-pound matchup between Iowa State's No. 6 and Stanford’s No. 10 Jaden Abas. Abas initially took a 3-0 lead with a late takedown in the first period, but Iowa State's wrestler responded robustly. A dynamic seven-point move in the second period put him ahead 7-4. Ultimately, securing a takedown in the final minute and earning a point for riding time, the Cyclone grappler triumphed with an 11-5 victory. This victory improved his impressive dual meet record to 16-3.

The match’s momentum swung back to Stanford as Grigor Cholakyan delivered a seven-point move late in the first period, further establishing the Cardinal’s lead. As the night drew to a close, the absence of Iowa State’s starters proved too great a hurdle, sealing Stanford’s unexpected victory.