Yonger Bastida

Yonger Pauli Bastida Pomares (born September 19, 1999) is a Cuban freestyle and folkstyle wrestler who competes at heavyweight for the Iowa State Cyclones. In freestyle, he is most notably a U23 and U20 World Championship medalist.

Bastida grabbed a silver medal at the Cerro Pelado International, notably defeating NCAA champion Kyven Gadson in the semifinals. Afterwards, he claimed a U20 Pan American Championship title, as well as a silver medal at the U20 World Championships.

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.

Career in the United States

College

2020–2021 In November 2020, the Iowa State University announced they had recruited Bastida as an international student and a member of the wrestling team.

Bastida earned the varsity spot at 197 pounds when he defeated teammate Cody Fisher by major decision. 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.

2021–2022 Showing notable improvements, Bastida recorded upsets over third and sixth-ranked Jacob Warner and Rocky Elam over the regular season. 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.

2022–2023 Bastida earned the spot at 197 pounds by beating teammate Rowan Udell by major decision. 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.

2023–2024 Bastida made the move up to heavyweight, and started off the season by pinning teammate Xavier Bruening at the team's wrestle-offs. During regular season, Bastida amassed an undefeated 15–0 mark in dual meets and claimed the Cliff Keen Invitational title.

In the post-season, Bastida claimed the Big 12 Conference title with notable victories over All-Americans Wyatt Hendrickson and Zach Elam. 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. In the blood-round, he was upset once again by Yaraslau Slavikouski, which eliminated him from the tournament, failing to place.

2026

Bastida lost to Shamil Sharipov by decision at RAF 10 on June 13, 2026.

Freestyle record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event Location Loss 7–4

St. Louis, Missouri

Loss 7–3

Havana, Cuba Win 7–2

Win 6–2

Win 5–2

Budapest, Hungary Loss 4–2

Win 4–1

Win 3–1

Win 2–1

Loss 1–1

Havana, Cuba Win 1–0

NCAA record

Res. Record Opponent Score Date Event

Loss 71–22

Loss 71–21

Win 71–20

Win 70–20

Win 69–20

Win 68–20

Win 67–20

Win 66–20

Win 65–20

Win 64–20

Win 63–20

Win 62–20

Win 61–20

Win

Win 60–20

Win 59–20

Win 58–20

Win 57–20

Win 56–20

Win 55–20

Win 54–20

Win 53–20

Win 52–20

Win 51–20

Win 50–20

Win 49–20

Win 48–20

Win 47–20

Loss 46–20

Win 46–19

Loss 45–19

Win 45–18

Loss 44–18

Loss 44–17

Loss 44–16

Win 44–15

Win 43–15

Loss 42–15

Loss 42–14

Win 42–13

Loss 41–13

Win 41–12

Win 40–12

Win 39–12

Win 38–12

Win 37–12

Loss 36–12

Win 36–11

Win 35–11

Win 34–11

Win 33–11

Win 32–11

Win 31–11

Win 30–11

Win 29–11

Win 28–11

Loss 27–11

Win 27–10

Win 26–10

Win 25–10

Win 24–10

Loss 23–10

Win 23–9

Win

Loss 22–9

Loss 22–8

Win 22–7

Win 21–7

Win 20–7

Win 19–7

Win 18–7

Win 17–7

Loss 16–7

Win 16–6

Win 15–6

Win 14–6

Loss 13–6

Win 13–5

Win 12–5

Win 11–5

Win 10–5

Win 9–5

Win 8–5

Win 7–5

Win 6–5

Loss 5–5

Win 5–4

Loss 4–4

Loss 4–3

Win 4–2

Loss 3–2

Loss 3–1

Win 3–0

Win 2–0

Win 1–0

Stats Season Year School Rank Weigh Class Record Win 2024 Senior

2 285 25–2 92.59% 2023 Junior 19 (DNP)

18–9 66.67% 2022 Sophomore 9 (5th) 24–7 77.42% 2021 Freshman 159 4–4 50.00%